An illustrator is a graphic artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text. The illustration may be intended to clarify complicated concepts or objects that are difficult to describe textually.

Illustrations have been used in advertisements, greeting cards, posters, books, magazines and newspapers. A cartoon illustration can add additional humor to humorous essays; in this regard, Richard Thompson’s past cartoon illustrations for articles in The Washington Post are notable.