Line drawing illustrating the grist mill process.

INDUSTRIAL PROCESS AS ART

From the late 10th-century onwards in Europe, water-powered flour mills, or gristmills, employed the power of moving water to grind grain into useable flour. Their use has been credited as part of a major shift away from harnessing the power of men and animals to that of natural resources (wind being another one) in colonial…

Cutaway of Constellation airplane by Frank Soltesz.

THE CUTAWAY DRAWINGS OF FRANK SOLTESZ

Technical illustrators are often asked to create cutaway drawings, which are renderings that have specific areas removed for the purpose of highlighting a desired product or function. I’ve always been fascinated with these works of art. They tap into our natural curiosity and our need to understand how things work. But to be honest, I…