Illustrations:
* Purposeful: Illustrations are created with a specific purpose in mind, often to tell a story, explain a concept, or enhance a written text.
* Style and Technique: Illustrations can be created in many different styles, from realistic to abstract, and using various techniques like drawing, painting, digital art, or even collage.
* Focus on Communication: The focus is on clear communication, conveying a message or idea in a visually appealing and impactful way.
* Examples: Children's book illustrations, medical diagrams, infographics, product sketches.
Pictures:
* Broader Category: "Picture" is a broader term encompassing any image captured or created. This includes photographs, paintings, drawings, digital images, screenshots, and more.
* Purpose and Style: Pictures can serve various purposes, from documenting events to expressing artistic vision. There's no single style or technique that defines a picture.
* Capture of Reality or Imagination: Pictures can be realistic representations of the world, artistic interpretations, or entirely imagined scenes.
* Examples: Photographs of landscapes, selfies, paintings in a museum, digital artwork, screen captures.
In Summary:
* Illustrations are a subset of pictures. They are specifically created to communicate an idea or message.
* Pictures are a broader term that encompasses any image, regardless of purpose or style.
Think of it this way: You might find a picture of a cat on the internet. That's just a picture. But if you're reading a book about cats, the image of a cat used in the book would be an illustration, specifically chosen to support the text.