As Barbara Weaver-Bosson reflects on the early years of the Island Illustrators Society, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, it's clear things have changed — even if the professional mandate hasn't.

There are 53 members now, grown from the handful who began hatching the idea of forming a professional group back in 1984.

"Just four artists were discussing how they would formulate and reach out to the public and share information about the value of illustration," said artist Weaver-Bosson. "And it grew from there."

The average age of the group has risen along with its membership. Weaver-Bosson — who has immortalized Victoria homes in her long-running Neighbourhood Series of paintings, prints and art cards — joined as a 30-something in 1989.

And in those years, many have overcome the hurdles of establishing arts careers to become award-winning artists — marked by achievements such as her husband Victor Bosson's Governor General's Awards nomination for his work in The Fox's Kettle by Laura Langston, or Kristi Bridgeman's Bolen Books Children's Book Prize for her illustrations in P.K. Page's Uirapuru.

At the same time, while technology has expanded some demands on illustrators, it has also provided important opportunities to work in new ways.

Bosson, for example, has been able to continue illustrating using software that mimics watercolour — defying the potential limits of his multiple sclerosis.

The Island Illustrators are celebrating the milestone anniversary with a members' exhibition at the Cedar Hill Recreation Arts Centre — the opening was Thursday night and the show continues through Nov. 27.

Artists include the couple, as well as Bridgeman, Caroline Stengl, Marlene Howell, Joane Moran, Verna Linney, Olga Lang, Greg Glover, Joanne Thomson, Allegra Vernon, Dawn Joy Ritchie, Wendy Page, Marcia Semenoff, Maria Miranda Lawrence, Iris Churcher, Sandy Terry, Lorne Miller, Ian Finlayson, Ken Horn, Bob McPartlin, Rory Phillips, Kathy Cameron, Deborah Smith and Karel Doruyter.

The variety of styles, themes and personalities is not only evident in the works themselves, but is captured in member Raymond St. Arnaud's new photo journal, composed of 68 portraits of members past and present.

The unique process of illustration often involves giving life to another person's artistic vision, Weaver-Bosson said.

"As a writer, when you hire an illustrator to reinterpret your own story, it just adds volumes," she said.

That process is exposed through a few works in the show, which give visitors a look into the sketchy beginnings as the concept is developed to the final, polished product.

"When you see a painting on a wall, you don't always know how the artist started out working with the client through the initial concept," she said.

"It'll be [an] education for the viewers to see the finished art … as well as the transitional pieces."

asmart@timescolonist.com