also: がし
Traditional term for a painter or artist, especially in historical or classical contexts. Can refer to ukiyo-e artists or court painters.
Only with reading えし
Internet slang for an illustrator, especially one who draws digital art, manga-style illustrations, or fan art. Often used in online communities.
She says she wants to become an illustrator in the future.
The Edo-period painter Katsushika Hokusai is world-famous.
This folding screen painting was done by an unknown artist.
I had a popular illustrator on Twitter draw my icon.
That illustrator's doujinshi always sells out quickly.
He's active online as an illustrator.
I commissioned an illustrator I found on social media to draw a character.
画家 is the modern, general word for a painter, while 絵師 carries a more traditional or historical (or, online, otaku-slang) flavor.
イラストレーター is the standard loanword for a professional illustrator, while 絵師 (in its slang sense) is a more casual, community term for digital/fan artists.
絵師 is a slightly literary or historical/otaku-culture term for an artist, while 絵描き is the everyday casual word.
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency news ranking.
Rare variant reading; Restricted がし to this form. Not commonly used.
Rare variant spelling for えし; no priority is specified.
Compound of 絵 (e, 'picture') and 師 (shi, 'master' or 'specialist'). The reading がし for 画師 is a rare Sino-Japanese variant.