Courses

D106: EXPERIMENTAL LINE

This course introduces the psychological properties of abstraction, visual thinking, and line development, while exploring how their expressive qualities can be used in contemporary illustration.

IL102: RENDERING TECHNIQUES

In this class, emphasis is on mixed media methods and techniques and how they apply toward finished illustration.

IL103: FIGURE DRAWING

This basic course concentrates on creative response studies, using the human form, its action and anatomy. Students will be introduced to the visual vocabulary of structure, form, value, line, scale, rhythm, tension, gesture, weight, and volume. Students learn to articulate visual expression through structural stimulation.

IL104: DESIGN & COMPOSITION FOR ILLUSTRATORS

This class offers an analysis of traditional and non-traditional compositional solutions. Exploring multiple compositional themes, both complex and simple, students explore the processes of illustration. Assignments emphasize concept development, composition, rendering techniques, and individual style.

IL105: PERSPECTIVE

This class focuses on such topics as 1-point, 2-point, and 3-point isometric perspective systems. Students work closely with the instructor on assignments to create work that shows mature understanding and application of these geometric principles. In addition to lectures and in-class demonstrations, students are encouraged to develop a personal approach to using these techniques.

IL106: ILLUSTRATION WORKSHOP

The illustration workshop is designed to allow students to work with professional illustrators, who stress creativity and practicality and help the students achieve the highest degree of excellence in illustrative styles. Hands-on exercises explore and reinforce such topics as concepting, drawing, painting, and illustrative techniques found in a variety of mixed media.

IL201: ANALYTICAL HEAD DRAWING

Students employ quick sketch exercises, drawing methods, and techniques in learning to grasp comparative anatomy for developing a stronger awareness of head structure. Emphasis is on basic construction of the head, but also considered are planes, perspective, form, and proportion.

IL204: COLOR THEORY FOR ILLUSTRATION

This course investigates a myriad of value studies, including color, hue, and saturation and how they apply to techniques used in illustration. Assignments in color theories and color usage are explored. Individual experimentation is encouraged.

IL205: STYLING CONCEPTS

This class introduces the guidelines that help direct one’s illustration referencing, shooting reference, media making, and color choices.

IL206: ILLUSTRATION WORKSHOP

The illustration workshop is designed to allow students to work with professional illustrators, who stress creativity and practicality and help the students to achieve the highest degree of excellence in illustrative styles. Hands-on exercises explore and reinforce such topics as concepting, drawing, painting, and other illustrative techniques found in a variety of mixed media.

IL207: COSTUME DRAWING

Studying models in situations, students learn the application of drawing principles to character mood development.

IL301: EXPERIMENTAL MEDIA

Applications of different painting techniques help students develop an understanding of the different properties of paint media: oil, watercolor, acrylic, and gouache. Given challenging assignments, students refine skills using experimental manipulation of methods and techniques.

IL302: ADVANCED RENDERING

This course emphasizes mixed media methods and techniques. Focused sessions teach students to solve conceptual problems and take visual solutions to a professional finish.

IL304: CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

Students learn to develop characters (people, animals, and things) through personality, emotion, and action.

IL305: PAINTING ATTITUDES

This course introduces students to the basics of non-objective and objective painting. Students explore abstract approaches to painting and illustration.

IL306: ILLUSTRATION WORKSHOP

IL401: DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION

This course introduces and extends the exercise of perceptual skills using illustration as a visual language.

IL403: ADVANCED FIGURE DRAWING & PAINTING

IL404: ADVANCED ILLUSTRATION

Instruction covers different aspects of illustration including product, editorial, and technical illustration, concepting, and professional problem solving. Students become proficient at finding answers to illustration problems and creating visual solutions that communicate.

IL405: DIGITAL ILLUSTRATION

Building on acquired computer skills, this class focuses on turning out professional digital work. While not purely a technical class, emphasis is on solving illustration problems on the computer.

833: GRAD PERT

Graduate elects receive academic advisement on the preparation of projects for their final portfolio presentation and engage in an ongoing dialogue about their long-term personal, professional, and creative goals.

834: PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES

This class teaches students to develop a strategy for marketing themselves as creative resources. Students learn how to speak powerfully during an interview. In this business class, students learn to market artwork and promote themselves. Instruction covers basic business procedures, including artist rights, business communication, billing, and taxes.

835: GRADUATE WORKSHOP

Eighth quarter’s concentration is on perfecting the book: all work is scrutinized thoroughly and evaluated for content, varieties and execution. Students present their work to a panel of instructors and other industry members and receive feedback on their portfolios and presentations. The remainder of the quarter is devoted to refining their portfolios before receiving a final review for graduation.

836: GRADUATE ADVISEMENT

With one-on-one guidance of illustration counsel, students determine what is perfect, what needs revision, and what is missing in their books. The objective is the creation of a highly polished portfolio that showcases how the graduate handles a variety of formats and projects.