Kelly Weihs just graduated May 2010, BFA, Communication Design. When I saw her illustration in the Tower, I wrote to ask her how it happened. She wrote back, “I was in professor Dr. Ed Simpson’s Dinosaur class at KU. I’d sent him dino artwork I had done in one of my illustration classes, and heContinue reading “Dig it! Dinosaurs by Kelly Weihs”
Author Archives: illustrationclass
New Dog in Town
The Kutztown University Bookstore now has copies of A Dog Named Pavlov/ Un Perro Llamado Pavlov for sale. They are stocked on the faculty author shelf. I wrote about the book here. Pick one up and I will be happy to sign it!
BEANO slid under my door
Someone slipped BEANO (not the anti-gas medicine!) the British comic book, under my door. This was just before break, during exam week. I was thrilled and amazed. I hadn’t seen a copy since I was in England in 1995 teaching British Humorous Illustration as part of the KU/UK program. This copy is dated July 30,Continue reading “BEANO slid under my door”
Illustration at KU: 2010 Review
This blog began in June as a sort of trial balloon with the intention of highlighting the many accomplishments of KU’s illustration concentration. There is a myth, repeat myth, that KU is shutting down illustration. The roots of this misconception may be due to the reduced footprint of illustration in the new Sharadin building. ButContinue reading “Illustration at KU: 2010 Review”
Who lives in a Pineapple under the Sea? –Who draws him?
What’s SpongeBob Really Like? is the most visited page on this blog. KU grad Amanda Geisinger, web designer of Nick.com’s SpongeBob site, told us she can fiddle with SpongeBob art, but only a few select artists are actually permitted to draw SpongeBob. Of course, Stephen Hillenburg, the creator of all Bikini Bottom’s characters, is in thatContinue reading “Who lives in a Pineapple under the Sea? –Who draws him?”
Incoming!! Chris Dacre: WAR is FUN!
Chris Dacre (rhymes with baker) is the winner of the 2011 Sharadin Gallery Installation Residency at Kutztown University. The residency, which comes with a $10,000 budget, attracted over 150 proposals from all corners of the world. I visited Dacre’s website to learn about his artwork. Most recently living in New Mexico, he has a BFAContinue reading “Incoming!! Chris Dacre: WAR is FUN!”
Illustration Confidential
It is always worse somewhere. The NY Times reported on China’s “vast army of college graduates seeking professional jobs.” Gordon Chang tells the sad story of 1,100 Chinese college grads applying for 8 jobs shoveling human waste, or “night soil.” Sometimes it seems like the prospects for illustrators are just a bleak. Years ago, Prof. Cunfer andContinue reading “Illustration Confidential”
Drawing a Shaggy Dog Named Pavlov
Howard Campbell first told me the story of the real dog Pavlov at Zandunga, a restaurant in Oaxaca, Mexico. Pavlov is a bright and fun-loving dog, who learned a lot through positive psychological reinforcement. Pavlov had belonged to his late brother. The photo above shows Pavlov at George Campbell’s grave. Howard asked me to illustrateContinue reading “Drawing a Shaggy Dog Named Pavlov”
Renee French Illustrator Update Updated Even Further
Update 1/7/11: NYC Exhibition Extended through Jan 22, 2011. See gallery link for more info: Adam Baumgold Gallery. We’ve had over 3,200 visitors to this blog in its first five months. Thanks to the way WordPress works I’m able to see which search terms people used to get here. “Renee French, Illustrator.” is one ofContinue reading “Renee French Illustrator Update Updated Even Further”
Free Art Lessons from the Masters
Jim McMullan is one of the world’s great drawing teachers and he’s giving away free art lessons. For the past two months McMullan has been blogging a series called Line by Line for The New York Times. Line by Line begins, naturally, with his thoughts on line. There are lessons how to draw trees, stillContinue reading “Free Art Lessons from the Masters”
Illustration Concentration 