Christopher Irving sent me a deck of strange and colorful cards. He is an historian of pop culture, especially comics, and co-author of the book “Leaping Tall Buildings: The Origins of American Comics.” In Spring 2016 Christopher Irving launched a Kickstarter to create Four Color Trading Cards “celebrating public domain comic book characters from the 1930s throughContinue reading “Strange Cards”
Author Archives: illustrationclass
Artist meets the Bread Lady: Drawing Outside a Student’s Comfort Zone
“Next time I hear anybody talking bad about Kutztown University students, I am going to tell them about Meredith.”
Running with Type like Frank Viva
I showed my Digital Illustration class Frank Viva‘s illustrated book, Sea Change. The typography is wonderful. The Globe and Mail put it nicely, “With Sea Change, a graphic novel in the truest sense, author and designer Frank Viva blurs the lines between written word and illustration.” Sea Change is published by Toon Books as part of theirContinue reading “Running with Type like Frank Viva”
Elham Atayi, world-class illustrator, in tiny Kutztown, PA.
We have a world-class illustrator here at Kutztown University. Her name is Elham Atayi. A grad student from Iran, yes. IRAN!, she’s working on her MFA in Communication Design. Steve Heller, one of the most important design writers in the U.S, admires her work. Heller did a wonderful interview via email with Elham in 2015 forContinue reading “Elham Atayi, world-class illustrator, in tiny Kutztown, PA.”
GET OUT THE VOTE
Prof. Holly Tienken’s Poster Seminar class has done some impressive topical work, Get Out The Vote posters. Here are a handful by select seniors: Cambrea Roy, Elaine Knox, Erika Mabus, Jamie Hubert, Julia Wolf, and Malachi Hall. From the assignment sheet: ” The main objective of this project is to motivate citizens of the UnitedContinue reading “GET OUT THE VOTE”
Gonzo Sketching with the Great Ted Michalowski
You have seen Ted Michalowski’s art on TV. He’s done courtroom reporting for ABC, CBS, CNN, all the major networks. He is an energetic part of the Scranton, PA art scene. When I say he is a ringmaster, it is not a metaphor, he has worked with the circus. His is a 4-time winner of the ElectricContinue reading “Gonzo Sketching with the Great Ted Michalowski”
Dane Lachiusa on illustration
He may not be a household name, but you have seen his work. Dane Lachiusa drew the cartoons that appeared on your Snapple caps, sketched goofy images for Nickelodeon’s earliest website, and drew cartoons that covered the walls of your local Starbucks. He also drew the quirky images you may have noticed on your large soda cup at Blimpies. DaneContinue reading “Dane Lachiusa on illustration”
Scatter Joy Illustration Show
Kutztown University has produced some amazing illustrators: Tom Hallman, Stephen Kroninger, Renee French, Kathi Ember, Kevin Cornell, Tom Warburton, Tom Whalen, Simeon Wilkins. An exhibition at the Scatter Joy Center for the Arts will showcase artists likely to be added to that list. Elham Ataeiazar, work pictured above, came from Iran to work on her MFA at Kutztown. ‘Ellie’ has already illustratedContinue reading “Scatter Joy Illustration Show”
$15,000 Advance for a Kid’s Comic by New Artist. Hey, you!
Graphix, the young adult and children’s comics imprint of Scholastic announced a contest at Comic-con. Some contests are scams; they charge high entry fees, or insist you give up rights to your characters at time of entry. This one looks wonderful. It is only for unpublished creators. The prize is publication and a $15,000 advance.Continue reading “$15,000 Advance for a Kid’s Comic by New Artist. Hey, you!”
William Grill, an English Illustrator Worth Watching
I recently had the honor of being on a panel for reluctant readers at the ALA Convention in Orlando. The other panelists were Jim Ottaviani, M.K. Reed and a charming young Englishman, William Grill, who goes by Will. Will told the assembled librarians that he was a reluctant reader himself. He has dyslexia. As a kidContinue reading “William Grill, an English Illustrator Worth Watching”
