Omair, You landed a job as an illustrator. Congrats! Q: What exactly is is your job description? I’m an illustrator/designer with the in-house publishing department at American Reading Company. We create literacy curriculums for K-12 readers. I design and illustrate books about various subjects ranging from non-fiction (science and history) to fiction (fairytales and fantasy).Continue reading “Omair Ali Makes His Marks”
Category Archives: KU alumni
Great Illustrators coming to Kutztown
Exceptional illustrators are coming to the Kutztown University campus this week. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Kutztown University Children’s Literature Conference. I’ve been on the conference committee from the beginning and met some stellar writers and illustrators. This year’s line-up is amazing. Peter Sís came to the U.S. as a political refugeeContinue reading “Great Illustrators coming to Kutztown”
Q & A with Jennifer Hansen Rolli
Jennifer Hansen Rolli, author, illustrator, and Kutztown University grad will return to campus for the Kutztown University’s Children’s Literature Conference. The conference, 4/21/18, celebrates its 20th year with keynote speakers: Peter Sís, Raúl Colón, Lee Harper and Sharon Draper. Kutztown University students can attend the conference for $10. Jennifer will take part in our “Author Chat”Continue reading “Q & A with Jennifer Hansen Rolli”
Brian Martin and Our Cartoon President.
Last year Brian Martin got an amazing job, but had to keep it secret from even his close friends. Animation projects are kept hush-hush so other studios don’t get wind of a great idea. Now he can share that he’s been working on Steven Colbert’s Our Cartoon President. The half-hour cartoon show premieres Feb. 11 on Showtime. BrianContinue reading “Brian Martin and Our Cartoon President.”
Illustrations Get Moving with Gifs
In Illustration 1 class, we added a bit of motion to our art using Photoshop gifs. Shout out to Prof. Dannell MacIlwraith for teaching me how to make a gif loop. Amanda Collins, artwork above, sits alongside Mia Clark, artwork below. Both focused on nostrils, oddly enough. Ashley Ferguson animated one of her 3 icons,Continue reading “Illustrations Get Moving with Gifs”
Ryan Lynn’s NFL Art.
Illustrator Ryan Lynn, 2006, BFA, Communication Design, is doing fine, thanks. I remember covering my ears when Ryan’s punk band, The Aurora, rocked the Trexlertown Grange, around 2005. His music career may have faded, but his artistic energy certainly hasn’t waned. He just completed the biggest illustration job of his career. His slightly-retro super-graphic style isContinue reading “Ryan Lynn’s NFL Art.”
Kutztown, where seldom is heard a discouraging word…
As the semester begins, I warn new students that illustration is a very tough field. Like acting, -the world only needs so many movie stars. On the other hand, I should share success stories of grads doing great work in illustration. Here are a few stellar grads.Take 2017 grad Heather Fox, for example. She madeContinue reading “Kutztown, where seldom is heard a discouraging word…”
RED NOSE STUDIO animation workshop
The insanely-talented Chris Sickels came from rural Indiana to rural Pennsylvania with a suitcase full of strange characters. He let me play with his dolls. – Me and a roomful of artists attending his workshop for the UCDA Summit at Kutztown University. Chris Sickels is Red Nose Studio. The studio is known for 3-D illustration and experimental animation.Continue reading “RED NOSE STUDIO animation workshop”
Matt Twombly’s Leap to Freelance Illustration
KU Grad Matt Twombly posted on Facebook that he had left his job at National Geographic and begin freelancing in 2015. He was a stellar student and won the Don Breter Illustration award when he graduated in 2008. So, I was curious about his transition and sent him some questions. 1. What was your job title at NationalContinue reading “Matt Twombly’s Leap to Freelance 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”
Illustration Concentration 