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Contacts

Mark Tocchet \ mtocchet@uarts.edu \ 215.717.6240
Program Director

Description

The Illustration curriculum is a blend of drawing, painting, figure modeling, picture making, illustration, creative visual problem solving, digital experiences, self-discovery through mentor-student relationship, history of pictorial image making, and specialized graphic design courses. Some courses are geared to developing foundational skills and others more focused toward professional application. This curriculum is expanded by the program’s cross-college position that offers its majors a wide selection of unique options to explore related to their field and interest of study. Pedagogical emphasis is on discovering and developing the artist within the illustrator and his/her unique point of view. When artists find their unique expression, they can take advantage of all the outlets available to their work. The program prepares individual students for a life in the arts and the flexibility to enter diverse professional areas within it.

Illustration is a unique art form that is defined not by its medium, but by its context. Illustration finds its home in the public sphere of popular media. With a rich history and a modern, contemporary outlook, illustration brings life to concepts and stories through image making. Whether created digitally or by hand, an illustration can be both a masterful work of art and a practical business application. Illustrators marry their ability to create visually striking images with their ability to solve problems in unique and engaging ways. Illustrators create images for a variety of outlets that include children’s books, advertising campaigns, clothing, packaging and store displays, video games, movies, animations, and comic books. Illustrators are art directors, graphic, package and product designers, computer game developers, character designers, digital artists, animators, exhibit designers, and storyboard, concept and studio artists.

Program Objectives

Students graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration will:

• Demonstrate knowledge of figure study and picture making, along with traditional and digital technical skill development, leading to successful image making as it relates to the multi-faceted and ever-changing illustration industry;
• Demonstrate self-discovery through visual communication leading to point of view:
  • Acquire critical drawing and thinking skills;
  • Conceptual visual problem solving (developing intellectual curiosity, in connection with LA studies) leading to successful visual communication;
  • Discovering/developing point of view (critical thinking, critical visual thinking, and effectively combining content and technique in a unique expression).
• Demonstrate an understanding the unique aesthetic of the illustrator as designer and the development of knowledge and skills leading to successful design outcomes;
• Acquire and demonstrate knowledge of the history of illustration;
• Demonstrate habits of mind (studio process, research, personal discipline, time management, professional culture of the program) as well as the ability to articulate concepts and present ideas;
• Acquire and demonstrate knowledge and skills of professional development (presentation, marketing, promotion, business, Web design, entrepreneurship).

Program Requirements (126 credits)