Illustration
![](https://ccad-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Program-Page-Photo-Assets/Illustration/Illustration-Banner.jpg?w=1440&h=810&q=90&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1706220368&s=448f3ad86b848dc9b3ed40a4d8429402)
When words aren’t enough, you complete the picture.
You have creative talent—and you’ll take it to the next level in our top-ranked Illustration program. Here, you’ll develop the skills you need to communicate ideas and emotions through pictures. You’ll master drawing and rendering techniques and learn how to use new tools, guided by faculty members who have active creative practices in illustration.
As a CCAD student, you’ll learn how to breathe life into character designs, craft attention-grabbing motion graphics, create out-of-this-world 3D objects, and much more. You’ll graduate prepared for what you want to do next, whether that’s writing and illustrating your own books, creating eye-catching prints and posters, or contributing to the cutting-edge concepts, characters, and worlds that top entertainment companies are looking for.
Recent Employers
- American Greetings
- Bath & Body Works
- Boeing
- Cartoon Network
- CBS News
- DC Comics
- Disney Consumer Products
- DreamWorks Animation
- Forever 21
- Hallmark
- Hasbro
- LEGO
- Lucasfilm
- Marvel Comics
- New York Times
- Ogilvy & Mather
- Orange Barrel Media
- Pixar
- Wall Street Journal
Illustration Student Work
![](https://ccad-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/art/Illustration/ILLU_Clynn-Yeoh_Childrens-Picture-Book.jpg?w=740&q=90&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1708296452&s=214505d972679cd4573b084ceaa3b369)
Children's Picture Book
Clynn Yeoh
![](https://ccad-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/art/Illustration/Schmee_Bailey_Junior_Chroma23_02.jpg?w=740&h=555&q=90&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1708037567&s=efa893745dfeeb8d226633198ea712c9)
Character Study
Bailey Schmee
![](https://ccad-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/art/Illustration/ILLU-Abbie-Ridpath-Children-Illustration-Markets.jpg?w=740&q=90&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1708037256&s=9e1f46a503874f59fcf84771f0f3232c)
Cat Cycle Days
Abbie Ridpath
![](https://ccad-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/art/Illustration/Neff_J_3D_Model_Final_Render_1.jpg?w=740&q=90&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1708037104&s=1117d3eadabd50f11cf7c370c70ffb08)
Walrus Character 3D Digital Model
Joseph Neff
![](https://ccad-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/art/Illustration/Bill-Wang_Senior_Chroma23.jpeg?w=740&q=90&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1715262627&s=60c96ba67064ec2297cacc6cbfe2e817)
Chroma
Bill Wang
![](https://ccad-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/art/Illustration/Haejung-Lee_-Sophomore_Chroma23.jpg?w=740&q=90&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1708036505&s=4942f95ae47d06132ce0015daea2efce)
Perspective Drawing
Haejung Lee
![](https://ccad-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/art/Illustration/Heidi-Lamerson2.CHROMA2023.jpg?w=740&q=90&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1708036285&s=a731bde331289a2ffd94213744935e60)
Orville Peck Poster
Heidi Lamerson
![](https://ccad-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/art/Illustration/Emily_Wick_Chroma23.jpg?w=740&q=90&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1708035914&s=b17947e9747e7233f057520f874815f8)
Exterior Architecture Perspective Drawing
Emily Wick
![](https://ccad-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/art/Illustration/Hillary-Mattox_SR_Chroma23.jpg?w=740&q=90&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1707428939&s=16a755fdad91c48fde734fc9cad24502)
Adventure Together
Hillarie Mattox
Children's Picture Book
Clynn Yeoh
2023
![ILLU Clynn Yeoh Childrens Picture Book](https://ccad-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/art/Illustration/ILLU_Clynn-Yeoh_Childrens-Picture-Book.jpg?w=740&q=90&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1708296452&s=214505d972679cd4573b084ceaa3b369)
Character Study
Bailey Schmee
2024
![Schmee Bailey Junior Chroma23 02](https://ccad-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/art/Illustration/Schmee_Bailey_Junior_Chroma23_02.jpg?w=740&q=90&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1708037567&s=5fb7c60c986e0250b5e8ca65ceb9308a)
![ILLU Abbie Ridpath Children Illustration Markets](https://ccad-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/art/Illustration/ILLU-Abbie-Ridpath-Children-Illustration-Markets.jpg?w=740&q=90&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1708037256&s=9e1f46a503874f59fcf84771f0f3232c)
Walrus Character 3D Digital Model
Joseph Neff
2022
3D Digital
![Neff J 3 D Model Final Render 1](https://ccad-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/art/Illustration/Neff_J_3D_Model_Final_Render_1.jpg?w=740&q=90&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1708037104&s=1117d3eadabd50f11cf7c370c70ffb08)
![A colorful and detail illustration of a skeleton body and a human body](https://ccad-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/art/Illustration/Bill-Wang_Senior_Chroma23.jpeg?w=740&q=90&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1715262627&s=60c96ba67064ec2297cacc6cbfe2e817)
Perspective Drawing
Haejung Lee
2024
![Haejung Lee Sophomore Chroma23](https://ccad-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/art/Illustration/Haejung-Lee_-Sophomore_Chroma23.jpg?w=740&q=90&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1708036505&s=4942f95ae47d06132ce0015daea2efce)
Orville Peck Poster
Heidi Lamerson
2023
![Heidi Lamerson2 CHROMA2023](https://ccad-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/art/Illustration/Heidi-Lamerson2.CHROMA2023.jpg?w=740&q=90&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1708036285&s=a731bde331289a2ffd94213744935e60)
Exterior Architecture Perspective Drawing
Emily Wick
2024
![Emily Wick Chroma23](https://ccad-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/art/Illustration/Emily_Wick_Chroma23.jpg?w=740&q=90&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1708035914&s=b17947e9747e7233f057520f874815f8)
Adventure Together
Hillarie Mattox
2027
![Hillary Mattox SR Chroma23](https://ccad-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/art/Illustration/Hillary-Mattox_SR_Chroma23.jpg?w=740&q=90&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1707428939&s=16a755fdad91c48fde734fc9cad24502)
Spaces to Make
Our campus has the tools and the spaces to help you make your vision real.
![CCAD Spaces To Make](https://ccad-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Program-Page-Photo-Assets/Illustration/Spaces-to-Make/CCAD-Spaces-To-Make.jpg?w=1440&q=90&auto=format&fit=clip&dm=1706224255&s=af55a04e00cd11b30b02de42160c5837)
You can make limited-run prints using our printmaking lab and equipment. And wherever your creativity takes you, you can show your work in our Kinney Hall lobby exhibition space.
![CCAD Illustration Lab](https://ccad-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Program-Page-Photo-Assets/Illustration/Spaces-to-Make/CCAD_IllustrationLab.jpg?w=1440&q=90&auto=format&fit=clip&dm=1706224250&s=4444b87083eb3d5e94242ba2d9b1118d)
You can create work in our 2D illustration lab, which features scanners, black and white and color printers, drawing tables, open lounge space, Cintiq monitors, a light table, drawing projectors, drawing tables, a cutting table, a mat cutter, cameras, and a cleaning sink.
![Illustration Lab 2024 16](https://ccad-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Program-Page-Photo-Assets/Illustration/Spaces-to-Make/Illustration_Lab_2024_16.jpg?w=1440&q=90&auto=format&fit=clip&dm=1710183495&s=e4ab448d434c81d0f3159f714f8b5ff2)
From high-tech apps and equipment to analog tools like light tables, you’ll have access to the items you need to realize your vision, from initial drafts to your final work.
Faculty
Meet the people who will help you along your creative and professional journey.
Adjunct Faculty
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Vincent Alexander[email protected]
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Eric Buescher[email protected]
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Thomas Glick[email protected]
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David Hovey[email protected]
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Jason Johnston[email protected]
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Julian Lee[email protected]
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Penelope Miller[email protected]
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Evangelia Philippidis[email protected]
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Isabella Raines[email protected]
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Mark Riedy[email protected]
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Amanda Root-Thompson[email protected]
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Phil Weasley[email protected]
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Brian Williams[email protected]
Course Spotlight
Character and Environment Design
You’ll strengthen your illustrative drawing skills—and your storytelling ability—in this course, which includes character development and storyboards. You’ll do that in part thanks to class assignments that will help you better observe and depict the human figure through drawing (clothed) models.
Illustration First Year Experience
Academic Year
Freshman Year - Fall
Course Title |
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2D Creative Practice |
Systems of Drawing |
Collaboration |
Mod Contemporary or Historical Art History |
Writing and the Arts |
Freshman Year - Spring
Course Title |
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Intro to Illustration |
Drawing for Entertainment Design |
3D Making with Care |
History of Comics and Illustration |
Liberal Arts Self and Society Course |
Illustration careers
After earning their BFA in Illustration, our graduates leave ready to take on such roles as:
- Advertising designer
- Apparel graphics designer
- Book illustrator
- Character and asset designer
- Editorial illustrator
- Fine artist