Illustration
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
- Cartoon Network
- CBS News
- DC Comics
- Disney Consumer Products
- DreamWorks Animation
- Forever 21
- Hallmark
- Hasbro
- Homage
- LEGO
- Lucasfilm
- Marvel Comics
- New York Times
- Orange Barrel Media
- Pixar
- Wall Street Journal
Illustration Student Work
Line
Mallory Kish
Characters in Environment
Lee Sambas
Stained Glass Cutout
Anna Malone
Scale and Proportion
Dennis Parker
Steampunk
Darcy Cunningham
Animalized Digital Self-Portrait
Brianna Garman
Characters in Environment
Lee Sambas
This piece was created in my sophomore year for an assignment about historical narrative illustration. I chose to depict the famous tale of Emperor Ai of Han and his lover, "The Passion of the Cut Sleeve". The tale's relevance as a famous queer anecdote has stuck with me ever since I first read it, which is what moved me to illustrate it for this assignment. I focused primarily on the drapery throughout the scene, as well as populating the environment in a believable and visually engaging way.
2027
Digital Illustration
Stained Glass Cutout
Anna Malone
2027
Cut Paper
Scale and Proportion
Dennis Parker
2028
Graphite
Steampunk
Darcy Cunningham
This project was meant to focus on learning and using Adobe Photoshop. The purpose was to take something from nature - an animal, flower, or portrait - and make it steampunk. I chose a goldfish because I was thinking about using a complementary color palette for this project. Using the warm hues from the goldfish and hardware to contrast the blue water to create something visually appealing.
2026
Digital Painting
Animalized Digital Self-Portrait
Brianna Garman
An anthropomorphized self-portrait from Digital Illustration, during the spring of my sophomore year. It was an interesting exercise in exaggeration and digital painting techniques. I felt like an alligator would be an interesting animal to digitally paint, and this project allowed me to really play with interesting colors, which is one of my favorite parts of the artistic process.
2026
Digital Painting
Take the Next Step
Learn how to apply, build your portfolio, explore financial aid, and start your journey at CCAD.
Spaces to Make
Our campus has the tools and the spaces to help you make your vision real.
You can create work in our 2D illustration lab, which features scanners, drawing tables, open lounge space, Wacom Cintiq 22 monitors, a light table, drawing projectors, drawing tables, a cutting table, a mat cutter, cameras, and a cleaning sink.
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.
Kinney Hall also offers a print lab with high-quality printers that can print marketable pieces in no time.
Faculty
Meet the people who will help you along your creative and professional journey.
Adjunct Faculty
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Anthony Baker[email protected]
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Annalise Barber[email protected]
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Eric Buescher[email protected]
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Victoria Carmina[email protected]
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Thomas Glick[email protected]
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Jason Johnston[email protected]
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Julian Lee[email protected]
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Kevin Lopes[email protected]
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Nikki Smetters[email protected]
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Michael Watson[email protected]
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Brian Williams[email protected]
Course Spotlight
Advanced Digital Painting
Bring your observations and imagination to life through digital painting. This course will build upon your digital skills in raster applications and rendered bitmap imagery in an illustrated painterly manner. Traditional painting and drawing techniques will be brought into the digital space to showcase: texture, lighting, and form by using and creating unique brushes and applying different advanced techniques. Strengthen your digital painting skills and learn different styles while building your illustration portfolio.
Illustration First Year Experience
Academic Year
Freshman Year - Fall
| Course Title |
|---|
| 2D Creative Practice |
| Systems of Drawing |
| Collaboration |
| Mod Contemporary or Historical Art History |
| Writing and the Arts |
Freshman Year - Spring
| Course Title |
|---|
| 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
- Freelance Illustrator
- Poster Artist
- Product and Toy Designer
Illustration News
At Columbus College of Art & Design, students have the opportunity to work with real clients to develop real solutions. And some of them are really cute.
