ART 373 Illustration IV

Monday / Wednesday 2:00-4:30 pm

Room: Wolf 318

Kristin Kest, Illustrator; kkest@ycp.edu , www.kestillustration.com

Office Hours by appointment

Welcome to Illustration IV!

This course is a mentor-guided, independent class.

This semester, you will have the opportunity to produce 10 -20 pieces of professional work for an illustration portfolio, as well as develop an "introduction" package for the publishers that you will eventually target for mailing  You will continue to hone your personal style within the content and genre of your interest, as well as continue to perfect your painting and drawing abilities. You will also be encouraged to develop an artist's statement that reflects on how the execution, style, and content of your work functions and is shaped by your ideas.

Students will also develop a resume and cover letter as well as learn to develop professional writing and communication skills.

We will continue to discuss and emphasize the importance of good studio habits such as discipline, consistency, and reliability as the student prepares to launch a professional career in illustration.

This course builds on the principles and skills learned in Illustration III, with further emphasis on professional practice and includes a large-scale, professional-level independent project. Students will continue to refine their personal styles while building a database of prospective clients and making actual contact for illustration commissions. The final illustration portfolio is presented. Prerequisite: ART323

3 credit hours. Satisfies ADR I.

Goals: The student will have at the end of the semester prepared a professional portfolio from which s/he will create a mailing package of samples, a resume, plus a cover letter. For students planning to attend a graduate program in fine art, art ed, or other, a digital portfolio, a curriculum vitae, cover letters and an artist's statment will be required.

Basic Plan for the Course: This course is an "independent study" with mentoring.

Students will develop prior to the beginning of the semester a "blueprint" of study that will outline specific plans for final portfolio work. This will include what new works will be added to the portfolio of existing work (10-20 pieces overall), how they will be executed, plus the overall design / presentation schema for the mailing package (logos, stationary, postcards, etc.). Additionally, students will research appropriate publishers for which they will market their work and generate specific, targeted mailings. Students who are planning on grad school will prepare mailings, portfolio powerpoint presentations, CDs, and letters of recommendation. All students will be expected to develop an artist's statement that reflects the content of the work.