Atlanta College of Art - graduating class review board
Rick Lovell, head of the illustration department at the Atlanta College of Art, recently invited me to review portfolios of the last graduating class (ACA is being absorbed by the Savannah College of Art and Design/Atlanta, aka SCAD). I was honored to share the responsibility with two masters in our field: Dave Clegg and Gary Overacre. To give you an idea of what I mean by "masters": in college we were shown art slides and tested to name the illustrator of each slide - Gary's art was part of the test!
I also enjoyed meeting Jay Montgomery, another of the talented faculty guiding the students to success.
I'll be sorry to see ACA go - what a fantastic facility - and right across from the High Museum of Atlanta. Can you imagine a better location? Still, they will be moving on to a very fancy facility at SCAD.
There were five graduating seniors and their styles were completely different from each other. Rick really let them push their true loves artistically and I think he did them a huge favor. Most of the students are well on their way to finding their artistic voices. I so enjoyed seeing their outstanding art, but especially their enthusiasm. I will be honored to have these students join the illustration field:
Ami Blackford - Get used to this name, she's
already got a children's book under contract and it is SPECIAL!!!
Semin Chun - wonderful torn paper/collage work - her fine art is really captivating.
Ester Wilson - Beautifully unique style, she likes to paint on wood - watch out New York, she's got "book designer" in her scopes, and she's going to be GREAT!
Jetuan Reeves - Jetuan's passion doesn't lie in illustration, but her trees are something truly worth enjoying.
Anthony Hicks - another one who's name we need to listen for as he comes up in the very hip art scene of LA. Disturbing, dark and proficient work, Anthony is truly a "FINE" artist.
The program that nurtured these talented students obviously did a wonderful job letting them express their passions and create portfolios that are much more mature than many I've seen from recent graduates. I think they will all do very, very well. What a joy to review all their hard work and skills!
Here's a picture Rick took of me with Ester and Ami at lunch.
I also enjoyed meeting Jay Montgomery, another of the talented faculty guiding the students to success.
I'll be sorry to see ACA go - what a fantastic facility - and right across from the High Museum of Atlanta. Can you imagine a better location? Still, they will be moving on to a very fancy facility at SCAD.
There were five graduating seniors and their styles were completely different from each other. Rick really let them push their true loves artistically and I think he did them a huge favor. Most of the students are well on their way to finding their artistic voices. I so enjoyed seeing their outstanding art, but especially their enthusiasm. I will be honored to have these students join the illustration field:
Ami Blackford - Get used to this name, she's
already got a children's book under contract and it is SPECIAL!!!
Semin Chun - wonderful torn paper/collage work - her fine art is really captivating.
Ester Wilson - Beautifully unique style, she likes to paint on wood - watch out New York, she's got "book designer" in her scopes, and she's going to be GREAT!
Jetuan Reeves - Jetuan's passion doesn't lie in illustration, but her trees are something truly worth enjoying.
Anthony Hicks - another one who's name we need to listen for as he comes up in the very hip art scene of LA. Disturbing, dark and proficient work, Anthony is truly a "FINE" artist.
The program that nurtured these talented students obviously did a wonderful job letting them express their passions and create portfolios that are much more mature than many I've seen from recent graduates. I think they will all do very, very well. What a joy to review all their hard work and skills!
Here's a picture Rick took of me with Ester and Ami at lunch.
Labels: Events
posted by Elizabeth O. Dulemba at
4:54 PM
4 Comments:
Honored and Glowing from such an outstanding description of your experience today.
Thank you again Elizabeth.
It was a pleasure to meet you.
Many Thanks,
Ami Blackford
Thanks very much Elizabeth! It was really great to get professional feedback, and thank you for all those links. I went home right away and signed up for the Publisher's lunch newsletter. All your thoughts are very valuable to me, thanks for taking the time to give us such helpful reviews today.
What a wonderful way to send off these terrific students! Thanks so much to you, Gary and Dave for your thoughtful criticism and support. I couldn't have chosen a better panel, and I will be forever grateful for the time you spent with these students.
I will be keeping in touch with all you guys when we move up Peachtree to our new digs at SCAD, and would love for each of you to visit and maybe give a talk or do a demo or both!
Thanks again,
Rick Lovell
Wow Elizabeth! I am so impressed and grateful that you took time out of your busy week to talk honestly and professionally to our students. We truly do have a great and diverse group of talented illustrators and artists. Your insight and helpful tips were invaluable to the students. They have worked so hard to get to this point and they needed to hear it from someone else besides Rick, Theo and I. Your work looks fantastic and I will definitely be diving into your site and work to soak it all in a little later. Let's definitely keep in touch. Many Thanks!
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home