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Study Illustration

Become a skilled visual storyteller and image-maker by combining classic skills with new and emerging technologies. Engage clients and change cultures through PNCA's Illustration degree.

Program Snapshot

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Major

121

4 Years

PNCA Campus

Person manipulating a puppet with a hand control device in a studio.

Our Illustration Major

Generate culturally relevant ideas, create never-before-seen worlds and characters, and craft new narratives. PNCA's Illustration program offers a powerful skillset to flourish in a variety of creative markets. Develop visual communication skills for animated films, computer gaming, picture book and comics publishing, visual journalism, and more.

Why choose Illustration at Pacific Northwest College of Art?

  • Develop your professional practice. Our program equips you for a successful career in Illustration. Our alumni have worked with Laika, Widen & Kennedy, and Adidas.
  • Facilities built for you. Visit the Wacom Lab Cintiqs, IntuosPro Tablets, Wacom stylus pens and Mobile Studio Pros. Utilize state-of-the-art printers and scanners at the Digital Fine Art Printing Lab and make books in the Publication Lab. Students can also develop their skills in our professional grade Risograph studio.
  • Freedom to explore different facets. Explore illustration for video games, graphic novels, and even designing your own line of products. Our degree allows students to test out different mediums and industries to find their niche.

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Student Work

Students strengthen their voices through professional practice. PNCA illustration students are often finalists in the Society of Illustrators Student Exhibition. They compete for the Argyle Winery Scholarship, showcase work in 3X3 Magazine, and score highly-competitive internships. Students can also showcase their work in student-run galleries on campus.

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Illustration Faculty

Find award-winning illustrators, designers, authors, and educators within the Illustration department. Many professors are also working artists, contributing to the creative community. PNCA hosts panels, visiting artists, and speakers who bring a breadth of knowledge to students.

  • Headshot of Colete Martin

    Meet Colete Martin

    Colete Martin is a figurative acrylic painter and illustrator living and working in Portland, Oregon. She currently shows in the pop-surrealism/lowbrow gallery scene, and teaches drawing and painting at studios around Portland, and in the continuing education program for the Rhode Island School of Design.

  • Phoenix McNamara headshot

    Meet Phoenix Macnamara

    Phoenix McNamara is a multi-disciplinary and multi-media artist. She works in the intersection of illustration, brand design, and craft with a particular focus in textiles, and is very engaged in how artists can make an independent living.

  • Headshot of Martin French

    Meet Martin French

    Martin French, Professor and Illustration Chair at PNCA, is celebrated internationally for his dynamic visual exploration of life and culture. His distinctive style has earned awards from prestigious organizations and adorned works for clients such as Apple, Nike, and The New York Times.

Curriculum

Our curriculum is energized by a fluid mix of traditional skills and digital tech, allowing for artists to create unique personal visions able to navigate a market that is always in flux. Our illustration major offers a variety of courses to help you build your portfolio and develop as an artist. Learn important software, techniques, and mediums to further your knowledge of illustration.

  • IL262 Graphic Novel

    This course introduces the fundamentals of visual storytelling in the medium of comics and then builds on that foundation through process and experimentation. Students will develop their storytelling skills, as well as their own narrative voice. 

  • IL351 Visual Vocabulary

    Meld the demands of the marketplace with the personal journey of art creation. Learn how to transition from initial concept sketches to polished final artworks, all within real-world time constraints. Refine your creative process and elevate your skills.

Program Requirements

Our Illustration major requires 121 credits to complete the degree. This includes: 76 in studio, 30 in Liberal Arts and Sciences, and 15 in Art History. Of the studio credits, 16 are required courses in the Foundation program, at least 36 are the required courses in the studio major, and the remainder are available for studio electives. A minimum two-year residency at the College is required.

A young student standing on a staircase balcony working on an illustration
Admissions Information

Our Illustration program is open to first-year students, transfer students, and international students. Learn more about PNCA’s undergraduate admissions process to get started.

Person sketching a face at a white table with a black and white photo reference beside them.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Most students receive financial aid, ranging from scholarship opportunities to federal work study and need-based grants and loans. PNCA also considers illustration students for full tuition scholarships. PNCA is committed to a better future by providing fair and equitable admission processes. The BFA program automatically considers all students applying for merit-based scholarships. In addition, we also offer BFA Equity Scholarships, Juried Scholarships, Pre-College Scholarships, International Scholarships and Community College Transfer Partner/Transfer Agreement Scholarships.
A person creating sketches with a pencile in a sketchbook while listening to music

FAQs

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