'The impetus for good illustration is the drive of the creative to develop an image that simply communicates an idea efficiently. The impetus for great art is the will of the artist to develop work that challenges viewership to think critically and compassionately.

 

As an educator, helping illustration students to understand this distinction enough to characterize their own work is timelessly important.'

 

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Andrew has spent years as a contributing faculty member within the illustration and foundation departments at Montserrat College of Art in Beverly, Massachusetts and a longtime-participating instructor and director at Buck's Rock Performing & Creative Arts Camp in New Milford, Connecticut. In both programs, Andrew has helped to build and implement elective course material intended to enrich prevailing concepts of worldbuilding, storytelling, and illustration that may better allow for the development of young artists at a time when the speed of innovation within creative economies booms forward unmatched.

 

Having built an educator’s vocabulary that relies on some understanding of the prototypical twenty-first century student, his focus as a teacher and illustrator is to inspire invention and creative footwork commensurate to how quickly modern information and ideas are shared in a world where the archetypal definitions for artists are becoming increasingly smeared together. He has participated in workshops and public projects in both the Boston area and further afield, gravitating toward discussions of art and education that meaningfully encourage freedom-of-choice, Montessori-style classroom environments as a way to keep pace with the innovative whiplash of the new century.

 

Any individuals interested in programmatic collaboration, general arts discussion, or conversations leading to educational hiring are encouraged to get in touch!

 

 

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SELECT COURSE HISTORY

 

 

 

Illustration II: Media & Methods (IL230)

 

In Illustration II, students explore a range of approaches to creating finished art for communication problems. Projects foster media exploration, a variety of conceptual possibilities and the development of artistic solutions to illustration assignments. Color usage is a focus of the course.

 

Water-Based Media (IL213)

 

This course is an exploration of water-based paints (acrylic, watercolor and gouache) and additives. A variety of approaches and techniques are engaged including thin watercolor and thick impasto styles. Students work in class from still-life set ups and/or models and create art for visual communication applications. Demonstrations by the instructor augment class discussions, as will examination of the works of prominent illustrators and artists working with the media at hand.

 

Journalistic Drawing (IL326)

 

In this course, students will search for and report real stories from the world around them using their illustration artwork. From downtown Beverly, to nearby public places, to work environments (indoors and out) and even in their own residences, students will closely observe, render, document and comment visually on the things they investigate. The class will discuss fine and commercial art examples of visual journalism. On-site drawing will be a major focus of the course. Spatial and linear perspective, anatomy and natural science will all play roles in the successful creation of these site-specific narratives that detail place, action and story

 

Visual Propaganda (IL333)

 

This course focuses on the propagation of particular ideas, doctrines or behaviors utilizing the poster as the major art form. Course content addresses essential building blocks of image making emphasizing the power of simplicity in imagery and the issue of content as the focus from conception to finish. This studio course provides the opportunity to develop personal themes within contemporary social issues. Critical input from fine art, graphic design and humanities is encouraged. Not intended exclusively for illustrators.

 

Freshman Experience, FX (ID101)

 

This freshman seminar combines studio and art history methodologies to provide students with a holistic introduction to the visual arts, and to help students acclimate and transition to college level academic and studio work. This early interdisciplinary experience lays the foundation for active and critical engagement with all aspects of their artistic education. Offered in the first semester, the course features a structured and interrelated series of lectures, museum/gallery/studio visits, research, writing, and class discussions; these are complemented throughout by handson making, team- and individually-based projects, and critiques.

 

Color: Material & Light (ID100)

 

Students gain understanding of color theory and practical usage through hands-on making, individual- and team-based projects, and critiques. Concurrently, the course features a structured and interrelated series of lectures, research, writing, reading assignments & class discussions, as well as museum visits (in conjunction with other foundations courses). The course offers a survey of the history and application of color; investigates the physics, psychology, and cultural ramifications of color across media; and explores connections between material and meaning through art historical and contemporary studio practices. Students' early interdisciplinary experiences lay the foundation for active and critical engagement with all aspects of their artistic education.