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School of Illustration
MFA Faculty
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Bill Maughan
Director of Graduate Illustration
A professional illustrator and fine artist, Mr. Maughan received a Bachelor of Fine Art in
Illustration from the Art Center College of Design. He has provided numerous illustrations for such
companies as DreamWorks, Woman's Day, TV Guide, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, CBS, Universal
Studios, Wells Fargo Bank, Chevrolet, GMC, Franklin Library, New American Library, Avon Books,
Pinnacle Books, Signet Books, Tor Books, Doubleday, Harcourt Brace, Knopf, Oxford University Press,
Danbury Mint, Fenwick and others. Since the early '80s Mr. Maughan's work, both originals and
prints, has been represented by major galleries and publishers, domestically and internationally.
His works of art are included in private, commercial and museum collections. Mr. Maughan's book,
The Artist's Complete Guide to Drawing the Head, was published in 2004 by
Watson/Guptill.
When he's not teaching Academy students the fundamentals — realism-based drawing, design
concepts, value, form, color and composition — he paints in his studio in the mountains of
Utah.
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Lisa Berrett
Assistant Director of Illustration Earning her BFA in Illustration from the Academy of
Art College in 1986, Ms. Berrett has since worked in the field of freelance illustration for the
past 17 years. She has worked on a wide variety of projects ranging from children’s books and
magazines, games, CD ROM package art, advertising, food label art, product design, and educational
material that caters to children. Clients include The Learning Company, Electronic Arts, Simon
& Schuster, Ranger Rick Magazine, Monnens-Addis Design, Sonoma Cheese Co., Harcourt Brace,
Oddzon Products, Dole, Ottenheimer Publishing, Western Publishing, Wallen Green Design, and
Houghton Mifflin. Ms. Berrett has taught Clothed Figure Drawing here at the Academy of Art
University for the past three years and is the Faculty Coordinator of the Illustration
Department. |
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Terryl Anne Whitlatch
Full-Time Faculty
Terryl Whitlatch is one of the top creature designers and animal anatomists working in the
field today. In a career spanning over 25 years, Terryl has many projects to her credit, including
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace,
Star Wars:The Special Edition,
Jumanji 1 and 2,
Men in Black,
Brother Bear,
Dragonheart,
Alvin and the Chipmunks,
Curious George,
The Polar Express,
The Princess of Mars,
Zafari, and
Beowulf, to name a few. Clients include Industrial Light
and Magic, Lucasfilm, Ltd., Pixar, Talking Pictures, Walt Disney Feature Animation, PDI, EA,
LucasArts, Chronicle Books, Simon and Schuster, and various zoos and natural history museums. She
is also the author of two books,
The Wildlife of Star Wars and
The Katurran Odyssey. |
Gary Amaro Since 1986, Gary has worked as a freelance illustrator, working
extensively in comic book and editorial illustration. His clients have included Vertigo/DC, Paradox
Press, Caliber, First Publishing, Northstar, Podesta Publications, and Silverwolf Comics. He has
several published credits including
The Lot, which was nominated for the Eisner Award for best
short story in comics in 1995. Gary designed The Graphic Novel course to provide graduate students
with the mechanics, structures and possibilities of visual narratives. Gary is an inspirational and
enthusiastic instructor and is a regular committee member on the Midpoint and Final Review
committees for Graduate Illustration projects. He graduated with his Bachelor’s Degree from UC
Berkeley.
http://garyamaro.blogspot.com
Joko Budiono Joko has eight years professional experience in Illustration
including freelance architectural rendering and illustration projects for Midlen Production and
Punch Studio. Joko's shows include work submitted to Academy of Art University Galleries, SF Open
Studio, and San Francisco Society of Illustration shows. In addition, he has been involved with
Laguna Honda Hospital Art Project and teaches perspective drawing/workshop at the Academy of Art
University.
Warren Chang Warren Chang was born in Monterey, California and graduated the
Art Center College of Design with honors in 1981. Upon graduation he was hired as a staff
illustrator for the Atari game company. In 1983 he brached off to work as a freelance illustrator
in the advertising and entertainment industries in Los Angeles. In 1990 he moved to New York City
and over the next 10 years, he painted nearly 200 book covers for various publishing houses. In
2000, he moved back to California, and taught drawing and painting at the Academy of Art University
in San Francisco while pursuing a career in fine art. Chang's work has won many awards of merit
from the Society of Illustrators in New York and Communication Arts Magazine. In 2003, he won "Best
of Show" at the Salon International held in Texas and in 2004 he won second prize in the
International Artist magazine competition. In 2007 his work was featured on the cover of American
Artist magazine along with a 7 page article. In 2008 his work appeared twice on the covers of
International Artist magazine accompanying his 7 part series of instructional painting articles he
authored. Primarily a figurative artist, Chang paints the human figure in contemporary
environments, including biographical interiors, as well as outdoor genre subjects such as the
fieldworkers of Monterey County where he grew up.
Daniel Cooney Daniel Cooney is an artist, writer, and publisher who specializes
in sequential art and multi-media. Currently, he is a comic book and sequential art drawing
instructor with The Learning Exchange and Utrecht Gallery, a Reading and Writing Tutor with Sylvan
Learning Center, and an Illustrator, Writer, Letterer, and Publisher with Red Eye Press.
Additionally, Cooney is also a graphic designer. Cooney has worked as an Assistant Editor with
Marvel Comics in NY. Cooney holds a BFA in Illustration and Sequential Art from the School of
Visual Arts and is a candidate for an MA in Education from the University of Phoenix. Cooney is a
member of the Cartoon Art Museum.
www.redeyepress.net
Ruben DeAnda Mr. DeAnda is a freelance illustrator who has been published in
Contemporary Graphic Arts of the World and Idea International Advertising Art. Mr. DeAnda’s client
list includes Feldene Pfizer, American Red Cross, Anheuser Busch, Pepsi Cola, Fireman’s Fund
Insurance, Harcourt Brace and Ballet Foklorico de Cuba. Mr. DeAnda graduated from Art Center
College of Design with a BFA. He has been teaching at the Academy of Art University since 1996.
Kristina Komsthoeft Kristina has 22 years professional experience in
illustrative design, including experience as a freelance graphic artist/bookseller, owner of
Komsthoeft Design, Manager of Creative Services at Network Equipment Technologies, Inc., and
Graphics Consultant for Ashton-Tate. Her clients include American Heart Association, Apple
Computer, Graphically Speaking, Net Labs, Inc., Network Equipment Technologies, Inc., Reply
Corporation, and SynOptics Communication, Inc. Kristina received her BA in Art from University of
California, Santa Cruz, and BFA in Illustration from Academy of Art College.
Camille La Pointe-Lyons Camille LaPointe-Lyons is an experienced illustrator,
muralist, and painter with more than 20 years of experience. Currently, she is an art instructor,
teaching pol, watercolor, and acrylic painting at the Tamalpais Adult Community Education Center.
In addition to teaching, she is also a freelance illustrator, muralist, and painter. LaPointe-Lyons
has had her work exhibited all over the bay area, from the Sebastopol Center for the Arts and the
Marin Society of Artists Gallery to the California Watercolor Association's Exhibits. She has been
commissioned to do paintings for the Chevron Corporation and others. LaPointe-Lyons received her
BFA in Printmaking from the California College of Arts and Crafts and is currently pursuing her MFA
in Painting at the Academy of Art University. She is a well-traveled artist, having been to Europe,
the Middle East, and North Africa. She is an active member of the California Watercolor Association
and the SF Society of Illustrators.
www.camillelapointelyons.com
David Mar David Mar is an experienced animator, background designer, and
illustrator. Most recently, Mar was with Walt Disney Feature Animation in Florida where he was a
clean-up animator for such hit films as
Mulan,
Tarzan,
Emperor's New Groove,
Lilo and Stitch,
Brother Bear, and others. Prior to his 7-year stay at
Disney, Mar worked as a background designer with Sony Pictures Studios where his film credits
included the animated TV show
Jumanji. Mar received his BFA in Illustration from CSU -
Long Beach. He also studied drawing, painting, and layout classes at Academy of Art College,
California College of Arts and Crafts, and UC Berkeley for two years. Mar's work has been exhibited
at the Manor Gallery, Maitland Art Center, Oval Gallery, WDFA, Orlando Museum of Art, and others.
His painting has been published in
Orlando Magazine and his drawings featured in Barbara
Bradley's book
Drawing People: How to Portray the Clothed Figure.
http://davidmarstudios.com
Craig Nelson For over 30 years, Craig has been depicting figures, landscapes,
CA coastal paintings and various environments in rich, vibrant oils. He has painted countless movie
posters, many book covers, and album covers. Some of his most prestigious works have been his
Broadway production posters for Neil Simon's
Lost in Yonkers and
Proposal, both originals are in the private collection of
Neil Simon. During his illustrious career, Craig has won over 200 awards of excellence in various
shows, five gold metals, four silver metals, and in 1996, a painting of his was chosen for the
Communication Arts Annual cover.
http://craigzart.com
Stephen Player Stephen Player was born in Hertford, England in 1965. He left
school with A's in Art, English, and Technical Drawing. After his Foundation Course at Saint Albans
School of Art in 1984 he went on to graduate in 1987 from the Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts,
London, with a First Class Honours degree in Illustration. Stephen works mostly in publishing. He
has illustrated over 100 books: children's classics, fairy tales, fantasy, horror, science fiction
and graphic novels. Harper Collins, Penguin, and Hodder Headline and others have published his
work. Stephen has illustrated the writings of William Shakespeare, Mervyn Peake, Ruth Rendell,
Clive Barker, Philip K. Dick, Terry Pratchett, Joan Aitken and The Brothers Grimm. Winner of the
British Sci-Fi and Fantasy Association award for artwork 1994(the map of Terry Pratchett's
The Streets of Ankh Morpork); Stephen also received the
Substantial Contribution to Children’s Literacy Award from the UK Reading Association. His
paintings have been exhibited widely across Europe. Stephen's full curriculum vitae and a selection
of his work can be found at
http://playergallery.com. Stephen is a full-time instructor
at the Academy of Art University.
Robert Revels Robert Revels graduated from Academy of Art University with a BFA
in Illustration. Revels has over 6 years of experience in the graphic design industry. Mr. Revels
was chosen as one of two artists to represent the Academy in the SF International Arts Festival. He
was also the recipient of a Judges Choice Award from the SF Society of Illustrator's Annual Show.
Kazuhiko Sano Kazuhiko has been a freelance illustrator for various companies
since 1981. His past and current clients include ABC, American Express, American Red Cross,
AT&T, Bank of America, Chevron, Coca-Cola, IBM, Lucasfilm, Paramount Pictures, Walt Disney and
many more. His work has been exhibited widely from New York to San Francisco, including at the
Centeral Museum in Tokyo in 1992, and at the Museum of American Illustration in New York City in
1996. Sano's work is exhibited and shown regularly at the San Francisco Society of Illustrators. In
1992, he received the Patrick Nagel Award from Los Angeles Society in addition to numerous other
awards. Sano continues to be an active member of the Society of Illustrators in New York, Los
Angeles, and San Francisco. He received his BFA and MFA in Illustration from Academy of Art
University.
www.kazusano.com
Brandon Smith Brandon Smith obtained his BFA in Oil Painting from Academy of
Art University. He is an accomplished award-winning artist who has already held many exhibitions.
While pursuing his BFA, he received 2nd place at the Academy of Art University's Annual Spring Show
for the Portraiture/Figurative Painting and Background Painting Animation department's categories.
Additionally at the San Francisco Flower and Garden Show, Smith placed 1st in their Bench Contest.
Smith has held many solo and group exhibitions throughout the bay area. These include shows at the
Legion of Honor Museum, Academy of Art Gallery, the Waterhouse Gallery, and various restaurants.
While studying, Smith served as an Assistant to sculptor and painter, Cedric Wentworth. Since 2003,
Smith has been giving private painting lessons. His work is widely displayed in various private
collections.
www.brandonsmithpaintings.com
Sandra Speidel Sandy Speidel is an award-winning artist with years of
experience in studios and galleries. Additionally, she has more than 14 years of teaching
experience. She has taught Clothed Figure Drawing, Portraiture, and Pastels at Academy of Art
University. As a career illustrator for more than 20 years, Speidel's clients included Warner
Bros., Florabunda, US Postal Service, Sheraton Hotels, Apple Computer, American Express, and Portal
Publications. Having opened her fine art studio in 1999, she works on landscapes and figurative
work and offers group and private classes. She has received the Gold Medal from the SF Society of
Illustrators and the Pastel Society of the West Coast award for two consecutive years. She was also
on the New York Times Best Seller list. Her work has been shown in such galleries as Gallery One,
Dolphin Gallery, Tomales Art Gallery, and others. Speidel received her BA in English and Art from
Duke University and her MS in Journalism from Ohio University.
www.sandraspeidel.com
Diana Thewlis Diana Thewlis has been a San Francisco Bay Area freelance
illustrator since 1980. In 1981, she was accepted into the SF Society of Illustrators. Currently,
she serves as a member of their board of directors. Over the years, Thewlis has participated in
several juried SFSI annual shows. A partial client list includes Apple Computer, Pac Bell, Wine
Institute, Houghton Mifflin Co., McCann-Erickson, United Vinters, and The Pillsbury Co. In addition
to numerous appearances as a guest lecturer, Thewlis has been an instructor at the Academy of Art
University since 1993. She holds a BFA in Illustration from the same school. Since 1990, Thewlis
has enrolled in weekly Life Drawing sessions in addition to participating in ongoing professional
developmental classes and workshops. Thewlis is an active member of the SF Society of Illustrators
as their Membership Chairperson and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.
Cameron Wasson Since 1982, Cameron Wasson has been employed in her own
successful illustration business. Her clients include Time Inc., American Express, Apple Computer,
Johnson & Johnson, and many more. Wasson has been teaching fine arts since 1977. She has won
many honors such as CA Illustration Annual, 1988; NY Society of Publication Designers New
Illustrators Show, 1983; and Society of Illustrators Book Cover Show, 1987. Wasson has been
published in
Adweek,
CA Illustration, and
PRINT. She is a member of the Graphic Artists Guild and
received her BFA in Fashion Illustration from Art Center College of Design.
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