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School of Illustration

MFA Faculty

Bill Maughan

Bill Maughan
Director of Graduate Fine Art Painting & Illustration

"We provide a strong curriculum taught by professional fine artists emphasizing the fundamentals that are required to excel as an easel painter."

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 the vineyards of Napa Valley.

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

Lisa Berrett

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.

Barbara Bradley

Following her education at the University of California at Berkeley and at Art Center College of Design, Barbara Bradley (then known as Barbara Briggs) spent the first years of her professional life in illustration at Charles E. Cooper Studios in New York. After returning to the San Francisco Bay Area, she freelanced, winning many national awards in illustration. She also began teaching at the Academy of Art University, becoming Director of Illustration, a position she held for 25 years until her semi-retirement. For her work at the Academy, the College Career Association named her Outstanding Vocational Educator in 1992. She has taught drawing workshops in London, at Pixar, and at Disney Animation Studios in Burbank and Orlando. Today, Mrs. Bradley is a consultant at the Academy of Art University, where she also teaches her favorite subjects - drawing expressive people, characters, and children. Her work is in several private collections, corporate offices, the Society of Illustrators Museum of American Illustration, and the Permanent Collection of the US Air Force.

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 has 21 years professional experience in illustration including work as a freelance illustrator in New York City, and Los Angeles, staff illustrator at Atari, Inc., and teaching experience at Pratt Institute, Crosby Street Studio, and Art Center College of Design. His work can be viewed in Showcase 13, the Workbook II; JCA Annual 7,8, & 9; and Society of Illustrators 35th Annual. Warren's clients include Apple Computer, Bantam Books, Disney Films, Harlequin Enterprises, Lucas Films Ltd., MacMillan Publishing, NFL Properties, Reader's Digest Books, Universal Pictures, and Warner Home Video. www.warrenchang.com

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

William Maughan

William Maughan is an established fine artist with over 25 years of professional experience. He has been exhibiting his fine art since the early 1980's when he exhibited his Western Fine Art at the Annual October Open House at Husburg Fine Arts in Arizona. His original oil paintings and limited edition prints have sold worldwide. He has also worked as a freelance illustrator in both NY and CA since 1973. A partial list of his clients includes CBS Television, Wells Fargo, GMC, TV Guide, Cosmopolitan, Danbury Mint, and Universal Studios. Maughan is represented by several galleries on the west coast, including Maxwell Gallery, Americana Gallery, Dan May Gallery and the Garden Gallery. His landscape paintings are held in private collections throughout the country. He also has years of teaching experience for the Art Center College of Design and Academy of Art University, where he has been teaching since 1989. Maughan is currently the MFA Director of the Fine Arts department. He has been featured in Who's Who of Western Art. www.easelpainter.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.

Terryl Anne Whitlatch

Terryl Whitlatch received her BFA in Illustration from Academy of Art University. Since then, she has worked as an extremely prolific illustrator, having done work for well-known clients. Having started her career illustrating and designing signage, posters, and promotional materials for Knowland Park in the Oakland Zoo, she has moved on to work on several feature films. To her name, Whitlatch has been a Creature Designer for ILM for such movies as Men in Black, Curious George, Frankenstein, and Jumanji. She has also done film and animation concept work for various companies, including Paramount Pictures, Ice Blink Studios, Sony Image Works, PDI, and others. She is the creator and illustrator for The Katurran Odyssey as well as The Wildlife of Star Wars: a Field Guide. Additionally, Whitlatch has designed various video games, and taught and held gallery shows.