Illustration Major (BA)

You’ve played the video games and been blown away by the graphics. You’ve admired the creativity of illustration in books. Perhaps as a kid you once thought how much fun it would be to be an illustrator but also wondered how realistic it was to make this dream a reality.

Well, take heart: As an illustration major at George Fox, you could very well pave a career path toward illustrating books, creating surface designs for products, delivering imagery for web or game development, or producing character and concept art.

And that’s just the beginning.

Illustrators find work as designers, creative directors, art directors and in a myriad of other roles related to image making. Many illustrators pursue freelance positions, which provide them with autonomy and flexibility in their work and life.

Entrepreneurial Artists

Contemporary illustrators are often known as artistic entrepreneurs, since their practices range from editorial work, self-directed projects and exhibition to merchandise design and much more.

Our faculty of working professionals will guide you through a curriculum in traditional media, digital tools and portfolio building that prepares you to pursue work and contracts as a practicing freelance professional.

Whether sitting at an easel or working with a Wacom tablet, you will develop creative problem-solving abilities and an authorial voice, and learn to translate ideas into visual forms.

100%
of art and design students complete an internship in their field before they graduate
Watch video: Illustration Major Focus: Anya Sirker | George Fox University

Chat with a Current Student

A happy current student

Why Study Illustration at George Fox?

Group of four students studying on the grass of the quad

What will I Study?

As an illustration major, you will study:

  • Character design
  • Visual storytelling
  • Digital and traditional media
  • Typography and lettering
  • Printmaking and Painting
View Major Courses
Corrie Patton

Corrie Patton

Illustration (2022)

My artistic confidence and skill has grown exponentially through the art department. With the care and welcoming nature of my professors, I can comfortably come to them with works in progress and receive generous feedback and encouragement. This department is my home as well as my take off point towards an incredible future in design and storytelling.

What’s after George Fox

The Portland metro region is well-known for its thriving arts community, bringing in millions of dollars annually and supporting a significant population of artists. Our students have had work featured in national magazines, have written original children’s books, and completed client work for regional businesses.

  • Freelance illustrator
  • Children’s book designer
  • Lettering artist
  • Comic book or graphic novel illustrator
  • Concept artist
  • Editorial illustrator
  • Technical illustrator
  • Medical illustrator
  • Storyboard artist
  • Cartoonist
  • Color specialist
  • Production artist
  • Brand illustrator

100% of art and design students at George Fox complete an internship in their field before they graduate. Here's where some of our student interned during the 2022-23 school year:

  • Ankrom Moisan
  • The Remodel Group
  • Maison Inc.
  • Tiffany Home Design
  • Wilson Architects
  • William and Paddon
  • Edge Multimedia
  • Northside Church
  • La Salle College Preparatory
  • Krista Martin Design
  • Garrison Hullinger Interior Design
  • Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce
Student standing on a ladder painting a mural on a building wall
  • Mural Project: A community mural project that included community engagement, city council presentation and production
  • Glass Project: A public works project producing glass installation for new buildings on campus
  • Tiny Home Village: Working in coordination with North Valley Friends Church to create plans and a vision for a tiny home village that offers low-income housing
  • Community Art & Design Workshop: Teaching high school students art and design
  • George App: Conceive, develop and present an app to serve students at George Fox by replacing clunky existing web systems on campus.