Illustration
Much of the artwork produced worldwide is made for commercial purposes. This art is sometimes called commercial or applied art. Students learn the concepts and techniques of this type of art in the Visual Communications area of the Palomar College Art Department.
Design and drawing classes in this area are tailored toward the practical and efficient production of imagery intended for commercial uses.
Illustration courses prepare students to draw and paint images to be used for editorial and product illustration.
Both Graphic Design and Illustration programs incorporate digital media in their courses of study. Software applications that are used include Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and AfterEffects, Corel Painter, Autodesk Maya, and Pixologic ZBrush. Courses in digital arts are meant to supplement, not replace, hand fabrication concepts and skills, and the prerequisites and/or recommended preparations reflect the skills needed to succeed in the variety of digital courses offered in our programs.
Courses and scheduling
About course offerings in Illustration:
Please note that courses in Graphic Design and Illustration, which include our digital coursework, use an D or a I after their number to distinguish them from other Art courses. They are listed under Art-Design (ARTD) and Art-Illustration (ARTI) in the Class Schedule.
For the latest class schedule or course/program information, please use the links below:
Details about the Illustration major including a summary of the program, requirements, and courses.
Current Palomar College Catalog for both class information and program requirements. You need only download the Art section of the catalog for this information.
Visit the class schedule on the Palomar College website to search for open classes!
View the Program Mapper for detailed course sequencing options, degree requirements and transfer information.
Some of what Illustrators do:
- Interactive illustration: web and mobile apps
- Entertainment/concept design for games and movies
- Environmental illustration
- Character design
- Animation (2-D and 3-D)
- Toy designEditorial illustration
- Advertising illustration
- Packaging
- Children’s books
- Album covers
- Concert art
- Event posters
- Graphic novels
- Political illustration
- Medical illustration
- Tattoo artist
- Snowboard/skateboard design