Two New Professional Illustrators Join Our Illustration Faculty

Dale Stephanos and Jon Sideriadis are both professional illustrators, who will strengthen our Illustration Department by bring a wealth of varied experiences to it.  They will join current faculty member David Wenzel to create an exceptional team in our Illustration Department. Wenzel is the acclaimed illustrator of the recently published graphic novel, The Hobbit, which is widely recognized as one of the most successful graphic format adaptations of a piece of classic literature.  Wenzel has illustrated over 30 books and during his career has received numerous commissions from book publishers along with advertising agencies, magazines, the giftware industry, and toy and game companies.  He is also the recipient of an array of awards.

Dale Stephanos has made an extremely successful living as an artist and illustrator for almost 30 years.  His unique style of characterizing politicians, authors, musicians, and other public figures has won him numerous commissions.  His illustrations have been featured in such publications as The New York Times, Newsweek, Mad Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, Sports Illustrated, Golf Digest, The New York Observer, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, Boston Herald and dozens of others.

Stephanos has received awards from the Society of Illustrators, Communication Arts, American Illustration, Illustrators West, the Maggies, and The Independent Newspaper Association.

Sideriadis has been an active freelance illustrator, writer, and production designer for over a decade.  His expertise in science fiction, fantasy art and mythological storytelling has led to his receiving a wide variety of commissioned work in feature films, television shows, video games, novels, comics, board games, trading cards, and album covers.  His motion picture job titles include co-writer and production designer of the science fiction short film, Blue Lollipop, and production designer of the feature film, Space Pirates.

During his time as a creature effects and make-up artist in Los Angeles, Calif., Sideriadis worked on monster make-up and costumes for feature length horror films including Silent Hill and Underworld 2.  His clients include Ye Olde Gaming Companye, Patrick Tatopoulos Designs, Eskimo Hill Pictures, Fuller Flippers, New Lands Press, KidsCOOK Productions, XVIVO 3D Animation Studios, Narcotics Anonymous World Services, the Hartford Courant, and Auf Dem Schwarzen Thron.

He is currently writing and illustrating an original mythology series called Astromythos, which comprises an extensive series of books containing original myths from his invented universe.

Sideriadis earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) from the Rhode Island School of Design and a
Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) from Hartford Art School.

Dean Sally Seaman comments, "The addition of these two outstanding illustrators to our faculty will create a dynamic team in our Illustration Department.  We are looking forward to such an exciting year ahead."