Illustration Institute gives community members the rare opportunity to learn how these artists have developed their careers and craft. They bring their unique perspective and behind-the-scenes view into what the creative process and their careers require. This rich insight aims to inspire, to instruct and to enrich students of all ages and abilities.
Illustrators bring stories to life in a tangible way. Our programming provides the opportunity to create deep and personal connections to art and literacy.
Illustration Institute's mission is to raise appreciation and awareness of illustration in its many forms. ii seeks to provide people of all ages the opportunity to learn directly from master artists and working professionals through exhibitions and workshops provided at public libraries, museums, schools, and other community venues.
Illustration is an artform with an ancestral home in Maine. Our state has a legacy of attracting authors and illustrators from the beloved Robert McCloskey, Barbara Cooney and E.B.White to current gems; Melissa Sweet and Chris Van Dusen, Ashley Bryan and Daniel Minter to name only a few. Inspired by this rich heritage, Illustration Institute is specifically interested in sharing this legacy and teaching new illustrators and writers of all ages and abilities.
In October, 2016 we launched our first illustration exhibit at Portland Public Library, featuring eighteen contemporary professional illustrators. We then held a total of twenty free public events throughout 2017 featuring a diverse group of illustrators and writers of national acclaim.
In June of 2017, we also launched a summer artist residency on Peaks Island, Maine bringing illustrators, writers and artists to share their talents with the community as well as be inspired by the beauty of the island.
our board (click to see bio)
UPDATE: WELCOME to our NEW BOARD MEMBER BRYN ROBERTS! DETAILS and a PORTRAIT to come! Many thanks to our outgoing treasurer, Ed Daranyi, a founding board member to whom we remain so grateful!
Our Advisory Board includes: Henrik Drescher, Fred Seibert, Emily Flake, John Funk, Olwyn Moxhay, Lizzy Rockwell, Ponch Membreno, Mary Anne Lloyd, Jessica Esch, Matthew Perry, Kate Gardiner & Loveis Wise
Illustrations by Kate Gardiner
WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO OUR SPONSORS, FOUNDATION SUPPORT and INDIVIDUAL DONORS! WE THANK YOU and our ARTISTS THANK YOU!!
CURRENT & PAST GENEROSITY from CANDLEWICK PRESS, THE MARGARET E BURNHAM CHARITABLE TRUST, THE DAVIS FOUNDATION, THE HORIZON FOUNDATION, THE STEPHEN & TABITHA KING FOUNDATION, THE LUNDER FOUNDATION, THE MAINE ARTS COMMISSION, THE MAINE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, THE ONION FOUNDATION, THE PEAKS ISLAND FUND, THE PERLOFF FOUNDATION,THE ROXANNE QUIMBY FOUNDATION, THE VIRGINIA HODGKINS SOMERS FOUNDATION, THE SPRAGUE FOUNDATION & the “Z” FUND.
Funded in part by a grant from the Maine Arts Commission, an independent state agency supported by the National Endowment for the Arts”