What You Need to Know to Be an Illustrator in Idaho

The state of Idaho features well over 160,000 commercial businesses.  Many of them seek out talented local illustrators for visual projects such as comic book art, instructional materials, video game designs and text illustrations, among others.  Ample opportunities exist for Idaho artists with a special gift for illustrative art.

Idaho Schools and Training Programs for Illustrators

Many Idaho Universities, colleges and private art schools feature classes, workshops and professional training in illustrative arts.  Aspiring illustrators earning degrees at Idaho visual arts colleges often study fine arts and communications design.  Among the most highly recommended Idaho arts colleges are Idaho State University in Boise, College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls, Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Brigham Young in Rexburg, and Albertson College in Caldwell, among others.

Lately, increasing enrollments of Idaho artists obtain technical skills and earn illustration degrees online.  Successful accredited virtual visual art schools include Post University, Full Sail University, Stratford Career Institute, University of Phoenix, The Art Institutes, ITT Tech and DeVry.  Many online schools also provide supplemental local campuses and resource facilities.  University of Phoenix has campuses in Meridian and Idaho Falls.  ITT Tech has a campus in Boise. 

Working as an Illustrator in Idaho

Idaho businesses that hire local illustrators include news syndicates, website developers, architects, landscape designers and programmers.  Some Idaho artists create commercial illustrations for local graphic design firms like Motive-Media-Advertising in Boise, Gradient-Shift in Riggins, Brushworks-Signs-&-Graphics in Nampa, Outside-the-Box-Studios in Sandpoint, Blue-Sky-Mondays in Lewiston and Steve-Smallwood in Moscow, for instance.  Other local illustrators work for Idaho engineering firms like SGW Designworks in Boise, Landmark Engineering in Nampa, Hopkins Structural Design Solutions in Lewiston, Pacific Residential Resources in Eagle, Basic Engineering in Fruitland and Ag-Tech in Twin Falls, among others.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not provide current employment stats pertaining to professional illustrators employed in the state of Idaho.

Idaho Schools to Consider:

Illustrators create detailed visual images by drawing and coloring, usually with hand-held mechanical implements like pens, pencils and styluses.  Professional illustrators are masters of proportion, perspective and composition (also known as layout).  They are familiar with many different drawing methods, styles and genres, rapidly rendering sketches and embellishments on command.  Professional illustrators are also skilled with related digital illustration design software.  Currently popular varieties include Compact Draw, Zoner Draw, Quark Xpress, Intaglio and ACD Canvas, among many more.