Ryan ORourke, Rich Pellegrino, and Emily Dumas will be chatting about how they’ve gone from emerging artists to published illustrators. David Hady will be moderating.
“Ryan O’Rourke has been working as an artist and educator since graduating with his BFA from The University of Hartford in 2000. He later returned to the school to complete his MFA degree in Illustration in 2012. As a freelance illustrator, Ryan has worked with a wide variety of book, editorial, advertising, and institutional clients. Most notably, he has illustrated fifteen children’s books and has written two. His client list includes HarperCollins Publishers, Boyds Mills Kane Press, Sterling Publishing, Charlesbridge Publishing, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Sleeping Bear Press, The Boston Globe, TIME for kids, The LA Weekly, PBS, Highlights Magazine, and many more. Ryan has received numerous awards for his work from The International Reading Association, Children's Book Council, American Illustration, Society of Illustrators, SILA, 3x3 Magazine, and the Connecticut Art Directors Club.
Ryan resides in Amherst, New Hampshire with his wife, three children. He is also an Associate Professor of Illustration at The Institute of Art and Design at New England College in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Rich Pellegrino is an award winning illustrator and Assistant Professor of Illustration and Comic Arts at New England College in Manchester, NH. He has a BFA in Illustration rom Rhode Island School of Design and MFA from New England College Visual Arts Program. Clients include: NFL, Microsoft Xbox, Wes Anderson, WWE, Valiant Comics, , BOOM Studios Comics, Rovio (Angry Birds), Blue Moon Brewing Co., Planet Rock Magazine, MARVEL STUDIOS, Warner Bros., Lucasfilm, Eric Clapton's Guitar Festival 2010, RISD XYZ, and Picture Window Books.
Pellegrino was commissioned by Wes Anderson to create a painting used in the film The Grand Budapest Hotel. His editorial portrait illustration for Planet Rock magazine was awarded the Bronze medal by the Society of Illustrators West 56. He is recognized by Spectrum 22, 24 and 26, Richmond Illustrators Club 2012, and CMYK 37. He currently resides in Weymouth, MA with his wife Kristina, their two daughters and cat, Ernie Bup Jr.
Emily Dumas (she/her) is a licensed illustrator and surface designer. As a former Art Director in advertising, Emily developed a keen sense of branding, design, and marketing. Her art has adorned a variety of products from paper goods to home decor; and has been exhibited and sold at trade shows and galleries across the U.S. Her illustrations include witty sayings, puns, inspiration from her love of food, and hip hop. Her palettes are often bright and cheery.
She has a BA in Graphic Design from Salem State University, where she is currently an adjunct professor. Emily resides north of Boston, Massachusetts, and is pretty fond of fitness regimens, naps, and tacos.”
