Noemi Zelanski Kearns, Principal and Creative Director of Ink&Pixel Agency was invited to speak with students in a classroom at the UConn School of Fine Arts in November. The course, ART 3270, Going Pro is an upper division combination format of lecture-meets-workshop that delves into professional practices in illustration and animation. Topics throughout the semester include market preparedness, portfolio development, branding, business communication and tools, networking, and promotion.
Led by none other than Cora Lynn Deibler — Professor of Illustration and Department Head, ad interim — Going Pro gives students real-world insights into the creative field, and helps hone their talents with a competitive edge as they prepare themselves for becoming a creative professional in this diverse, ever-changing landscape.
Noemi was thrilled at the opportunity to return to campus once again and share her experience with art students. Especially exciting was knowing this unique course has Prof. Deibler at the helm — whose esteemed tenure as a art professor is only matched by her long-time professional career as an illustrator.
Going Pro is a wonderful product of this creative mashup, speaking volumes to Deibler’s multi-faceted expertise. She’s always been known among students to bring detailed knowledge of the professional world into the classroom even when not required by course description. She pushes the boundaries of knowledge even further in Going Pro, where other creative professionals such as Noemi are asked to share their wisdom with the students — and share she did.
Noemi enjoyed the lecture and was happy to share her professional knowledge with the class — after all, many of these students are on their way to becoming professional colleagues of Ink&Pixel, so what better opportunity for early introductions? Not to mention Noemi has a particular passion for academia and a die-hard love of all things UConn. Her talk certainly kept them all engaged (Cora Lynn’s students are amazing!) and then to top it off, Noemi left them with some awesome Ink&Pixel merch.
Update: Noemi has such an impact on the students, that a group from the class made a road trip all the way from Storrs to Ink&Pixel and joined us at our CADC Studio Socials event held here at our agency in Guilford. It was a treat for Noemi to see them again, and the CADC and Ink&Pixel staff gave them a warm welcome. Thanks to those who attended!
Prof. Deibler specializes in editorial and children’s illustration. She performed as Spider magazine’s resident serial artist from January 2004 until 2009. Awards have included How magazine’s self-promotional annual, the Print Regional Annual, The New York State Press Association, and RSVP’s annual illustration competition, among others. She is currently working on her first graphic novel.
She is a member of the Society of Illustrators, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and Phi Kappa Phi. She participates in shows at the Society of Illustrators Museum of American Illustration in New York City, has served as a long time member of their Educators Symposium Committee. Her work appeared in “Women in Illustration: Contemporary Visions and Voices” and in “Picturing Health,” both at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA. She currently serves on the Board of the Low Illustration Committee at the New Britain Museum of American Art and is the past Chair of Communications for the National Council of Arts Administrators.
For more information about Cora Lynn, visit C. L. Deibler Studio.