Can you Become an Illustrator with a Printmaking Degree?

Can you become an illustrator with a printmaking degree? Yes you can. Artists may study fine arts with a focus on printmaking and then work as illustrators after they leave college.
 
Printmaking lends itself well to black and white illustration. Printmakers such as Robert Blackburn have helped to train many talented artists over the years.

Robert Blackburn's parents were Jamaicans. He was born in New Jersey and later moved to Harlem. While his background was in printmaking, he was able to apply those skills as a professional graphic artist.

Donna Diamond was one fo the artists encouraged by Robert Blackburn in printmaking. She studied at his Printmaking Workshop and later used her training to do art for books. Those books have won the Newberry Medal, the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award and several other prestigious awards.

Here are some artists who work as illustrators and use techniques they learned as printmakers:

• Alice Pattullo
• JW and Melissa Buchanan
• Cate James

You may also choose to do a Master’s degree in illustration if you want to focus on illustration. A degree in printmaking gives you the foundation to work as a graphic designer, illustrator and printmaker.