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Why Major in Illustration?
Watkins College of Art’s B.F.A. in Illustration program will expand your knowledge of art and the world while developing your creative hand and feeding your curious mind. The studio-based curriculum with its entrepreneurial focus provides the ideal path for emerging illustrators… you.
Our students and graduates consistently win national illustration awards and secure competitive internships and employment with creative firms and illustration agencies.
What can you expect?
Students will graduate with a competitive, entry-level portfolio demonstrating their understanding of the illustration industry and its business practices. Your portfolio will demonstrate your ability to express emotion, narrative and commentary through your art and your skills in crafting successful illustrations for diverse audiences and markets.
Our program puts you in the heart of Nashville, a thriving environment for creatives.
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Art That Makes an Impact
Our students turn stories into powerful visuals.
Explore how a Belmont illustrator designed a new mural honoring Nashville’s Negro League legacy in the local Edgehill community.
What You'll LearnCurious about your coursework? View requirements for this degree in the course catalog.
Your major will provide you with a wide array of opportunities including but not limited to:
- Study abroad (Semester, Maymester or Summer)
- Study away for a semester in alternate markets through Belmont USA (N.Y.C., L.A., Washington D.C.)
- Internships- Our relationship to Nashville’s professional creative community is personal and rich. We will assist you with internship placement to ensure the experience is a good fit.
- Four campus gallery spaces to professionally exhibit your work
- Opportunities to present at campus-wide research symposiums and professional conferences
- Kappa Pi, an international honorary art fraternity
- Watkins students are consistently juried into local, regional and national competitions, including AAF Student ADDY Awards, Society of Illustrators-NYC and Graphis New Talent Annual
We encourage you to explore the exceptional work our students create in their programs.
The Watkins College of Art requires all students applying for a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree to submit a portfolio as a part of the admissions process. You must first be admitted to Belmont before hearing a decision from Watkins.
Portfolios submitted before December 1 will be considered for the Watkins Merit Scholarships. Any applications submitted after December 1 will be considered for admission, but not for departmental scholarships.
View all Portfolio Guidelines
Deadlines for the Portfolio and Belmont application:
December 1 for scholarship consideration
April 1 for incoming freshmen students
June 1 for incoming transfer students
What if I am accepted to Belmont but not the BFA program?
Any applicants not accepted into a BFA program will have the option to be enrolled in a second major of their choice. We encourage applicants to select one of our Bachelor of Arts majors (Art Studies, Art History, or Photographic Studies). At the end of the student’s freshman year and completion of foundational courses, the student will be eligible to reapply to the BFA program through another portfolio review.
The Watkins College of Art has significant scholarship opportunities for students. Last year, the college offered more than 55 scholarships to incoming students valuing over $380,000.
Applicants who intend to pursue a degree in the Watkins College of Art and wish to be considered for the merit-based scholarship must submit a portfolio of work in art and/or design. Students must have their Belmont application and portfolio submitted by December 1 to be eligible for the scholarships.
Please visit the Portfolio Guidelines page for more specific details.
Need-based scholarships will be determined from a student's Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This is the official form that families use to apply for college financial assistance from the federal government.
In addition to Belmont University's Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) accreditation, the Watkins College of Art is a fully accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
The Illustration program allows students to dig deeper into narrative and visual development, sequential art, graphic novels, children's books, art licensing and more. This minor is the perfect companion for every storyteller at Belmont. Visual stories predate oral and written traditions by a long shot, so dive into the deep end of human DNA and show your stories. Learn how to craft successful images combining what you see with what you imagine. Excellent drawing skills are not required but a sense of play and purpose will aid in your journey to visualize short and tall tales.
Watkins helped me build the courage to push the boundaries of my art. I am creating things that I would have never imagined myself creating even just a year or two ago. I am no longer afraid to try something new or even absurd.
Faculty Mentorship and Creative Community
Watkins provides a collaborative environment where artists support and learn from one another.
Faculty bring professional experience and industry knowledge into the classroom while helping students develop strong portfolios and artistic confidence.
Students receive individualized feedback, participate in critiques and benefit from a community that encourages experimentation, growth and originality.
Dan Brawner
Email: dan.brawner@belmont.edu
Office Location: Jack C Massey Center 461
Dan Johnson
Email: dan.johnson@belmont.edu
Office Location: Jack C Massey Center 466
Lauren Lowen
Email: lauren.lowen@belmont.edu
Office Location: Jack C Massey Center 458
James Pierce
Email: james.pierce@belmont.edu
Office Location: Leu Center for the Visual Arts 103
Doug Regen
Email: doug.regen@belmont.edu
Office Location: Jack C Massey Center 460
Rick Rekedal
Illustration graduates work in publishing, advertising, entertainment, animation, branding, editorial media, graphic novels and many other creative industries.
Yes. Portfolio development is a major focus of the program, and students graduate with work designed to support entry-level career opportunities.
Yes. Students explore children's illustration, character development, sequential art and other specialized areas as part of the curriculum.
Yes. The entrepreneurial focus of the program helps students understand the illustration industry, freelance work, professional presentation and career development.
Yes. Students have opportunities to pursue internships and professional experiences that strengthen their portfolios and industry connections.
Belmont combines studio-based artistic training, professional portfolio development, entrepreneurial preparation and a supportive creative community that helps students grow as storytellers, artists and creative professionals.
Contact Us
Ellie Aldrich
Admissions Coordinator
615.460.6772
Email Ellie
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There's no better way to experience Belmont than by visiting campus. Whether you attend an admissions event, take a student-led campus tour or explore Nashville while you're here, a visit helps you picture yourself as part of the Belmont community.