Visiting Artist Talk - Kevin James Wilson at Herron School of Art + Design (IUI)

RISD-trained illustrator and fine artist Kevin James Wilson shares a fast, no-nonsense walkthrough of his practice and career: Prismacolor drawings on toned/black paper, building forms from structure, using extreme light/shadow for depth, and integrating Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop/InDesign into a fine-art workflow. Viewers see how sketches evolve into finished works, why typography separates designers, and how to market work, hit deadlines, and present process in interviews. Highlights include magazine covers (Recharger), “Welcome Race Fans” pieces via the Indianapolis Arts Council, airport and museum placements, Harrison Center’s “Anthology,” a musical series, and commissioned portraits.

About the artist
• BFA in Illustration, Rhode Island School of Design
• Murals for the world’s largest Children’s Museum, Indianapolis Fire Department, and JCPenney
• Twelve years teaching airbrush/drawing at the Indianapolis Art Center
• Deep Indiana footprint: Penrod, Talbot Street, Hoosier Salon, Indiana Black Expo, Indiana State Fair, Butter, Newfields
• Indiana Artists Club: elected member (2020); President (2022)
• Focus: portraits, murals, and especially drawing

About Herron
Recorded at Herron School of Art + Design (IUI), where immersive, community-engaged art and design education meets professional practice. This session exemplifies Herron’s commitment to connecting students with working artists and real-world creative rigor.

Host
Hosted by Vance Farrow, Associate Professor and Fine Arts Department Chair.

Credits
Speaker: Kevin James Wilson
Producer: Herron School of Art + Design (IUI) (jgroce)
Location: Eskenazi Hall, Indianapolis