ACADEMIC CAREER
Chris Arnold has been teaching in higher education since 2008 and is currently an Associate Professor of Illustration [with Tenure] and the Drawing Coordinator at Columbia College Chicago. Chris has also served the following academic communities: The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), The Illinois Institute of Art (ILIA), Interlochen Arts Academy, Lacoste School of Art, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Youth Technology and Education Center (YTEC).
EDUCATION
2004-2007, MFA: Illustration, Savannah College of Art & Design, Savannah, Georgia
1999-2002, BFA: Studio Art, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2021-Present, Associate Professor, Illustration (Design), Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2019-Present, Program Coordinator, Drawing (Art & Art History) Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Ill.
2014-2021, Assistant Professor (Design/Illustration), Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2016-2019, Program Coordinator of Illustration (Design), Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2011-2015, Continuing Studies Faculty, School of the Art Institute, Chicago, Illinois
2008-2014, Associate Professor (Illustration), Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago, Illinois
2008, Visual Art Instructor, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Interlochen, Michigan
2006, Teaching Assistant, Lacoste School of Art, Lacoste, France
2005-2006, Academic Tutor, Savannah College of Art & Design, Savannah, Georgia
2005, Teaching Assistant, Savannah College of Art & Design, Savannah, Georgia
CURRICULUM DESIGN AND COURSES TAUGHT
Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Designed Major: Illustration BA (Adopted Fall 2015)
Co-Designed Major: Online Illustration BA, Completer Degree (HLC Accepted 2021)
Co-Designed Minor: Illustration Minor (Adopted Fall 2020)
Co-Designed Minor: Craft Minor (Adopted Fall 2022)
Designed Courses: Introduction to Illustration, Figure Drawing & Color, Illustration: Experimental Techniques, Illustration Materials & Techniques, Digital Illustration II, Illustration Studio II, Illustration Studio III
Co-Designed Courses: Craft History, Illustration: Concept Art II, History of Political and Social Illustration, Paleontology Field Observation & Methods
Taught: Commercial Illustration, Digital Illustration I, Illustration BFA Review, Illustration: Concept Art, Illustration Studio I, Illustration Studio II, Illustration Studio III, Illustration Portfolio, Drawing: Ink on Paper, Paleontology Field Observation & Methods, Storyboard Development, Drawing I
School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Designed Program: Illustration Certificate, Continuing Studies (Adopted Summer 2012)
Designed Courses: Illustration Studio 1: Styles and Materials, Illustration Studio 2: Process and Practice, Illustration Studio 3: Portfolio Prep, Business of Illustration Practice
Taught: Commercial Illustration, Illustration Practices & Portfolio Preparation, Illustration Studio 1: Styles and Materials, Illustration Studio 2: Process and Practice, Illustration Studio 3: Portfolio Prep, Introduction to Graphic Design, Introduction to Illustration, Multi-Level Illustration
Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago, Illinois
Designed Courses: Book Illustration, Business of Illustration, Commercial Illustration, Conceptual Illustration, Professional Practices in Illustration
Taught: Advanced Illustration, Business of Illustration, Conceptual Illustration, Design Fundamentals, Digital Illustration, Digital Photography, Editorial Illustration, Illustration Studio, Introduction to Typography, Observational Drawing, Portfolio Preparation
Interlochen Center for the Arts, Interlochen, Michigan
Taught: Intermediate Drawing, Black & White Photography
Savannah College of Art & Design, Savannah, Georgia & Lacoste, France
Taught: Illustration Materials & Techniques II (Savannah), 2D Foundations (Savannah), Travel Portfolio in Drawing (Lacoste)
AWARDS, GRANTS AND HONORS
2021, Tenure Granted, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2021, Title and Rank Award (Associate Professor), Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2021, Publication Celebration, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2020-2021, Excellence in Leadership Awards (Nominated): Faculty Advisor of the Year Award (ISG)
2020, Finalist - Best of Show, SCAD Sidewalk Arts Festival, Savannah, Georgia
2019-2020, Excellence in Leadership Awards (Win): Student Organization of the Year Award (ISG)
2019-2020, Excellence in Leadership Awards (Win): Marketing Campaign Award (INK Fest Chicago)
2019-2020, Excellence in Leadership Awards (Win): Event of the Year Award (INK Fest Chicago)
2017, Publication Celebration, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2016, Letter of Recognition, Office of the Mayor (Rahm Emanuel), Chicago, Illinois
2016, Letter of Recognition, Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, Chicago, Illinois
2015, Best in Show – Art of Illustration, St. Louis Artist Guild, St. Louis, Missouri
2014, Best in Show – Flora & Fauna Exhibition, The Edge Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
2013, Featured Artist Portfolio, School of the Art Institute of Chicago & Behance Network
2013, Board of Directors Award for Service, Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago
2010-2013, Faculty in Profile, Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago
2011, Selected Regional Artist, Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series
2011, Title and Rank Award (Associate Professor), Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago
2011-2012, Featured Faculty Profiles, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
2009, Teacher of the Year – Teaching Excellence, Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago
2005-2006, Grant, The Miller Foundation
2006, Lacoste Residency, Provence, France
2006, Gold Award, Kara Art
2004-2005, Grant, The Miller Foundation
2003, Bullivant Award for Artistic Excellence
LECTURES, WORKSHOPS, STUDY TRIPS & PRESENTATIONS
2021, Master Class, Las Vegas Academy, Las Vegas, Nevada
2020, Virtual Presentation, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Kalamazoo, Michigan
2020, Guest Speaker, Summer Institute, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2019, Chair/Moderator, Post-College Wayfinding, INK Fest Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2019, Guest Presentation, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Kalamazoo, Michigan
2019, Guest Speaker, Summer Institute, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2019, Paleontology Field Observation & Methods, Ghost Ranch, New Mexico
2019, Presentation, Dino Day, Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
2019, Paleontology Field Observation & Methods, Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
2018, Presentation, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Kalamazoo, Michigan
2017, Chair/Moderator, No Small Plans, Chicago Book Expo, Chicago, Illinois
2017, Workshop, Undoing Racism, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2017, Presenter, Pedagogy Pecha Kucha, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2017, Paleontology Field Observation & Methods, Ghost Ranch, New Mexico
2017, Presentation, Dino Day, Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
2017, Paleontology Field Observation & Methods, Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
2017, Guest Presentation, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Kalamazoo, Michigan
2015, Master Class, Las Vegas Academy, Las Vegas, Nevada
2015, Guest Presentation, Florissant Valley Community College, St. Louis, Missouri
2015, Workshop (Maker Session), Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2014, Study Trip Director, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, New York, New York
2010-2013, Presentation (Keynote Speaker), Ai Open Houses, Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago
2013, Study Trip, Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago, New York, New York
2012, Workshop, The Chiaroscuro Figure, Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago
2012, Study Trip, Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago, New York, New York
2011, Guest Lecturer, Illustration & Drawing, Pratt Institute, New York, New York
2007, Guest Lecturer, Youth Technology and Education Center (YTEC)., St. Louis, Missouri
2006, Workshop, Exposition 101, Lacoste School of Art, Lacoste, France
2005, Guest Lecture, Acrylic Techniques in Painting, ArtDimensions, St. Louis, Missouri
2005, Guest Lecture, Basic Color Theory Psychology, Morris Hall, Savannah, Georgia
2005, Workshop, The Business of Art, Savannah College of Art & Design, Savannah, Georgia
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
2019-Present, Art & New Media Advisory Board, Kalamazoo Valley CC, Kalamazoo, Michigan
2019-Present, Drawing I Program Coordinator, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2016-Present, Design Curriculum Committee, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2021-Present, Graduate Thesis Advisor, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2021, Host, 6th Annual Illustration Awards, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2021, Judge, An Artistic Journey, 2021 Congressional Art Competition, Chicago, Illinois
2021, Faculty Advisor, INK Fest, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2021, Faculty Recognition Award Committee, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2020, Teams Group Leader, Drawing and Painting, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2020, Faculty Recognition Award Committee, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2016-2019, Program Coordinator, Design Department, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2016-2019, Design Coordinators Council, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2019, Host, 5th Annual Illustration Awards, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2019, Faculty Advisor, INK Fest, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2019, Judge, An Artistic Journey, 2019 Congressional Art Competition, Chicago, Illinois
2019, Faculty Recognition Award Committee, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2018, Host, 4th Annual Illustration Awards, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2018, Design Department Task Force, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2018, Judge, An Artistic Journey, 2018 Congressional Art Competition, Chicago, Illinois
2018, Lead Presenter, Spring CCC Open House, Hokin Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
2018, Presidential Scholarship Committee, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2017-2018, Teaching Excellence Committee, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2017-2018, Transfer Enrollment Subcommittee, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2017, Faculty Director, Illustration Annual, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2017, Guest Judge, Cutthroat Illustration, Chicago, Illinois
2017, Host, 3rd Annual Illustration Awards, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2017, Lead Presenter, Spring CCC Open House, Hokin Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
2017, Presidential Scholarship Committee, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2015-2016, Assessment Coordinator, Design Dept., Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2015-2016, Strategic Implementation Committee, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2015-2016, LMS Committee, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2016, Host, 2nd Annual Illustration Awards, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2016, Lead Presenter, Spring CCC Open House, Hokin Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
2016, Presidential Scholarship Committee, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2013-2015, Certificate Assessment Committee, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2014-2015, Art + Design Curriculum Committee, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2014-2015, PFAC Committee, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2015, Host, 1st Annual Illustration Awards, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2015, Lead Presenter, Fall CCC Open House, Hokin Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
2015, Author, New Illustration Courses (3), Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2015, Faculty Search Committee, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2015, Presentation, Spring CCC Open House, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2014, Co-Author, BA in Illustration, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2014, Author, New Illustration Courses (3), Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2014, Presentation, Fall CCC Open House, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2010-2013, Library Committee, Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago
2013, Mentor (Academic), Manchester College, North Manchester, Indiana
2011-2013, Director, SB Magazine, Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago
2013, Scholarship Review Committee, Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago
2010-2011, Capstone Assessment Committee, Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago
2009-2011, Student Success Committee, Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago
2008, Faculty Search Committee, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Interlochen, Michigan
2006, Events Director, Lacoste Exposition, Lacoste, France