Sheridan graduate show highlights the "power of illustration"

The Sheridan College illlustration program graduate show in Toronto is always a highlight and this year is no exception.For the second year the program partnered with Rethink Communications to create a brand for the illustration grads and the program. This year's theme is "the power of illustration".

The students were handed an unfinished sentence: "Illustrators have the power to ________." and were asked to completethe statement with a personal assertion: "be explosive" or "work quickly" or "be conceptual".

Each student then created an icon to demonstrate his or her statement. created a group of illustrated icons on the theme -- ranging from exploding paint cans to six-fingered hands, demonstrating the many ways inspired illustration can make the reader/viewer pause and look.

These icons were then transformed into a pictographic font that was used by the students to create products such limited edition silk screened t-shirts and posters as well a buttons and CDs of the font.

These products will be sold at at "pop up" retail gallery in the space beside Swipe Books (401 Richmond St. West) from Monday April 20 to WednesdayApril 22 leading up to the grad show itself, which starts on Thursday April 23 at the Burroughes Building (639 Queen St. West in Toronto) starting at 7 pm.

The Bachelor of Applied Arts (Illustration) program is part of the School of Animation, Arts & Design at the Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning.

[Illustration courtesy Sheridan Illustration 2009 graduating students]