

Just back home from two great weeks of study with our amazing Hartford MFA in Illustration Program. To begin we welcomed our 2027 Class and introduced them to their 2026 and 2025 classmates. We hung the 2025 graduating class Thesis Show and had a great first week of speakers. Emily Dumas shared her art created for licensing markets, Jon Sideriadas presented his fantastic world of illustration and writing, John Rocco wowed us with his award winning picture book creative process and Laura Salafia offered valuable lessons through her successes since graduating from our program just a couple of years ago. We wrapped up with an informative panel discussion title “Illustration Education 2025 and Beyond.” Featuring educators Bill Thomson, Alice “Bunny” Carter and Scott Bakal. I will offer more in upcoming posts on the two weeks that were, at the MFA in Illustration Program at the Hartford Art School. #cfpayne #hartfordartschool #mfa @illustrationmfa @illustrationacademy #illustratonart @illustrationeducation

Very Sad News. RIP for Cubs great Ryne Sandberg. An old sketch from a few years ago during the Cubs pennant run. Shocking news. #cfpayne #hartfordartschool #mfa @illustrationmfa #chicagocubs #rynesandberg

Sad news. RIP Ozzie. An old, old picture from my Rolling Stone days. #cfpayne #hartfordartschool #mfa @illustrationmfa @illustrationacademy #ozzieosbourne #blacksabbath

We are now one week away from Orientation Day welcoming our new incoming class of 2027 and the start of our two weeks of study in our MFA in Illustration at the Hartford Art School. While we welcome our new class we will be graduating our 2025 class. Our faculty is ready, our students are ready, our guest speakers are ready. We will also be visiting the Society of Illustrators and their President Leslie Cober, a graduate from our program. It will be a great two weeks for all. I am so excited for it all. Watch for upcoming posts to learn more of what we do in our low residency MFA in Illustration Program. #cfpayne #hartfordartschool #mfa @illustrationmfa #illustration #arteducation illustration education

Reds lose to the Phillies today. On July 5, 1989 Paul O’Neill made what many believe one of the most unique baseball plays in its 150 year history. In 1989 the Reds playing the Phillies when Lenny Dykstra hit a clean single to right field. Juan Samuel was on second. O’Neill charged the ball and when he didn’t glove the ball he kicked it out of frustration. Amazingly the ball went straight to the first baseman holding Samuel at third, keeping him from scoring. I remember it well. Crazy, crazy play for sure. #cfpayne #hartfordartschool #mfa @illustrationmfa @illustrationacademy #baseballart #cincinnatireds #pauloneill




