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ArtCenter: Tell us about what inspired your current creative project?
Noël ILL (BFA 05 Illustration): When I was asked if I’d like to illustrate a children’s book about Halloween, my initial thought was, Yes! Some of my fondest childhood memories were attending my elementary school’s Halloween carnival and entering the pumpkin-carving contest. I also loved going to the local library and picking out the books with the special orange sticker, which meant it was Halloween-themed. This feeling of fun and thrill is what inspired the illustrations for If You’re Scary And You Know It!

AC: What have been some of the most memorable twists and turns in your professional/creative journey after graduating ArtCenter?
: All the professional jobs I’ve had after graduation have been a twist. I worked as a production artist on the HBO animated series The Life & Times Of Tim, even though I’d never thought about working in animation before the day I was hired. I never suspected Papyrus Greetings would ask to license one of my illustrations, but they did. Creating animated stickers for Facebook was a surprise, too. I just kept waking up to new opportunities in my inbox. Of course, it was because I was working hard and putting myself out there, but these were all jobs that I didn’t see coming. I’d never contemplated how many different places my art could go. I also started a whole new career after doing some voiceover work on The Life & Times Of Tim, so that was a big twist.