[San Francisco, CA] Her former students work have appeared on the covers of books by leading authors John LeCarre, Steven King, Robert B. Parker and Michael Blake. They have worked for corporate clients such as American Express, The Coca-Cola Company and GE (General Electric Company). Many students hold positions presently in the entertainment industry: Pixar Disney, SKG, Dreamworks, and Lucasfilm Ltd. One former student is presently the architecture and design editor of the San Francisco Examiner Sunday Magazine. Another has become one of the West's premiere living painters. Talented fine artists, illustrators, educators, writers and designers such as Kazuhiko Sano, Francis Livingston, Zahid Sardar, Tim Bower, Robert Hunt, Melissa Marshall, Chuck Pyle, Sherrie Sinclair and Lisa Berrett share one thing in common: they each learned to draw from Barbara Bradley at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.
Celebrating 50 years of teaching this year, Bradley, 79, an accomplished fine art and commercial artist in her own right, has been given one of the most prestigious awards in the field in which she has made her living. On Friday, May 4, 2007, Bradley, will receive the Distinguished Educator in the Arts from the Society of Illustrators in New York.
Bradley was selected for this honor by a nationwide jury of over 75 illustrators, art directors and educators. She joins a prestigious list of past recipients. Among them: Alvin J. Pimsler 1997, Alan E. Cober 1998, Murray Tinkelman 1999, Marshall Arisman and Phillip Hays 2000, Tom Allen and Barron Storey 2001, David Passalacqua 2002, Ben Eisenstat, David Macaulay and Howard Pyle 2004, Rudy Gutierrez 2005, Bunny Carter 2006. The Society was founded at the turn of the century.
Bradley is the first person to head a department at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and the only to have the studio where she teaches named after her. She grew the School of Illustration at the Academy class by class, semester by semester and was Director there for 25 years; today, the Academy of Art University is the largest private art and design school in the country. Prior to that, Bradley was one of the few women to join the The Charles E. Cooper Studios in New York. And now, Barbara Bradley, 79, has been given one of the most prestigious awards in the field in which she has made her living. On Friday, May 4, 2007, Bradley, will receive the Distinguished Educator in the Arts from the Society of Illustrators in New York.
Bradley has left an indelible impression in the minds of many of the students she has taught. For instance, Chuck Pyle, now Director, School of Illustration, Academy of Art University said, "I remember her donning of her paisley smock and transforming herself into our teacher who, with a few deft strokes and words, transformed our drawings and our perceptions of what illustration could be, kindling that fire of excitement in our hearts to be the story, to draw with passion, understanding, and to make our voices as artists be authentic, and our own. No metaphor, example pulled from magazine, book or annual, arrangement of model, or costume, was enough as she worked to inspire. Her fiercely demanding reputation came with a passionate concern for our growth and well being as the next generation of illustrators."
Noted for her passion and dedication, Bradley is also acknowledged for her matter of fact style and sense of humor. Bob Walker, now a retired fine painter and sculptor said, "My first class with Barbara was a basic life drawing class that I will never forget. At sixteen I was unaccustomed to looking at nude women, at least in the flesh. Barbara walked around the class observing the students skills and eventually paused at my easel and whispered 'It's OK to look.' "
This news message is supported by The Bazaar, a marketplace to buy and sell creative objects. Earn more revenue by selling your prints, downloadable images, or custom products. Set up your store today and stand a chance to have your products featured on DesignTAXI, towards millions of lovers of creative content!
