Lars Grant-West was a country kid born in the big city of Manhattan. Regular outings to aquariums, zoos and the American Museum of Natural History fed what became a lifelong interest in all aspects of the natural world. He has ever after been afflicted with an obsession with the living things that share our planet. This quickly expanded to things that never lived...but...if things had happened just a little differently...might have.
After earning a BFA at the School of the Visual Arts (SVA) in NYC, Grant-West went on to pursue an illustration career. When the opportunity arose, he couldn't resist the lure of a job in the zoo field, where he worked designing and building exhibits. Eventually he launched a graphics department at the zoo and became its art director. During this time, he continued to work as a freelance illustrator, and after 12 years, eventually left the zoo to focus full-time on his work as an illustrator.
Academic areas of interest
Natural sciences (all kinds)
Animal physiology
Skeletal cleaning
Science fiction/fantasy/horror illustration
Courses
Fall 2024 Courses
ILLUS 3920-01 - SCIFI AND FANTASY ILLUSTRATION
LevelUndergraduate
UnitIllustration
Subject Illustration
Period Fall 2024
Credits 3
FormatStudio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date
ILLUS 3920-01
SCIFI AND FANTASY ILLUSTRATION
LevelUndergraduate
UnitIllustration
Subject Illustration
PeriodFall 2024
Credits3
FormatStudio
ModeIn-Person
Start and End2024-09-04 to 2024-12-11
Times: W | 11:20 AM - 4:20 PMInstructor(s): Lars Grant-WestLocation(s): Illustration Studies Building, Room 412Enrolled / Capacity: 15Status: Closed
SECTION DESCRIPTION
This course will be a short introduction to Science Fiction and Fantasy illustration in the form they are most frequently seen--book covers. Subjects will include (besides the usual aliens, futuristic looking machinery, and dragons) materials and techniques, reference gathering, working with a manuscript, working with the paperback format, etc...The goal of the course is to familiarize the interested student with the means and methods of producing a realistic illustration of an unreal scene.
Elective
ILLUS 3924-01 - CREATURE LAB
LevelUndergraduate
UnitIllustration
Subject Illustration
Period Fall 2024
Credits 3
FormatStudio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date
ILLUS 3924-01
CREATURE LAB
LevelUndergraduate
UnitIllustration
Subject Illustration
PeriodFall 2024
Credits3
FormatStudio
ModeIn-Person
Start and End2024-09-04 to 2024-12-11
Times: T | 1:10 PM - 6:10 PMInstructor(s): Lars Grant-WestLocation(s): Illustration Studies Building, Room 408Enrolled / Capacity: 15Status: Closed
SECTION DESCRIPTION
This class is designed to train students in the art of creature creation/design. Students will study animal anatomy and physiology with a focus on adaptions to meet specific environments. Following a structured process to design beasts for a variety of genres, the class will explore the genres of fantasy, science fiction and horror. Also featured will be class discussion regarding the psychological implications of different aesthetic choices using existing creatures from film and literature as case studies.
