“Thanks for such a great semester! I’ve been drawing comics most of my life but this has been one of the first times I’ve gotten to really focus on creating them and breaking down the structure and mechanics of making a comic. Your class has been so much fun and super engaging all throughout. It’s been a joy not only seeing my own work come to fruition but yours and the works of my peers.

Thank you for sharing your expertise with me and exposing me further to the comic world, I look forward to working with you again academically and professionally some day!”

—Shani Shields, BFA (2026)

“I learned a lot from your class, and I had fun doing it. I knew you were the right person to ask you seem to be on our side the students. I can tell that you want us to succeed. Thanks for being on board it means a lot to me.”

—Rafael Lopez, BTech (2019)

“Thank for the opportunity of learning in your class, I truly enjoyed the experiences of creating my own character designs as well as thinking further then just drawing, this class has helped me understand what it takes to expand my imagination and realism. I can say you have taught me unique ways of showing texture and structure that can help make me grow as a stronger designer. Thinking outside of my comfort zone has truly motivated me to push further with creativity as well as build my conference in my profession.”

—Joseph Velazquez, BTech (2018)

“Dear Professor Eli,

I have some phenomenal news; I have just been hired fulltime at the company I was interning at! It feels wonderful to say that I finally found a community that I feel connected to both professionally and as an individual 🙂

I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you how much I respect and admire you. I have learned a great deal from you, and though you may not be aware, your support towards my career/academic endeavors has been unparalleled (especially that time I needed a speedy recommendation letter, thanks again and again). Even though you are incredibly busy you have never denied me help when asked. Thank you for being there for me, I truly see you as a mentor!!! Woo, feels good to say all of that, as I attempt to make an email seem more personal. Lets grab food soon. Enjoy your week!”

—Patricia Persaud, BTech (2015)

“What can I say that you don’t already know? You already know how much your class meant to me. How you enriched my life just by doing your job. You know that I value how open you are with lending me your stuff. I’ve never had that experience before. As your student I never felt like I was being ‘taught’ by a teacher, but that every week I was able to creatively jam with my friend for a few hours. To me it felt like I had already known you for a long time.

It’s difficult for me to adequately express the aversion that I had at the time towards anything personally creative. I couldn’t write or draw even though I wanted to. It was like those muscles had atrophied. Being your student not only made me have to confront that issue.

The first assignment was the toughest for me but you gave me confidence and the desire to impress you with something better. You opened my eyes to different ways of doing things, different tools that I could use, and new applications for what I already know. I also LOVED all of the artists and events that you exposed me to. It was like being served amazing exotic food after eating boiled chicken for months if that makes sense. It woke up my hunger for independent, weird thought provoking art. Your class could have easily been a straight up drawing lab class but you made it so much more than that. I’m glad to have experienced it. I feel much more myself than I have in a long time.

It’s funny that you mentioned how much you want to be like Gideon when you grow up because I used that exact phrasing to describe you to my bf Owen during the first few weeks of class. I admire a lot about you. What you have accomplished professionally, your ambition, work ethic and how much you love your family.

Lastly, I want you to know that I consider myself in your debt for all that you have done for me in the short time that I have known you. You helped me to remember who I am and showed me what I could aspire to be. For those reasons and more I am more grateful than I can ever truly express.”

—Roque Ayala, BTech (2017)