ART BALTAZAR - Undeclared (BA ’92)
Art Baltazar is a super-cartoonist machine from the heart of Chicago. He’s all about peace, love, and joy. He defines cartoons and comics not only as an art style but as a way of life. Art started his funky, secret art studio in 1994 with his self-published comic book, The Cray-Baby Adventures. Since then, he has created other comics such as Gyro-Man, Captain Camel & the Space Chicken, Jimmy Dydo, Lunar Lizard, Meteor Mite, and the famous Patrick the Wolf Boy. This guy shows no signs of stopping!

Art has also had a few gigs with Warner Bros. Books, and he also had a monthly comic strip in Disney Adventures Magazine, “GORILLA GORILLA.” Art has some cool character design skills and has recently completed an autobiographical graphic novel called The Big Amoeba. Currently, Art is the creative force behind The New York Times-bestselling, Eisner Award-winning Tiny Titans (DC Comics), and the artist of the Super Pets children’s book series (also DC). In addition, Art co-wrote DC’s Billy Batson and the Magic of SHAZAM, Young Justice, Green Lantern Animated (comic), and is the artist/co-writer for the historically awesome Tiny Titans/Little Archie crossover, as well as the new Superman Family Adventures.

Jumping from small press to mainstream in a heartbeat, Art is living the dream. He stays home and draws comics and never has to leave the house. He lives with his lovely wife, Rose, big boy Sonny, little boy Gordon, and little girl Audrey.

AW YEAH MAN!

Art’s awards include 2009 and 2001 Eisners (Best Publication for Kids) and a Harvey in 2011 (Best Original Graphic Publication for Younger Readers), and in March 2009, he was #8 on The New York Times Bestseller List for Tiny Titans Vol. 1.



LANA BRAMLETTE - AEMM: Fashion/Retail Management (BA ’97)
Lauded by her loyal fans as the “Queen of Hoops,” Lana Bramlette is the face and force behind Lana Jewelry. Her impeccable eye for casually luxurious style has made her a pioneer in the world of fine jewelry. The collections are timeless yet sexy, and fans around the world crave the “Lana Look,” a term that has come to stand for the world’s most delicate and modern jewelry.

Lana’s minimalist and cool approach to design has resulted in dozens of pieces that have instantly become cult classics, like her famous Upside Down Hoops; more than 55,000 pairs have been sold since their debut nine years ago. Lana launched Lana Jewelry in 2002 with her boyfriend (now husband) Rob Bramlette. She designed a piece with his name suspended in a hanging heart, and that piece turned into a collection that was instantly picked up by celebrity favorite superstore Fred Segal. Today, Lana Jewelry is in more than 150 of the finest retailers worldwide.

Celebrities and fashion icons such as Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz, Kate Hudson, Zoe Saldana, and Angelina Jolie own and wear Lana’s jewelry. Her pieces are featured in many films and TV shows, and on magazine covers, including Lucky and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. Hailed as a “Woman to Watch” by Crain’s Business, named a designer with the “Midas Touch” by Entrepreneur magazine and listed as “One to Watch” by Lucky magazine, Lana is well on her way to realizing her dream of turning Lana Jewelry
into a fashion megabrand.

Today Lana runs her company with her business partner and father, Naum Fertelmeister; her husband Rob; and a team of incredible women. Lana is also the founder of the Chicago Fashion Foundation (CFF), a nonprofit that gives annual scholarships to deserving Chicago-area design students. Lana and her husband reside in Chicago and are the proud parents of a baby girl, Blake.



MARLON WEST - Film & Video: Animation (BA ’85)
After graduating from Columbia College in 1985, Marlon West started his career producing educational films for Encyclopaedia Britannica. In 1989, he moved to Los Angeles and started freelancing, working on special effects for music videos, television commercials, and motion pictures. Marlon joined Walt Disney Animation Studios in 1993 as an effects animator on The Lion King.

Continuing in his role as effects animator, Marlon went on to work on Pocahontas, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, Mulan, Tarzan, Fantasia/2000, and The Emperor’s New Groove. Marlon worked as head of effects on Atlantis: The Lost Empire and Home on the Range.

Marlon’s first assignment at Disney was to add the dust cloud effects to the wildebeest stampede scene in The Lion King. On Pocahontas, he was part of the team responsible for the storm sequence at the beginning of the film. He also designed and animated the effects for Grandmother Willow, Pocahontas’s aged adviser. Marlon also added the molten lead effects to The Hunchback of Notre Dame’s dramatic climax scene. For Hercules, he used his artistic skills to bring life to the hotheaded Hades and the destructive Titans. Marlon animated the fire on the shipwreck in Tarzan, as well as much of the lightning in the showdown between Tarzan and Clayton. He served as assistant effects supervisor on the “Rhapsody in Blue” sequence of Fantasia/2000.

As effects lead on Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Marlon designed most of the effects for the film. He was also responsible for casting and keying all traditional and digital effects and worked closely with the directors and art director to create the “comic book” look of the movie.

After transitioning to CG-animated films, working as a digital artist animating special effects on Chicken Little and then as an effects animator on Meet the Robinsons, Marlon helped to usher traditional, 2-D animation (as well as the cartoon short form) back to the studio, with his work as artistic coordinator and visual effects supervisor on How to Hook Up Your Home Theater. Most recently, Marlon completed The Princess and the Frog and Winnie The Pooh, and is currently serving as visual effects supervisor on Frozen, due for Thanksgiving 2013.

A native of St. Louis, Marlon resides with his daughter and thousands of CDs and records in Glendale, California. Always a music fan, he has worked as a DJ in various venues and styles.