Billy Seybold

Growing up, I had to face many difference challenges that were sent my way. I had to balance life around my Autism, break out of being non-verbal, and continue to face Type 1 Diabetes. As I grew up and found what I want to do, I picked up drawing as a hobby. So much so, that over the years, I kept on practicing, and found out that I want to pursue art as a career. Of course, as I continued my passion, it wouldn’t be too long before COVID arrived and made a mess of things.

As I made it through online classes and progressed through College of DuPage, it wasn’t until Northern Illinois University when I finally got to the classes I’ve been wanting to take. Originally, I started out with NIU’s Visual Communication program before moving onto their Illustration degree. Due to difficulties, especially with balancing classes, I finally landed on the Bachelor of Science in Art program, where I had gained a bit more certainty in regard to my future at NIU.

I’ve had quite the rough start at NIU, but during my time here, I’ve been able to meet a lot of wonderful students and professors willing to give me time out of their day to help steer my course. It allowed me to explore different mediums of art, see what clicked and what didn’t, and especially allowed me to boost my creative spark.

This whole experience helped me to grow as an artist and showed me what I wanted out of this experience, and what I need to do to make sure that I am confident going forward when I pursue my career. I have been able to learn so much and grow as an adult, so much so that my past self wouldn’t believe where I am today.

Tyrannosaurus Rex, Digital Painting, 2024, 34.402" x 19.97"

The BA/BS Show is an experience that I will truly never forget. For the first time ever in my life, I was able to showcase my craft in a professional manner and be able to do so with the subjects I most enjoyed, along with the poster we had to design for the occasion.

The grey dinosaurs in question may look incomplete in comparison to the other entries here, but they are purposefully designed in this manner to be installed as silhouettes on windows, serving in an advertising manner. All artwork presented here is drawn digitally in Procreate.

All the silhouette dinosaurs are drawn with 3600 x 2700px.