Douglas Dabbs

Doug Dabbs teaches Beginning Illustration, Digital Illustration, Advanced Illustration, and Concept Illustration courses.

Office: Todd Hall, Room 322

I’m an illustrator, comic book artist, and university professor who has taught visual storytelling and illustration in higher education for over a decade. My comic books and graphic novels have been published by Image Comics, Oni Press, 12 Gauge Comics, Artisanal Media, and Desperado Publishing, and I’ve created illustrations for Discovery Science Channel, Metallica, and Troy-Bilt, to name a few. I exhibit work internationally and nationally, including the Czong Institute for Contemporary Art Museum (South Korea), the National Gallery of North Macedonia, and Shockboxx Gallery (California). My work has been featured in and recognized by international illustration competitions and art journals including American Illustration, Creative Quarterly, Cheltenham Illustration Awards, Coffin Bell, 3x3, ArtAscent Art and Literature Journal, and Communication Arts. After earning my Bachelors of Fine Art (B.F.A.) and Masters of Fine Art (M.F.A.) in Sequential Art from Savannah College of Art and Design, I returned to my hometown near Nashville, TN with my wife and two children. Most days I can be found drawing, teaching, and perfecting my coffee brewing skills.

Artist Statement

My artwork and research focus on methods of visual storytelling through the exploration of the human figure and environments. My mark-making isn’t about perfecting each mark individually, but instead, using collective mark-making to communicate themes, emotions, and narratives. I investigate the effect positive and negative space have on compositions, mood, and storytelling, and how these components invite active viewer participation and analysis. In my work, I’m interested in using black and white media to challenge traditional illustrative rendering methods that typically rely on color. Utilizing arguably one of the more vulnerable art mediums—ink on paper—marks cannot be hidden by additional media and color applications. The result is an intimate view of my hand and vision, unobscured by further rendering.