I’m Greg Houston, a Baltimore-born illustrator and author. Since 1988 I’ve worked as a professional illustrator for newspapers, magazines, publishers, and nonprofits, collaborating with clients such as Los Angeles Times, Village Voice, Marvel Comics, Baltimore Sun, Johns Hopkins University Magazine, and many others. My work includes graphic novels Vatican Hustle (NBM, 2009) and Elephant Man (NBM, 2010), as well as authoring Illustration That Works (The Monacelli Press, 2015) and Understanding Caricature (The Monacelli Press, 2021). Beyond freelance illustration, I teach and develop curricula. I was a Professor at the Maryland Institute College of Art (2006–2015), co-created the Illustration Workshop and Illustration Core curricula for the MICA Pre-College Program, co-founded The Baltimore Academy of Illustration in 2015, and have taught through Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes and Craftsy courses. I’m driven by story, character, and the joy of helping others bring pictures to life.

Greg Houston

I’m Greg Houston, a Baltimore-born illustrator and author. Since 1988 I’ve worked as a professional illustrator for newspapers, magazines, publishers, and nonprofits, collaborating with clients such as Los Angeles Times, Village Voice, Marvel Comics, Baltimore Sun, Johns Hopkins University Magazine, and many others. My work includes graphic novels Vatican Hustle (NBM, 2009) and Elephant Man (NBM, 2010), as well as authoring Illustration That Works (The Monacelli Press, 2015) and Understanding Caricature (The Monacelli Press, 2021). Beyond freelance illustration, I teach and develop curricula. I was a Professor at the Maryland Institute College of Art (2006–2015), co-created the Illustration Workshop and Illustration Core curricula for the MICA Pre-College Program, co-founded The Baltimore Academy of Illustration in 2015, and have taught through Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes and Craftsy courses. I’m driven by story, character, and the joy of helping others bring pictures to life.

Available to hire

I’m Greg Houston, a Baltimore-born illustrator and author. Since 1988 I’ve worked as a professional illustrator for newspapers, magazines, publishers, and nonprofits, collaborating with clients such as Los Angeles Times, Village Voice, Marvel Comics, Baltimore Sun, Johns Hopkins University Magazine, and many others. My work includes graphic novels Vatican Hustle (NBM, 2009) and Elephant Man (NBM, 2010), as well as authoring Illustration That Works (The Monacelli Press, 2015) and Understanding Caricature (The Monacelli Press, 2021).

Beyond freelance illustration, I teach and develop curricula. I was a Professor at the Maryland Institute College of Art (2006–2015), co-created the Illustration Workshop and Illustration Core curricula for the MICA Pre-College Program, co-founded The Baltimore Academy of Illustration in 2015, and have taught through Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes and Craftsy courses. I’m driven by story, character, and the joy of helping others bring pictures to life.

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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Professional Illustrator at Self-employed / Freelance
January 1, 1988 - October 31, 2025
Professional illustrator since 1988 with a broad client list across newspapers, magazines, publishing, and organizations; author of graphic novels and books.
Professor at Maryland Institute College of Art
January 1, 2015 - January 1, 2015
Taught in the Illustration Undergraduate Department; co-created the Illustration Workshop and Illustration Core curricula for the MICA Pre-College Program; taught Pre-College Workshop and Core classes (2006–2015).
Co-founder / Instructor at The Baltimore Academy of Illustration
January 1, 2015 - October 31, 2025
Co-founded the school; taught Fundamental Illustration, Continuing Illustration, Illustration: After Dark, Understanding Caricature, Sequential Illustration, INK, KA-POW!: The Art of the Fight Sequence, Creating Characters; developed adjunct classes and all marketing.
Lecturer at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Towson University
January 1, 2023 - October 31, 2025
Taught a lecture class on the history of illustration (2023).
Lecturer at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Johns Hopkins University
January 1, 2023 - October 31, 2025
Taught a lecture class on the history of illustration (2023).
Course Developer / Instructor at Craftsy
January 1, 2014 - October 31, 2025
Developed and taught an online class—Painting the Imagined Landscape—in 2014.
Teacher at Howard Community College
January 1, 1997 - October 31, 2025
Taught cartooning classes for children in 1997.

Education

BFA Illustration at Pratt Institiute
September 2, 1984 - June 1, 1988
Bachelor of Fine Arts at Pratt Institute
January 1, 1984 - January 1, 1988

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Other, Media & Entertainment, Education
    uniE621 Bumble Bee
    Bumble Bee (new. Unpublished). https://www.twine.net/signin Instagram-- @ghoustonillustration Editorial, book illustration, narrative, conceptual, caricature, portrait, cartoons, images for licensing, originals for sale. 36 years experience. No deadlines missed. illustrator
    uniE621 Murder Me, Deadly!
    An illustration satirizing film noir. illustrator
    uniE621 Peeping Tom
    Illustration for the 1959 film, Peeping Tom illustrator
    uniE621 Mystic!
    Illustration about the popularity of seances in the 920s. illustrator
    uniE621 Baltimore Spring
    An illustration representing spring in Baltimore as an anthropomorphic character. illustrator