Ben Sowards

Ben Sowards is an Associate Professor of Illustration at the College of Performing and Visual Arts, Southern Utah University (SUU). With 18 years of teaching experience at SUU, he specializes in integrating traditional and digital art techniques to explore storytelling, human anatomy, and visual development. His courses focus on life drawing, portrait painting, digital illustration, and 3D sculpting, emphasizing personalized learning in small class settings.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art Illustration
• Master’s Degree in Fine Art in Painting

Sowards’ research interests revolve around the intersection of narrative, anatomy, and technological innovation in illustration. He advocates for dynamic teaching methods that adapt to student motivations and leverage cutting-edge tools like digital painting and sculpting. His philosophy centers on fostering creativity and understanding the universal human story through art.