C.F. Payne

C.F. Payne is an Associate Professor and Director of the MFA Illustration program at Hartford Art School, University of Hartford. As an award-winning illustrator, his work has appeared on covers of Time Magazine, Readers Digest, Sports Illustrated, The New York Times, and U.S. Postal Service stamps. He has illustrated twenty children's picture books including collaborations with John Lithgow and Mark Kelly.

His artwork has been exhibited at prestigious institutions including the National Portrait Gallery, Norman Rockwell Museum, and Cincinnati Art Museum. His research focuses on contemporary illustration techniques and visual storytelling in editorial and publishing contexts.

Professor Payne received the Distinguished Educator Award from the Society of Illustrators in 2012 and was inducted into the Society's Hall of Fame in 2018, recognizing his significant contributions to the field of illustration education and practice.