Erika Swanson can trace her love of animation back to when she was a little girl.

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“I was into superheroes and even created my own comics,” she said. “I’ve always tried to see the idea and follow it as far as I can take it, out of my own curiosity and desire for a challenge.”

When she initially attended College of DuPage, Swanson worked in the mornings and then spent the rest of her day at the College, completing a year and a half of credits in one year. This included one of the best drawing classes she ever took.

“My professor also did comic book art, and many of my classes in general were on par if not better than what I found at a university,” she said. “The class sizes were so small, so you got to know the professors.”

She transferred to Illinois State University and majored in art, after which she taught art at a private school. But Swanson wanted to explore logos and advertising, so she returned to COD and attended the Graphic Design program’s annual Portfolio Night. 

“I realized I could do this stuff and that it could be really fun,” she said. “I quit teaching so I could attend full time. I loved all of my classes, because they were very hands on. I was making logos, learning brochure and web site design, developing my illustration—it felt like a master’s program. It was everything I could hope for. When the next Portfolio Night was held, I won for best overall portfolio.”

It was during this time at COD that Swanson completed her first drawing for what would become “Bellossoms,” her series of books and animation that follows the adventures of several flower friends. 

“I have COD to thank for that,” she said. “I was in an illustration class, and initially my characters were seasonal, falling off a tree at the end. One COD professor said, ‘That’s too sad,’ and something clicked in my brain. I moved the setting to someplace else and created different adventures.”

After earning her Associate in Applied Science, Swanson created several books and, while in Los Angeles trying to market them, was told she should consider doing animation. She returned home and immediately enrolled at DePaul University to study animation.

She then used all of her skills to fully create “Bellossoms” and has traveled around the country to various conventions and comic-cons.

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“There’s no secret I want ‘Bellossoms’ in Target with dolls and a game,” she said. “I want characters in costume and to expand my merchandise. I want to grow it so much.”

Swanson is glad that COD provided the skills needed to build at career while being affordable and accessible 

“Both COD experiences were really gratifying and more than I ever hoped for,” she said. “I needed base skills and I developed them because the faculty were hands-on with their instruction.”