I was not surprised by how much was known about picture making by the faculty of The Illustration Academy. I expected that. How much was known about everything else caught me off-guard. Literature, music, history, pop culture, and philosophy are just a handful of topics discussed on a daily basis at the Academy. I was inspired to become a well rounded person that creates art, not just a wrist. The selfless sharing of knowledge at the Academy is truly inspiring. I did not go a day without learning something new and interesting to try. The fact that I learned just as much from the other students was an added bonus.