Bob Lentz

Personal Pronouns

He/Him

Describe what you do for work and how your experience with it has been.

I work in content development and marketing at Capstone, a publisher of books, ebooks, and edtech tools for children in grades K-8. In addition to leading the company’s marketing and branding initiatives, I have also designed and illustrated many of Capstone’s books, from board books to picture books to illustrated cookbooks.

How did you get your job?

I was referred to this job by a coworker at my previous job, who urged me to apply.

How long ago did you graduate from MCAD?

10+ years

Where are you originally from and how did you hear about MCAD?

I grew up in Litchfield, MN, where I participated in many art and music programs. I became aware of MCAD via my art teachers and school counselor.

What was your major and how did you choose it?

I originally applied to MCAD with the intention of studying animation. I quickly found I had a much greater interest in illustration and graphic design. While my official major was Illustration, my advisor was adamant that I take as many foundational graphic design classes as possible in order to more fully round out my education. To this day, I am incredibly grateful for that piece of direction.

Who was your favorite faculty member and why?

Tom Garrett. Not only did I have the privilege of studying under him in all of his illustration and professional practice courses, but he was also my faculty advisor. When you are a young kid coming into an art school with only a set of colored pencils to your name, you need someone to push you into new media. Tom did that. Acrylic, watercolor, collage, digital - nothing was off limits. He also encouraged me to explore composition, color, and technique in ways I never understood before. But, above all, Tom showed me what professionalism, hard work, and kindness look like. Watching him receive faculty member of the year at my commencement ceremony was a definite highlight of my MCAD career.

Describe your internship(s).

During my junior year at MCAD, I interned at Spectrum Studios, a small illustration agency formerly located at Seven Corners in Minneapolis. At the time they had around eight artists and they all worked in the same building. It was amazing to be around commercial artists doing work for General Mills cereal boxes, Target, and 3M, to name a few local companies. This was at a time when the Internet and Adobe software was in its infancy. Only one artist in the studio was dabbling with Adobe illustrator, while the other artists were still using traditional media like airbrush, watercolor, and pencil. Technology was still so “new,” but even then I could already see its advantages and how quickly it would evolve.

Best thing you ever found on the free shelf?

I barely remember this! Probably a CD or DVD, if I was lucky.

Did MCAD prepare you for life after graduation? In what way?

Yes. I can’t count how many times I’ve recalled specific nuggets of information I received from various faculty members. Everything from “this is forgettable” to “what’s your concept??” to “I’ll watch for you in 10 years.” These all may seem somewhat harsh-sounding, but I can assure you that even the toughest criticism has had a much more profound impact on me as an artist and a human. Sure, there was lots of positive feedback and technical direction offered, too, but it was the daily dose of reality that truly prepared me for a future in art and design.

Your biggest takeaway from MCAD?

Conan O’Brien said it best: “If you work hard, and you are kind, amazing things will happen.” I found this to be true with many of the students and faculty that I encountered over the course of my career at MCAD and beyond. You have to put in the work. You have to put in the countless hours and the sleepless nights. You have to show up. No question. But, more importantly, you have to be a good human. As artists, we have a responsibility to be kind and empathetic and compassionate and to broadcast those qualities through our work. This has never been more important than it is right now in history.

What inspires you/your work?

Right now, it would certainly be family - namely my young children. And our dog, Huey Lewis.

How do you network yourself and your art?

My website, LinkedIn, social media, and community involvement.

What was your experience living in the Twin Cities? Any hidden treasures?

Enlightening to a kid from small town central MN. Yet another great takeaway from my time at MCAD: the expanding of my horizons, my palate, my worldview. And Little T’s (Little Tijuana)!

Who are some other alumni we should interview/check out?

Joel Pino, Brann Garvey, Keegan Garvey, Brent Schoonover…!