Office of University Publications
Pete Bella
Pete has always been artistic. As a young child he drew to mimic things he saw on television
and in magazines. In junior high, Pete tested his artistic abilities by drawing Tippy the Turtle,
known to millions of magazine readers as the famous art test mascot of the Art Instruction School
advertisements. He never submitted the drawing, but remembers the experience as a turning point in
defining what he wanted to do in his life.
His artistic expression is not limited to his ability to draw. Pete worked in construction for more than 13 years, sharpening an ability to interpret people’s needs. That skill became essential after he earned a bachelor’s degree in fine art from RIT and began working as a graphic designer. His experience in construction, coupled with his education, strengthened his understanding of how much people depend on visuals to aid interpretation. His work reveals a deepness of thought that reflects his clients’ needs.