Illustrator’s Way Spring 2026

Some artists command attention with their voices. Others do it with their work. Isaac Thaxton is firmly in the second category.

A graduate of Nossi College of Art & Design, Isaac is one of those extremely talented illustration alumni whose quiet presence is matched by the power and precision of his artwork. Soft-spoken and humble, he lets the work speak—and it speaks volumes.

Born in Louisiana, Isaac's artistic path became clear while attending the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts in the Visual Arts Department. It was there, surrounded by other serious young creatives, that he realized art wasn't just an interest—it was his calling. He knew he wanted to pursue it as a career.

That clarity brought him to Tennessee and to Nossi College of Art, where he earned his degree in Commercial Illustration. At Nossi, Isaac refined not only his technical skill but also his professional focus. His ability to combine artistic sensitivity with practical application quickly set him apart.

Through Nossi's industry connections, Kirk Denney, Isaac was introduced to Catalyst Design Group, who was looking for someone with both an art background and the willingness to learn CAD. Isaac embraced the challenge. Today, he creates detailed color renderings of potential building and site developments—visual tools that help clients see projects before they are built. His illustrations bridge imagination and structure, transforming technical plans into compelling visual stories.

But his creative journey doesn't stop at architectural rendering.

On weekends, Isaac pursued another demanding and deeply personal art form: tattooing. Mentored by fellow Nossi Illustration graduate Cydnee Cothron—whom he met during his time at Nossi—he immersed himself in the world of ink. Tattooing proved to be both incredibly difficult and equally rewarding, requiring discipline, patience, and confidence. It aligned seamlessly with his love for art, while adding the profound responsibility of creating permanent art for others.

Whether rendering future developments for clients, designing intricate tattoos, or creating personal pieces, Isaac's work reflects intention, craftsmanship, and depth. His quiet demeanor often surprises those who encounter the boldness and sophistication of his art—but that contrast is part of what makes him remarkable.

Catalyst Design Group is an innovative, multidisciplinary firm built on the combined expertise of Planning, Civil Engineering, and Landscape Architecture. Since officially opening its doors in August 2017, the firm has approached development and construction challenges with a deeply collaborative model—blending technical precision with creative problem-solving.

Andrew's journey to founding Catalyst is one of vision, leadership, and bold thinking. Originally from Silver City, New Mexico, he graduated from Northern Arizona University before moving to Nashville in 2004 with his wife—his high school sweetheart. After 13 years of managing, planning, and designing civil engineering projects, Andrew, alongside fellow principals Jack Parker, Jeff Heinze, and Phillip Piercy, launched Catalyst with a shared vision for a better, more collaborative approach to design.

In addition to serving as president of the firm, Andrew manages a wide variety of projects across Middle Tennessee and beyond. Andrew played basketball at Northern Arizona University under coach Ben Howland, and in 2000, the 15-seeded NAU Lumberjacks nearly upset St. John's in the first round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, falling just short in a 61–56 thriller. That competitive drive and team-centered mindset continue to shape his leadership today.

A New Path for Illustrators

What makes Andrew's story especially relevant to Illustrator's Way is his forward-thinking decision to hire three Illustration graduates from Nossi College of Art—an unconventional move in the architectural and engineering world.

Rather than limiting his hiring to traditional technical roles, Andrew intentionally sought out creative thinkers—visual problem-solvers who could bring conceptual energy and fresh perspective to Catalyst's work. By integrating illustrators into a firm traditionally centered on engineering and landscape architecture, he is helping redefine how visual storytelling, conceptual rendering, and design communication can enhance development projects.

This integration represents something new and significant: illustrators entering professional environments historically dominated by architects and engineers. It signals a broader recognition that illustration is not merely decorative, but strategic—an essential tool for vision casting, client communication, and innovative thinking.

Andrew also serves on the Nossi College of Art Illustration Advisory Board, further strengthening the bridge between education and industry.

As Catalyst continues to grow, so does the opportunity for illustrators to step into new professional spaces—thanks in part to leaders like Andrew Wolthers who are willing to challenge convention and embrace creative collaboration.

What inspired you to hire illustration graduates in a civil engineering and planning firm?

We had a young lady start working with us who had graduated with a graphic design degree, but had begun her career as a CAD technician with another firm. We saw the benefit of how she approached our deliverable process and the attention to detail that someone who comes from an art/graphic design background can bring. So we decided to start broadening our outreach for new production talent into the graphic design world.

What specific value have illustrators added to Catalyst's project workflow?

In addition to their creativity, the ability to sensibly organize information into a receptive deliverable is something that engineers can sometimes overlook. We appreciate our team of professionals who approach our work with an illustration eye!

How have clients responded to having illustrators involved in the design and presentation process?

I doubt our clients really know the background of our construction staff – they just care about things being accurate and easy to understand.

In what ways do illustrators contribute differently than traditional architectural rendering specialists?

Our technicians may come from different backgrounds, including the illustrator world, but all of them undergo rigorous training in the specific AutoCAD software packages that we use to create our deliverables. In this way their illustration skills become an enhancement to their ability as a drafting technician, and makes them more well-rounded than a typical rendering specialist.

Since 2022, he has worked as a 3D artist, motion designer, and video editor, collaborating with creative studios, construction companies, museums, churches, YouTubers, and toy makers. Although most of his clients are construction companies and non-profit organizations, his first client was his friend, Cody, who hired him to make short animations for his music videos. Whatever the project, Grant has a passion for creating compelling videos that help provide clarity and value for his clients.

For the past year and a half, Grant has taught 3D, animation, and motion design courses at Nossi. He loves finding the best ways to break down complex creative software so that they are fun and comprehensible. In his classes, students don't just sit and listen, they get hands-on experience following along in the programs that they're learning.

Grant is passionate about empowering students to make the kind of projects that they love, that will help them break into the field they're interested in.

He aspires to be an instructor that encourages his students to have confidence in their work and speak kindly to themselves. Grant's reminder for those reading this is to always stay creative, and in all areas of life, enjoy the process!