WHETHER I AM BUILDING A MASSIVE 4 FT TALL LEGO CASTLE OR DESIGNING A 500 PAGE CATALOG, Iam always seeking out new ways to visually communicate ideas. Art and design has been my passion since I was in diapers. Our kitchen table, floors, walls, you name it, I probably scribbled on it. Being a product of the early 1980s I can attest to the fact that the funky clothes and my bowl-cut hair style did not stick around in the 1990s.
As a person who continues to cultivate meaningful and unique work, I take in as much information and history about cultural experiences I endure. Besides the county fair and the Independence Day fireworks, growing up in a small town didn’t offer my family much entertainment. I toured all over the United States and love to visit cities during the comic book convention season.
I am a firm believer in supporting the Hero Initiative, a publicly supported nonprofit organization dedicated to helping comic book creators in need. Hero assists yesterday’s artist with medical aid, financial support and seeking paid work.
Live. React. Experience.
I DECIPHER MESSY AND SOMETIMES UNRECOGNIZABLE THOUGHTS AND TURN THEM INTO COHERENT SOLUTIONS. MOST THE TIME I BEGIN WITH JUST A DOODLE. FUNNY WORD, ISN’T IT?
On a napkin or in a book. Underneath a cliff. Inside a car’s trunk…don’t ask. These are places where my creativity began and ideas formed, got scratched off and rewritten. After that, strategies fell into my lap.
Big or small, ideas carry the heavy lifting. My pencil does the rest.
RECOGNITION
2011 Bronze Addy Award
(PGCH Magazine Ad Campaign)
2010 Silver Addy Award
(“Available In” Magazine Ad)
2010 Bronze Addy Award
(“Putting you in the right light” Magazine Ad Campaign)
2010 Bronze Addy Award
(“Wimpy Brute” Magazine Ad)
2010 Gold Northeast Ohio Craftsmen Club’s Gallery of Superb Printing Award
(Tri Tantage Welcome Kit)
2009 Bronze Addy Award
(“Open Your Mind” Trade Show Exhibit)
2009 Bronze Addy Award
(NaviGate “In An Instant” Brochure)
2008 Bronze Addy Award
(Magazine Ad)
Designing With Type
Featured in Designing with Type 5 and on author’s associated website:
www.designingwithtype.com
EDUCATION
Kent State University
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication
Design with a concentration in 2-D Design and
a Minor in Advertising
GPA: 3.20
AFFILIATIONS
Inkwell Awards
08.13 – Present
Corporate ART
Lucasfilm
HBO
Overnight Productions
Funimation
Chibi Essence
LEGO
TOPPS Trading Cards
Microsoft
Carl Lillis & Associates
Things Remembered
Arby’s
DESIGN EXPERIENCE
Mitchell Allen Group
Cleveland, OH
Graphic Designer/Freelance Art Director
09.12 – 03.13
Frontgate
Freelance Graphic Designer
West Chester, OH
01.12 – 08.12
Mitchell Allen Group
Graphic Designer
Cleveland, OH
09.08 – 07.11
JoAnn Fabric and Craft Stores
Freelance Graphic Designer
Hudson, OH
03.08 – 08.08
Doner Advertising
Freelance Graphic Designer / Production Artist
Cleveland, OH
09.07 – 03.08
Whitemyer Advertising
Graphic Designer
Zoar, OH
07.06 – 08.07
Dix & Eaton
Freelance Graphic Designer
Cleveland, OH
12.05 – 06.06
COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
Titan Comics
Topcow Comics
Image Comics
Zenescope Entertainment
Still Ill Comics
Dynamite Entertainment
Aspen Comics
Sblaze Publishing
Coffin Comics
Absolute Comics Group
Big Dog Ink
MERC Publishing
Special OPS
Action Lab Comics
No Gravity Studios
Absolute Comics Group
Double Take Universe
Be Amazed Studios
Laser Lady Publishing
BOOK PUBLISHERS
AZ Publishing
Octopus Park
Mythographer’s Workshop