Resume

I have 4 years of experience in the gaming industry as an illustrator, graphic designer, conceptual designer and writer. My skills include traditional painting and line art, as well as a good understanding of Photoshop and QuarkXPress. I have experience in packaging design, logo and visual identity design, graphic layout, conceptual design, comics and illustration. I am currently expanding my knowledge of WWW applications and interactive media, including how to use Dreamweaver and Fireworks to create sites such as this one. My illustration skills are where I shine - I can work in a variety of styles and mediums, I tend to work quickly and flexibly, enjoy working with others to bring an idea to visual life and am creative and self motivated. It is important to me to strive to improve my work with every assignment and expand my abilities and experience.

Experience

Alderac Entertainment Group

Ontario, CA: Staff Artist/Graphic Designer (1997 - Present)

Responsible for creating interior illustrations, promotional and cover art for publications, designing book layout, ads, card graphics, packaging and visual identity. I also work with the creative team to conceptualize ideas, design elements and establish visual themes and artist guidelines for projects and am occasionally called on to write supplemental fiction and ad text. I have also, in the past, occupied an art direction position and am familiar with working both with and as an art director.

My accomplishments include:

Being an integral part of the conceptual design team for AEG's flagship property 7th Sea. Collaborating with the team to design conceptual and visual elements, themes and guidelines. I directed and designed the visual identity of 7th Sea - including the main product logos, heraldry and faction motifs, book covers, ads, layout and packaging and assembled a reference and visual guideline package for out-of-house artists for the goal of maintaining a consistent and believable visual theme.

I have experience in producing maps, character portraits, spot illustrations, color and black and white art for role-playing products.

I have contributed graphic design and illustration to all of AEG's product lines, including Legend of the Five Rings, Doomtown, Legend of the Burning Sands, Brave New World and Shadis magazine.

On the Ball

El Monte, CA: Staff Artist/Graphic Designer (1995 - 1997)

Responsible for conceptualizing, designing and illustrating products and packaging.

My accomplishments include:

Creating, designing and illustrating several lines of children's products, including the milk cap series': The Janglebones, Mini Monsters, Galactic Good Guys and Galactic Bad Guys, The Wierdoids and a series based on the legend of King Arthur.

Freelance illustration

(1994 - Present)

Responsible for creating original art according to contract assignments, including traditional media illustration and computer graphics. Most of my freelance experience has been in the comics and fantasy gaming fields. I have contributed to several role-playing and collectable card games as well as comics, children's products, personal commissions and a few jobs for the movie industry.

I work well in a variety of mediums, from oils and acrylic paints, pen and ink, colored pencil, watercolor and pencil sketches to PhotoShop and Painter programs. I can work in both color and black and white. I can work in a variety of styles, including humorous and whimsical cartoony styles, realistic renderings, fantastic and surreal styles and sharp graphic design. I can adapt to whatever theme or feel is required.

Tell me what you want, describe to me the action, feel, theme and intent of an assignment and I will bring it to life. I also tend to work quickly and have much experience with dealing with tight deadlines.

Education

I have little formal art education and do not have any degrees. I have taken basic college art courses and have an understanding of the fundamental principles of graphic design and illustration. I have developed my natural abilities through experimentation, observation, training and experience. I believe a portfolio is more valuable in this field than a diploma, and I have accomplished a lot over the last several years, have worked hard to improve my skills and will continue to do so. I am willing and eager to learn new techniques, technology and skills and am a quick and adaptable learner.

Interests

I have always been a creative person. Growing up, I was fascinated by traditional fairytales, science fiction and fantasy, history, comic books and anything that captivated and inspired the imagination. I still am. I have been fortunate to have experience in the fantasy gaming field, where my ideas and talents have been employed to design worlds, stories, characters and themes that bring the fantastic to life, and would like to continue to participate in similar projects. I am interested in creating environments that immerse the viewer, convince them, transport them, entertain them and make them think. As an illustrator, I believe the most important and fulfilling aspect of the job is to work with the author and/or art director to bring the original idea to visual life as accurately and completely as possible. I enjoy working with other creative people, sharing concepts, honing ideas, trying different options and finding ways to express the look, feel, heart and soul of a product, property or concept. To me, there is nothing more satisfying than hearing the words: "That's exactly what I was imagining,". This is what I strive for with every assignment I work on.

 

I am currently seeking to expand my freelance client base. If you are interested in working with me or offering me an assignment, please contact me at: SkeletnGrl@aol.com.