Joy Creating History
Ever since I was a young girl, and by young, I mean three years old, I've wanted to be an artist. Youthful ideology suggested that the only requirement for attaining such a goal was the ability to draw. Skill wasn't lacking, but direction and experience was. I found, after a lot of slammed doors and disappointments, that regardless of my ability, employers are reluctant to hire someone just because he or she can "draw good".
In 2004, I moved to Anchorage, Alaska. Still remaining with employment I was comfortable with, I got a job at Blaine's Art Supply. It was while I worked at Blaine's that I started to get my first requests for freelance graphic design work. At the time, my graphic design resume was limited, but my boss was a constant advocate for my skill. Within the first year since my move, I designed several logos, business cards, and even illustrated a book that was published that fall.
For the next 3 years I picked up dozens of freelance jobs. I illustrated more books, painted wall murals, designed business cards and logos, and even had the opportunity to work as a courtroom artist on a couple of trials.
In the fall of 2009, I was hired as the full time illustrator for Arctic Circle Enterprises LLC. The position called for a knowledge of both Photoshop as well as Illustrator. The former I had prior working knowledge of. The latter program I learned how to use the first week at my new job. Though I required a lot of on-the-job education, it was my graphic design resume that gave credence to my abilities as an artist and designer.
Projects I've worked on at Arctic Circle included; screen print designs, small gift items such as key chains and magnets, mugs, stuffed animals, small statues, and more! I was able to express myself with realistic designs, cartoonish characters, and 3 dimensional figure work. Even after moving away from Alaska at the end of 2012, I've continued to do work for Arctic Circle on a contract basis.
CURRENT FREELANCE CAREER
Since moving back to Minnesota in the fall of 2012, I've been working solely as a contract artist and I've been adapting my graphic design resume to reflect that. My primary clients are found via Fiverr. I also create logo redraws for Stewart Signs and, on occasion, design frightful and fantastic creatures for Palladium Books' RPG, "The Rifter". Working at Palladium Books has allowed me, for the first time, to really go full out with the sort of design work I love the most! At my heart, I am a fantasy artist, so to be able to create weird alien creatures and monsters is a dream come true for me!
