AboutGianina L. Expertise I can answer questions concerning most traditional mediums such as acrylics, watercolor, colored pencils, collage/cut paper, graphite, charcoal, and pen and ink. I also have strong, advanced knowledge of Photoshop, Powerpoint and Publisher; and beginner to immediate level knowledge in Illustrator, Freehand, After Effects, and Flash. In addition, I can cover miscellaneous subjects such as portfolio preparation, applying to art schools, art school study skills, color theory, basic design and drawing principles, basic animation techniques, working on personal art styles and exploring new artistic techniques. Topics such as the detailed legal aspects of art, web programming and Flash action scripting do not fall under my area of expertise.
Experience
Experience
in the Area
I graduated summa cum laude with a double BFA in Illustration and Computer Art
(specializing in 2-dimensional animation) from the Savannah College of Art and
Design, where as a student, I happily tutored fellow peers in all aspects of art
and created numerous illustrations for the school newspaper. For the past
several years, I have been illustrating seminar books, designing numerous
graphics, and creating short animation sequences for use in video. In addition,
I work as a private tutor and am co-director / co-owner of a company that
focuses on and promotes the local music industry. I assist with all the
day-to-day operations of this company as well as manage all art direction and
design.
Education/Credentials
Savannah College of Art and Design
BFA Computer Art, Illustration
Summa Cum Laude
Dean's List, GPA 4.0
Awards and Honors
Induction into Alpha Pi Beta honor society for art and design, 2002
Outstanding Achievement in Computer Art, 2002
Outstanding Student for the academic year 2001-2002
Awarded "Most Dependable" for District, the student newspaper, 2002
Who's Who Among American Colleges and Universities, May 2001
Better Business Bureau Honesty in Advertising Essay Competition, Merit
Award, November 1998
Mary Renee Whelan Scholarship, Savannah College of Art and Design
Exhibitions and Festivals:
Embodiement; Myths in Animal Form, www.postpicasso.com, December 10 - January
10, 2005
SCAD Alumni Show, Stardust Café, Orlando, FL; December 2004
Finalist, International Juried Online Symbolist Art Show, www.dracoblu.com, May
2004 - April 2005
Finalist, International Juried Online Symbolist Art Show, www.dracoblu.com, May
2003 - April 2004
Senior Showcase, SCAD Pei Ling Chan Gallery, Savannah, GA; May 2002
2D or not 2D, SCAD Trustees Theatre, Savannah, GA; April 2002
Small Works, SCAD Exhibit A Gallery, Savannah, GA; November 7 - December 31,
2001; art was purchased
Magnanimata Animation Festival, May 1999
Publications
Quoted briefly in Animation World Magazine, "Predicting the Future of
Futurama" (April 1999) and "Ed, Edd, n Eddy: A Unique Approach"
(June 1999)
Expert: Gianina L. Date: 9/27/2007 Subject: scientific illustration
Question Hello Gianina and thank you in advance! I got into Cooper U. and have done many juried shows but I never finished and never got a degree of any kind, and don't enjoy any sort of sustainable income from art (or healthcare, or a car, or any redeemable fungible for that matter). I'm now thirty if that matters. Anyway, I realize I would need a degree in scientific illustration to illustrate for medical texts, but these kinds of detailed and accurate drawings are my passion. Is there any hope for getting illustration gigs considering this, and what would be my first steps? If I have to have graphics program knowledge is it feasible to teach myself, and what would be the best program(s) to familiarize myself with?
Answer Hello Lauren,
First off, I do feel your pain. The term "starving artist" wasn't created for no reason at all. Art is not always the easiest way to sustain your life, especially when you work in a more freelance arena. Artists often have second, third, fourth jobs to help themselves out. This isn't absolutely true for everyone, but it's a common story. I've been there, and I'm often still there. Art fluctuates and in America, it often doesn't receive the respect it deserves, making the road to success even more difficult.
Granted, although that all seems discouraging, if you truly believe in it and truly love it, whether you make pennies or millions, it's absolutely worth it. When it comes to scientific and medical illustration, yes, education is important. A lot of information and knowledge and precision is involved with that type of illustration, however, you may try to break into the technical illustration field, which is similar (such as illustrating for manuals and the like.) Start researching to try and find other illustrators in this arena with whom you could talk. Two websites - www.societyillustrators.org and www.theispot.com - are two good starting points with anything illustration-related.
Try digging up publications such as "Guide to the Literary Marketplace," "Gale Director of Publications and Broadcast Media," and the "Standard Directory of Advertisers." Look online, at a bookstore, or at your library. These types of books provide information on different categories of publishers, and this will hopefully give you an idea of what companies are out there. Even if you go to your local bookstore and browse the art section, you will find similar publications that help you tap into the industry.
You can learn graphics programs on your own given the time, and you can build yourself as an artist on your own, but I do recommend some classes if feasible. Any class, whether at a community college or elsewhere, is helpful because it provides you with an environment conducive to practicing technique and receiving critique from people who understand art and can give you a fresh viewpoint.
No matter what, as you go along, practice, practice, practice, and continue to build your portfolio. Branch out a little bit and try and get small jobs through people that you know, even if the projects are pro bono, to help build your experience.
I hope this answers your questions. Let me know if I can be of further aid.
