Freelance Illustrator and Designer

Jen Sheckels

Deale, MD

jensheckels.com

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About

Please visit my new illustration website at www.jensheckels.com!

I have over 15 years of experience in graphic design and publishing where I've enjoyed promoting communication through balanced design. Whether creating designs for myself, clients, or as part of a dynamic creative team, I'm always working to find a new angle in the hopes of inspiring an out-of-the-box approach to the creative problem at hand. I recently completed my M.F.A in Illustration at Savannah College of Art and Design. Merging my love of design and illustration will ultimately aid in the development of more engaging materials for the advertising and publishing markets.

Specialties: Illustration - pastels, paint, pencil, and digital vector drawing.

Layout and design graphics program efficiency: QuarkXPress 10, Adobe Photoshop CC, Adobe Illustrator CC, and Adobe InDesign CC, as well as a working knowledge of Adobe Dreamweaver CC, HTML and CSS, and ToonBoom's Storyboard Pro.

Word Processing: Microsoft Word 2011, Microsoft Excel 2011, Microsoft Power Point
Education
- MFA Illustration
  
  Savannah College of Art and Design
  
  2015 - 2018
- BA Studio Art - Illustration; Graphic Design
  
  Messiah College
  
  1998 - 2002
  
  Minored in English Literature. Vollmer Art Scholarship Recipient 1998 - 2001. Messiah College Scholar Intern Grant Recipient 2000-2001. DJ at student radio station 1998 - 2000.
- Diploma Studio art
  
  Suitland High School ·
  
  1994 - 1998
  
  Enrolled in the Visual and Performing Arts Magnet Program - Studio Art
Experience
- Legal Advertising/Editoral Assistant
  
  Prince George's Post
  
  Upper Marlboro, MD
  
  Jun 2015 - Present (9 years 5 months)
  
  Part-time work typesetting legal advertisements and ad layout in the paper. Provide additional copy editing and layout support for the editorial section.
- Freelance Graphic Designer/Illustrator
  
  Jen Sheckels, Illustration and Design
  
  Deale, MD
  
  Aug 2011 - Present (13 years 3 months)
  
  Providing graphic design and illustration services to multiple clients and businesses.
  
  • Marketing/advertising design
  • Copy editing, formatting, and layout
  • Self-promotional collateral, including business cards, postcards, etc.
  • Custom illustration for specific client needs.
- Manager, Publications Department
  
  Recorded Books
  
  Prince Frederick, MD
  
  Aug 2011 - May 2015 (3 years 9 months)
  
  Promoted to head of the creative department.
  • Responsible for creative direction in all aspects of the company, from packaging to marketing collateral, as well as the day-to-day activities of the creative team
  • Implemented new work flow and job tracking processes for all creative projects, increasing production without additional hires, as well as ensuring more timely, deadline-driven work
  • Increased cohesion in creative projects by educating on brand awareness
- Art Director/Senior Designer
  
  Recorded Books
  
  Prince Frederick, MD
  
  Jun 2009 - Aug 2011 (2 years 2 months)
  
  Promoted to new publishing division to develop school curriculum products.
  • Responsible for developing brand identities for each curriculum, as well as the style and design for the products, as well as marketing collateral
  • Managed project work flow and print scheduling for all publishing projects
  • Worked with celebrity authors, contractors, in-house marketing staff, as well as design and editorial departments to create an attractive, and engaging collection of work
- Production Manager/Senior Designer
  
  Recorded Books
  
  Prince Frederick, MD
  
  Jun 2007 - Jun 2009 (2 years)
  
  Promoted to floor manager for the creative department.
  • Responsible for managing department work flow, in both production as well as marketing projects
  • Lead design role on multiple projects, including logos and direct-mail campaigns
- Graphic Designer
  
  Recorded Books
  
  Prince Frederick, MD
  
  Mar 2004 - Jun 2007 (3 years 3 months)
  
  – Responsible for designing all direct-to-consumer marketing collateral
  – Managed work flow and worked with printers to ensure all projects were completed on time
- Production Manager
  
  The Sentinel
  
  MD
  
  Jun 2003 - Mar 2004 (9 months)
  
  • Responsible for day-to-day activities of the design staff in the production of two editions a week
  • Oversaw organization and archiving of all production files
Awards

• Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, Gold Key Award (1998) for Printmaking

• Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, Pinnacle Award (1998) for Printmaking

• Vollmer Art Scholarship Recipient (1998-2001)

• Messiah College Scholar Intern Grant recipient (2000-2001)

• Best In Show, Muddy Creek Artists Guild (Harvest of Artists Show, September 2014)
Affiliations

• American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA)

• Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)

• Muddy Creek Artists Guild (MCAG)

• Pyramid Atlantic Art Center (PAAC)
Industries
Skills
Elsewhere on the Web
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On Coroflot

@jensheckels, member since 2010
- Following 11
- Followers 2

Jen Sheckels

Director and Associate/Full Professor, Myron E. Ullman Jr. School of Design, College of DAAP

Director, Industrial Design