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Colleen Kong-Savage
Illustration, United States New York New York
 
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Brief Summary
My expertise lies in intelligent illustration and elegant graphic design with focus on brand-identity. My work possesses the warmth and personality of handmade elements and is informed by a proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite. I work independently, but make an excellent team player with my easy-going, hard-working nature and my clear, diplomatic communication style.

As an illustrator, I have a penchant for that analog medium of paper, and my signature style involves richly textured, colorful collage. However, I am a versatile artist, and like most commercial creatives I am also adept at Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. While I have made images for a range of industries, including health, food, and the performing arts, my favorite field is the children's market. I am currently illustrating my first picture book for Lee & Low. When I am not picture-making for kids, I am creating images for websites, business presentations, greeting cards, and editorials, to name a few assignments.

My graphic design experience comes into play as I unite illustrations with copy to create clear design for web pages, signage, stationery, and other collateral—including a tent in one assignment. Often I am asked to design or redesign a logo, which will serve as a springboard for that company's whole visual language. Because I take the job from concept through to print, I am adept in production: building mechanicals in InDesign, retouching images in Photoshop, creating mock-ups, and more. 
Clients
Lee & Low Books, Quidd, Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission, Friends & Farms, Flat Rate Moving, Luke's Cleaning, Emerald City Opera, Saint Barnabus Hospital, New Video Group, Lighthouse International, The Anderson School and other NYC public schools, Luminous Body, Financial Samurai, See-See Multimedia, Groundfloor Exercise Studio, Black Van Consulting
Professional Experience
PROFILE
Artist with over 10 years experience in illustration and design. Graphics expertise fed by fine arts background and complimented by skills in production and copywriting.
Hard-working, flexible team player who takes initiative.


SKILLS
Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator. Production: mechanicals, image retouching. Illustration: paper collage, pen & ink, watercolor, gouache, and Adobe Illustrator.



WORK

KONG-SAVAGE ARTHOUSE (since 2006)
Freelance illustrator & designer
• Boost marketability and credibility of numerous businesses by establishing their unique brand identities through illustration and design.
• Enhance visual appeal of websites, business presentations, and other marketing materials through illustrations to catch consumer’s eye and reflect company’s personality. 
• Springboard brand identities through logo design and maintain consistency in visual language of all marketing collateral—stationery, signage, press kits, etc.
• Develop concepts for wide variety of assignments—books, t-shirts, tents, editorial assignments, etc.—and take jobs through production to finish. 
• Clientele in health care, fitness, food, the arts

NEW YORK CENTRAL ART SUPPLIES STORE (2000-2004)
Public relations & sales
• Raised visibility of store after spearheading annual group show, Counter Culture. Procured sponsorship of show from National Arts Club. 
• My annual publicity campaigns resulted in press coverage of store in CBS News (Scott Rappaport, 2003), front page of the New York Times Art Section (Julie Salamon, 2004), local and trade publications, and recognition of store’s contribution to the art community by the National Arts Club.

NEW VIDEO GROUP (1995-1999)
Graphic artist
• Supported sales department by creating marketing materials: mock-ups of packaging, sell sheets, presentation boards, and promotional fliers. 
• Produced and designed mechanicals for video packaging. 
• Enhanced visual appeal of company communications through illustrating for website, greeting cards, gift packaging, and miscellaneous in-house materials.



VOLUNTEER

PS334 THE ANDERSON SCHOOL (2009-2014)
Graphic artist
Led children in collaborative classroom art projects, which each raised $1500+ at annual fundraiser. Illustrated and designed t-shirts, fliers, posters, and brochures for school events. Edited and provided cohesive art direction for yearbook designed by volunteer team of varying skill levels and styles.

NEW YORK CARES (2001-2005)
Mural artist
Designed and drafted murals for public schools. Coordinated projects with busy school officials and teams of often-untrained volunteer painters, which required organization and clarity in both communication and mural design to ensure succesful execution of painting. My project with PS2 was featured in NY1 News (10/20/2002).



PUBLICATION

CREATIVE PAPER QUILTS (2008 Lark Books, edited by Terri Stegmiller) Contributed artwork to crafts book.Wrote instructional text and created diagrams.


Education

SMITH COLLEGE (BA) Northampton, MA ◆ Studio Art major

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY (MFA) New York, NY ◆ Fiction Writing

ART STUDENTS LEAGUE  New York, NY ◆ Merit Scholarship

Member of Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators
Awards and Recognition
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
Art Students League Merit Scholarship
Gertrude Spencer Prize for Fiction Writing
Augusta Jordan Prize for Fiction Writing
UNITY Art Search - First Prize

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