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Education:

 

Winthrop University, Rock Hill, South Carolina
BFA in Visual Communication: Illustration; Minor in Spanish
Graduation: December 2010

Self-Study, Online: 2011- present

  • Good, ole Book Learning

  • Youtube: various sources (youtube.com) 2011- present

  • School of Visual Storytelling (svslearn.com): 2018- present

  • Schoolism (schoolism.com): 2018- present

Work Experience:
 

2023
 

  • Drew caricatures at the Columbia Fireflies games over Summer in Columbia, SC.

  • Drew caricatures at a Back-To-School Community event in Newberry.

  • Worked on caricature commissions for new clients.

2022
 

  • Interviewed and featured in an article with Women of Caricature, February 2022.

  • Interviewed and featured in an article with Shoutout Atlanta, February 2, 2022.

  • Worked on caricature commissions for new clients.

2021

  • Drew Ghostbusters themed family caricature.

  • Drew caricature commissions for new clients.

  • Drew live caricatures at a Bar/Bat Mitzvah combination celebration in Columbia, November 13th evening.

  • Drew live caricatures at a one-year old's birthday party in Irmo, November 13th early afternoon.

  • Drew live caricatures for a Western- themed birthday party in Columbia, November 12th.

  • Drew live caricatures at the Concours d'Elegance classic car show on Hilton Head Island, November 6th - 7th.

  • Illustrated the banner art for the SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators) Carolinas division newsletter and became the featured illustrator for August.

  • Drew live caricatures at the Richland County Community Recreation Fair in July.

  • Drew live caricatures for a gender reveal party in Columbia, SC in May.

  • Drew live caricatures at a birthday party in Summerville, SC April 9th.

  • Redesigned this website making it more user friendly and appealing.
     

2020
 

  • Worked on caricature commissions for new clients, including the Williams Family of Lizard's Thicket Restaurants.

  • Took on personal project of drawing caricatures of the majority of my coworkers from my day job during the initial COVID-19/Coronavirus pandemic statewide lockdown.

  • Caricature Artist at various events, both public and private (before the pandemic).

  • Illustrated the children's book, The Little Foresters Adventures with Larry the Logger, written by Dana Bloome published in March.

 

2019
 

  • Revamped Grenchessa Bah Humbug Grump (my Christmas Grinch character). - Coloring Pages, Story Time, and
    Selfies Opportunities available for clients to book.

  • Attended the three-day Carolinas SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) Fall Conference in Charlotte, NC in September.

  • Commissioned to illustrate a 32 page children's book by Dana Bloome. (work in progress, estimated publishing date March 2020)

  • Caricature artist at various corporate events ( Verizon Wireless Call Center, Pepsi Co., Burger King, etc) 

  • Commissioned to illustrate an adult coloring book/life journal by Tabitha Hall-Pennon, Good Morning Little Pretty Girl. Published in November 

  • Commissioned to draw caricatures based off of clients' photographs to be given as gifts.

  • Caricature artist at various birthday parties and wedding gigs.

  • Became a member of SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) in May. View gallery here.

  • Invited to be a caricature artist at Francis Marion University's "Cool-Con", a small comic convention for students of FMU in March.

  • Participated in #CaricatureResolution2019 art challenge in January.

2018
 

  • Created Grenchessa Bah Humbug Grump  (my Christmas Grinch character)

  • Caricature artist at various gigs.

  • Completed a client's family caricature commission based off photograph in January.

2017
 

  • Self-published The Song of the Armadillo (storybook) c. 2016-2017

  • Self-published The Song of the Armadillo: Coloring & Activity Books One, Two, and Three c. 2016-2017

  • Self-published The Song of the Armadillo: Activity Workbook  c.2017

  • Drew several caricature commissions based off of photographs for clients.

  • Caricature artist at wedding in Augusta, GA in November.

  • Caricature artist at wedding at Riverbanks Botanical Gardens in October.

  • Caricature artist at child's Carnival-themed birthday party in Columbia, SC.

 

2016
 

  • Caricature artist at surprise Halloween/Birthday party in Blythewood, SC in October.

  • Caricature artist at Rueggeberg/ McNeil Wedding in Augusta, GA in October.

  • Created caricatures of bride & groom, and bridal party from pre-wedding photographs for aforementioned wedding gig.

  • Self-published The Song of the Armadillo: Coloring & Activity Book (100-page book) in April.

  • Vendor at The Greek Picnic in Columbia, SC in April; drawing caricatures.

  • Caricature Artist and Supervisor for Goofy Faces, LLC at the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, SC.

  • Vendor at Glitz & Glam Valentine's Bash at Thunder Tower Motorcycles in Columbia, SC in February.

 

2015
 

  • Began working as a Caricature Artist for Goofy Faces, LLC at the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, SC.

  • Held first private caricature gigs at elementary schools and churches.

  • Wrote and illustrated own children's book, The Song of the Armadillo (not yet published).
     

2014
 

  • First published work: No Fear For Freedom: The Story of the Friendship Nine written by Dr. Kimberly P. Johnson. 

  • Name was featured in an article in the Rock Hill Herald advertising a children's book which I illustrated. 

  • Name was featured in an article in The State newspaper (South Carolina) advertising aforementioned book.
    Click Here to view article.

  • Participated in Art House Co-Op's Sketchbook Project 2014 which became a part of the Brooklyn Art Library.
     

2013

 

  • Participated in Art House Co-Op's Sketchbook Project 2013 which became a part of the Brooklyn Art Library.

  • Created portraits of friends as cartoon characters.

  • Continued working on "The Slizzard Lizard" comic.

  • Commissioned to illustrate a few children's books for local author in Rock Hill, SC.

 

2012
 

  • Commissioned to illustrate a few children's books for local author in Rock Hill, SC.

  • Participated in Art House Co-Op's Sketchbook Project 2012 which became a part of the Brooklyn Art Library.

  • Began working on a personal comic/graphic novel, entitled "The Slizzard Lizard".

 

2011
 

  • Participated in Art House Co-Op's Sketchbook Project 2011 which became a part of the Brooklyn Art Library.

  • Commissioned to illustrate a few children's books for local author.

  • Designed logos, business cards, and letterheads for Noble's Commercial Landscaping and for Wallace Co. Mtg.

  • Commissioned to do an acrylic painting of naval scene.

  • Designed logo, business card,  take-out and in-house menus, letter head, training manuals, mission statement, etc.
    for Carolina's Southern Cuisine restaurant.

  • Commissioned to do an illustration for 2 For The Road's band poster.
     

2010
 

  • Exhibited work at Illustration & Graphic Design Senior Show in Charlotte, NC.

  • Designed brochures and illustrated a breast cancer t-shirt for Pontiac Church of Christ

  • Graduated in December from Winthrop University, Rock Hill, South Carolina. GPA: 3.489
     

2009
 

  • Participated in 'The Sketchbook Show' in McLaurin Student Galleries at Winthrop.
     

2008
 

  • Worked as a part-time illustrator for Winthrop University's campus paper, The Johnsonian.

                                       
 

 

 

Freelance Caricature Artist                                     04/2014 - Present

Children's Book Author/Illustrator                              01/2011 -  Present

Freelance Artist/Illustrator                                       06/2010 - Present


Computer Lab Monitor                                          08/2007 - 12/2010

Rutledge Visual Resource Center (RVRC)

Winthrop University

           
Cartoonist                                                          08/2008 - 12/2008

The Johnsonian

Winthrop University    

Purple haired girl wearing hoodie, capris, rainbow socks holding a sign & pen. Next to Easel
Rainbow blobs as site decoration
Rainbow blobs as site decoration
Rainbow blobs as site decoration
Black and white caricature of Mexican artist: Frida Kahlo drawn by Vanessa J. Thompson
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