Joel Thomas
Illustrator
Round Rock,TX
Summary
Joel Thomas, an artist with a passion for creativity and excellence,
with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Auburn University and a Master's degree in Illustration from Savannah College of Art and Design, Joel has honed his craft through international experiences, including a Semester Abroad in Cortina, Italy, and 3D graphics studies at Vancouver Film School.
Joel's work has been featured in prestigious publications like 'Spectrum: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art' (Vol. 10 and 13). He has made significant contributions to renowned brands such as Wizards of the Coast, DC Universe: Online, and Image Comics Co-Founder Todd McFarlane.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
9
9
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Graphic Production Artist
Outhouse Graphics
Austin, TX.
01.2008 - 07.2008
- T-Shirt Design: Demonstrated a keen artistic touch by creating custom and retail t-shirt designs, focusing on both artwork and typography. Produced visually appealing and marketable designs that resonated with clients and customers.
- Print Optimization Expertise: Managed the technical aspect of the design process by skillfully color-separating artwork for print. Maintained clear and effective communication with printing professionals to ensure high-quality outcomes.
- Logo Design Proficiency: Utilized graphic design skills to fulfill logo design requests when necessary. Crafted distinctive and memorable logos that aligned with client brand identities.
Illustrator III
Multimedia Games
Austin, TX
07.2013 - 03.2015
- Illustration and Animation: Spearheaded the illustration and animation of several Mechanical and Video Slot Machine Game projects. Delivered captivating visual content that enhanced player engagement and contributed to the success of each game.
Principal Artist
Zynga
Austin, TX
03.2015 - 09.2019
- Led Likeness Control Efforts: Spearheaded likeness control for high-profile projects, including "Wizard of Oz: Slots", "Willy Wonka: Slots ," "The Princess Bride: Slots" Ensured meticulous attention to detail in character design and art direction, consistently gaining approval from Warner Bros. on initial submissions.
- Collaborated Remotely with New York Team: Worked seamlessly with the New York-based creative team to conceptualize and bring to life the Crosswords W/Friends mascot. Maintained open and effective communication channels, resulting in a cohesive and compelling brand representation.
- Artistic Training and Development: Conducted several comprehensive training sessions for fellow artists, specializing in game-specific portrait techniques. Enhanced the skill set of the team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and elevating the quality of artwork across projects.
Education
Master of Arts - Illustration
09.1990 - 08.1994
Bachelor of Arts - Illustration
09.1983 - 08.1988
- Artistic Education: Was instructed in a variety of art techniques and a wide array of styles.
- Sigma Pi Fraternity Member: Actively participated in the Sigma Pi fraternity, fostering teamwork, leadership, and interpersonal skills within a close-knit community.
- Theater: Demonstrated proficiency in stage make-up, contributing to various productions at Auburn University Theater.
- Film Experience: Additionally, gained invaluable industry experience by serving as a Transportation production assistant on the Alan Parker film "Mississippi Burning," was a rotating driver for acclaimed actors Gene Hackman, Willem Dafoe, and Francis McDormand. Collaborated with Oscar-winning Makeup Artist David Craig Forrest as an assistant on a large-scale Civil Rights March production scene.
Skills
Visual Art Creation
Timeline
Principal Artist - Zynga
03.2015 - 09.2019
Illustrator III - Multimedia Games
07.2013 - 03.2015
Graphic Production Artist - Outhouse Graphics
01.2008 - 07.2008
Savannah College of Art And Design - Master of Arts, Illustration
09.1990 - 08.1994
Auburn University - Bachelor of Arts, Illustration
09.1983 - 08.1988
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