Michael Watson
Pickerington,OH
Summary
Creative Art Director with 10 plus years of experience creating art, publications in comics, crafting educational material, promotions and sales. Thoughtful individual with superb leadership and diverse experience in the arts. Deliberate, productive and systematic artistic professional with established grasp on theoretical and practical considerations. Organized and dependable candidate successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude. Willingness to take on added responsibilities to meet team goals.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Sketch Artist
Upper Deck/ Marvel
05.2017 - Current
- Designed custom artwork for clients, meeting their creative vision and ensuring satisfaction with final product.
- Conducted live painting demonstrations during events or workshops to showcase artistic process while educating viewers about techniques used throughout each piece''s creation stage.
- Enhanced artistic projects by incorporating innovative techniques and materials for impactful visual presentations.
- Sold original art pieces through online platforms, gallery exhibitions, and direct customer interactions, generating consistent revenue streams while maintaining active artist presence within community.
- Contributed to creative process through original ideas and inspiration.
- Created concept designs and sketches to develop images and scenes.
- Drawing card sets for Black Panther, Endgame, Ant Man 2, Marvel Legends, Marvel Masterpieces, X-men, and more.
Publisher
Freestyle Komics
06.1999 - Current
- Achieved financial goals through effective budget management of 14 titles, reducing overhead costs without compromising output quality.
- Implemented cost-saving measures while maintaining highest level of product quality.
- Championed diversity initiatives within organization to promote inclusive hiring practices and diverse representation in published works.
- Oversaw the publication of multiple(14) successful titles, resulting in high sales figures and positive reviews.
- Established clear communication channels among team members to facilitate collaboration on projects with tight deadlines.
- Directed concept development meetings with creative teams for innovative publication ideas that resonated with readers.
- Coordinated cross-functional efforts between editorial, design, production, marketing, sales departments ensuring a cohesive workflow from ideation to final product delivery.
- Mentored junior staff members to foster professional growth and skill development within the team.
- Managed a diverse team of editors, designers, and writers for successful project completion.
- Streamlined production processes for increased efficiency and reduced turnaround time.
- Optimized workflows by implementing new technologies and software solutions for better productivity.
- Employed specialized layout and editing software to place text blocks, illustrations and other images or elements.
- Recommended layout changes to make materials more accessible and improve presentation.
- Interacted with authors and other internal customers to define job requirements and resolve content, production and scheduling issues.
- Worked within multilevel approval structures to maintain quality standards for work.
- Designed templates, headers and footers, multi-column documents, tables and charts for promotions, comic book pages, conventions, kickstarter needs.
Art Lead
Mind Education
03.2021 - 03.2024
- Collaborated with teachers and parents to develop individualized educational plans for each student, ensuring optimal progress.
- Enhanced learning experiences by incorporating specialized tools and resources tailored to the needs of special education students.
- Implemented efficient workflows within the art team, reducing overall production time and costs.
- Established strong relationships with outsourcing partners, streamlining asset creation processes.
- Improved project efficiency by streamlining communication between art and design teams.
- Organized regular art reviews within the team, fostering an open exchange of ideas and feedback among artists.
- .Championed studio culture through consistent involvement in events, workshops, and other initiatives aimed at promoting a positive work environment.
- .Ensured smooth transitions between projects by effectively managing resources allocation within the art department.
- Developed unique art styles for diverse projects, resulting in visually engaging experiences for players.
- Led team of artists to create high-quality assets for multiple successful projects.
- Mentored junior artists, improving their technical skills and fostering a collaborative work environment.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration of art assets into current projects.
- Cultivated an inclusive classroom environment by addressing individual learning needs and promoting diversity in art forms.
- .Played an integral role in hiring decisions by conducting interviews and evaluating portfolios of potential candidates.
- Developed comprehensive style guides for internal use and external partners, maintaining consistency across all artistic elements.
Editor in Chief/Publisher
Short Fuse Media Group
04.2017 - 05.2021
- Enhanced publication quality by implementing rigorous editing and proofreading processes.
- Coordinated special edition publications, showcasing high-quality content tailored to specific themes or events.
- Mentored junior editors and writers, fostering their professional growth and skill development.
- Fostered a collaborative working environment among editorial staff members for efficient teamwork on projects.
- Collaborated with marketing team to develop promotional campaigns, resulting in increased brand visibility.
- Maintained open lines of communication between departments to ensure seamless collaboration on cross-functional initiatives.
- Oversaw redesign of print and digital layouts for enhanced visual appeal and readability.
- Streamlined editorial workflow for improved efficiency and consistency across all published materials.
- Managed budget allocation for editorial projects, ensuring optimal use of resources and cost-effective strategies.
Work Force Instructor
Eckerd Connects
06.2016 - 02.2021
- Promoted a positive learning environment by establishing clear expectations and maintaining consistent classroom management techniques.
- Organized extracurricular activities that enriched students'' educational experience beyond the classroom setting.
- Boosted student performance by providing individualized support and targeted feedback.
- Enhanced classroom collaboration through the implementation of group projects and team-building activities.
- Participated in professional development opportunities to stay current on educational trends and enhance teaching effectiveness.
- Increased student motivation by developing engaging lesson plans that catered to various learning styles.
- Evaluated student assessments to identify areas of growth and improvement, adjusting instructional strategies accordingly.
- Tracked student progress, frequently checking in with struggling students and identifying root causes of problems.
- Developed and clearly presented classroom rules, guidelines and objectives.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Illustration
Columbus College of Art And Design
Columbus, Ohio06.2004
High School Diploma -
Cleveland School Of The Arts
Cleveland, OH06.1999
Skills
- Adobe Photoshop
- Visual Art Creation
- Composition
- Budget Management
- 2D design
- Visual storytelling
- Concept Development
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Digital illustration
- Project Design
- Mac OS X proficient
- Logo creation
- Business Management
- Excellent team player
- Social Media Promotion
- Superior time management
- Client Relationships
- Creative capabilities
- Public Speaking
- Networking skills
- Commission requests
- Teamwork and Cooperation
- Presentation
- Traditional drawing
- Time management abilities
- Communications and Media
- Problem-solving abilities
- Graphic arts
- Self Motivation
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Critical and Creative Thinking
Timeline
Art Lead
Mind Education
03.2021 - 03.2024
Sketch Artist
Upper Deck/ Marvel
05.2017 - Current
Editor in Chief/Publisher
Short Fuse Media Group
04.2017 - 05.2021
Work Force Instructor
Eckerd Connects
06.2016 - 02.2021
Publisher
Freestyle Komics
06.1999 - Current
Bachelor of Arts - Illustration
Columbus College of Art And Design
High School Diploma -
Cleveland School Of The Arts
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