Mike Uriss overview

History, Education, Capabilities, Experience, Art Lessons , Clients, On the Side -- an overview of my commercial art and art instruction

I started my profession before computers were developed to do much of the workload. The benefit, in that pre-digital era, was in learning to do things, such as drawing, by hand. My early education in Chicago included mostly figure drawing and clay modeling. A few years later, in San Diego, I was introduced to the Macintosh. I designed page layouts and trademarks, then edited photos and painted digitally. As we artists waited for developers to turn these new-fangled personal computers into viable production tools, I gained useful work experience in the graphic design field with traditional drawing tools. As a design consultant, I instructed design professionals and computer enthusiasts. Over the years, I’ve offered a wide range of services to a variety of companies. In a sort of Franklin-like way, I enjoy the responsibility of helping out in the community.

History

Commercially designed art, during the years prior to the advent of the personal computer, was hard fought and won by way of traditional tools such as a drawing board, T-square, triangles, templates, French curves, and Rapidograph technical drawing pens. The old tools are no longer used in many billable environments. But those of us who learned to draw the old-fashioned way have a firmer understanding of aesthetics and design principles than if we had learned our trade only by way of computers. As an entry-level designer, I practiced a lot with drawing templates of all shapes and sizes. Now, having etched the nature of those forms in my mind ─ as well as on many stacks of paper and Mylar ─ it’s much easier to draw smooth, graceful curves in Adobe Illustrator, Freehand, or CorelDraw.

Education

I received my early formal training in traditional painting, drawing, and sculpture, in Chicago, where I attended The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, The American Academy of Art, and The Chicago Academy of Art. In San Diego, I learned traditional graphic design and production skills by way of on-the-job-training. At the same time, I earned a certificate of achievement in computer graphics from Platt College. In Virginia, I studied at Piedmont Virginia Community College, The University of Virginia, and received a BA from Mary Baldwin College. I'm currently looking into an MFA program, as I hope to teach art.

Experience

Relying on twenty years of experience, I offer graphic design and illustration, in both digital as well as traditional mediums for all forms of communication collateral. My CV, in PDF form. is available for download.

Capabilities

I design and deliver illustration, painting, drawing, page layout, trademark design, information graphics, and all other forms of visual communications for print as well as interactive applications. At the desktop level, I've rendered lots of little animations for use in online games. My software skills include using most popular design and production graphics tools in Windows or Mac environments.

Art Lessons

I offer art lessons, design consultation, and software training, both public and private, for artists of all ages. In central Virginia, I've provided instruction for the Tandem Friends School summer art program, CASBA Charlottesville Area School Business Alliance, The Curry School of Education Summer Enrichment Program, the ITC Department at the University of Virginia, and the Piedmont Virginia Community College Center for Training and Workforce Development. In San Diego, CA, I provided computer graphics training for Support Source and The Learning Annex.

Clients

My clients are small companies as well as large corporations. My accounts-served list is included in my CV

On the side

In the spirit of community service, I provide pro bono fine art and graphic design and conduct talks on the business of communication design. To the extent that is within my power, I donate a few hours each month playing music for seniors, a variety of NPOs, and church-goers alike.

	History, Education, Capabilities, Experience, Art Lessons , Clients, On the Side -- an overview of my commercial art and art instruction I started my profession before computers were developed to do much of the workload. The benefit, in that pre-digital era, was in learning to do things, such as drawing, by hand. My early education in Chicago included mostly figure drawing and clay modeling. A few years later, in San Diego, I was introduced to the Macintosh. I designed page layouts and trademarks, then edited photos and painted digitally. As we artists waited for developers to turn these new-fangled personal computers into viable production tools, I gained useful work experience in the graphic design field with traditional drawing tools. As a design consultant, I instructed design professionals and computer enthusiasts. Over the years, I’ve offered a wide range of services to a variety of companies. In a sort of Franklin-like way, I enjoy the responsibility of helping out in the community.
	History Commercially designed art, during the years prior to the advent of the personal computer, was hard fought and won by way of traditional tools such as a drawing board, T-square, triangles, templates, French curves, and Rapidograph technical drawing pens. The old tools are no longer used in many billable environments. But those of us who learned to draw the old-fashioned way have a firmer understanding of aesthetics and design principles than if we had learned our trade only by way of computers. As an entry-level designer, I practiced a lot with drawing templates of all shapes and sizes. Now, having etched the nature of those forms in my mind ─ as well as on many stacks of paper and Mylar ─ it’s much easier to draw smooth, graceful curves in Adobe Illustrator, Freehand, or CorelDraw.
	Education I received my early formal training in traditional painting, drawing, and sculpture, in Chicago, where I attended The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, The American Academy of Art, and The Chicago Academy of Art. In San Diego, I learned traditional graphic design and production skills by way of on-the-job-training. At the same time, I earned a certificate of achievement in computer graphics from Platt College. In Virginia, I studied at Piedmont Virginia Community College, The University of Virginia, and received a BA from Mary Baldwin College. I'm currently looking into an MFA program, as I hope to teach art.
	Experience Relying on twenty years of experience, I offer graphic design and illustration, in both digital as well as traditional mediums for all forms of communication collateral. My CV, in PDF form. is available for download.
	Capabilities I design and deliver illustration, painting, drawing, page layout, trademark design, information graphics, and all other forms of visual communications for print as well as interactive applications. At the desktop level, I've rendered lots of little animations for use in online games. My software skills include using most popular design and production graphics tools in Windows or Mac environments.
	Art Lessons I offer art lessons, design consultation, and software training, both public and private, for artists of all ages. In central Virginia, I've provided instruction for the Tandem Friends School summer art program, CASBA Charlottesville Area School Business Alliance, The Curry School of Education Summer Enrichment Program, the ITC Department at the University of Virginia, and the Piedmont Virginia Community College Center for Training and Workforce Development. In San Diego, CA, I provided computer graphics training for Support Source and The Learning Annex.
	Clients My clients are small companies as well as large corporations. My accounts-served list is included in my CV
	On the side In the spirit of community service, I provide pro bono fine art and graphic design and conduct talks on the business of communication design. To the extent that is within my power, I donate a few hours each month playing music for seniors, a variety of NPOs, and church-goers alike.