I was born and raised in San Jose, California.  I grew up with my nose in books on folklore and mythology, anything I could get my hands on about the fantastic and supernatural. I had a bunch of hand me downs of greek myth, books by Froud, Bauer, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, plus my grandparents VHS library of 80′s fantasy movies recorded off of the tv (which I promptly wore out with repeated viewings).

The first time I knew I wanted to go into illustration, even understood that it was a field, was when I got my hands on the 2nd edition Monstrous Manual for Dungeons and Dragons. Standing there as a kid in the middle of a book store, studying page after page of these fantastic creatures. I was particularly drawn to Diterlizzi’s work. I knew then and there that this is what I wanted to do with my life.

I was later given a set of colored pencils as a Christmas gift and never looked back. I carried this drive forward and graduated from the Academy of Art University in 2007 with a BA in traditional illustration.

I also pursued my other career, which was of all things, as a professional dog groomer. From poodles, to lhasa apso’s, and shih tzu’s, I’ve shaved them all and can to this day still make a fierce pom pom.

I’m currently working as a 2d production artist in the mobile games industry, where I reside in the Bay Area with my wife and the great beast known as our 3 lb chihuahua, Addie.

Resume

Summary
I live for concept art and world building and am looking for a position in a creative environment with room to learn and grow. Can work well within boundaries while pushing them to their limit. Motivated, working well within a group collaborative or solo.

Skills
Artistic: Versed in painting, drawing, color theory, design composition with a good knowledge of human and animal anatomy.

Technical: Experienced in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Manga Studio, Sketchbook Pro, Painter, Paint Tool SAI, Google Sketch Up.

Education
BFA in Traditional Illustration from Academy of Art University of San Francisco, CA. 2007.

Accolades:
Illustration “Lady in Waiting” was featured in Spectrum 19

Professional Experience:
2008 to Current: Multiple commissions for private individuals.

Glowing Raptor Studios
January 2005-Current: Co Founder of the personal business and art group Glowing Raptor Studios. Duties include illustrations and designs for various products including cellphone charms, t shirts, mugs, stickers, cellphone cases, etc.

GREE

January 2012-Current:  Game Artist for GREE. Duties include concept art to finished assets for multiple social mobile games for Ios and Android including: Book of Ashes, NFL Shuffle, MLB Full Deck, Knights and Dragons: Rise of the Dark Prince, Alien Family, as well as multiple unannounced titles.

Small Box Games

September 2011-January 2012:  Freelance illustration for Small Box games for their ccg Hemloch: City of Doubt and Omen. Duties include illustrating the art for the cards in the set.

Headless Hydra Games
May 2009-January 2012: Freelance illustration for Headless Hydra Games. Duties include interior illustrations for Guide to Mor-Aldenn, Forgotten Foes, Eldritch Secrets, Mor Aldenn Creature Compendium and more. As well as designing the company’s logo and border designs for The Guide to Mor-Aldenn.

Enigmati Games

December 2011: Freelance concept work for Enigmati Games. Duties included character design and concepts.

Sub Plot Studios

July 2011: Dracula theater poster illustration for Subplot Studios

Mechanical Butterfly Studios

October 2007-April 2011: Freelance concept work for Mechanical Butterfly Studios for an unannounced next gen game. Duties included character and environment concepts, marketing illustrations, simple 2d animation, storyboarding, character/environment texturing, and icon/hud design.

Unreleased Indie Film 2
October 2009 to November 2009: Freelance concept work for indie World War 2 horror film. Duties included storyboards, character and creature design, and marketing illustrations.

Unreleased Indie Film 1
September 2008 to November 2008: Freelance Concept work for an indie Zombie horror film. Duties included creature and character designs.

The Recycled Bookstore
February 2008: Graphic design and logo for the Recycled Book Store’s windows and signs in San Jose and Campbell.

Project Octopus
January 2006 to May 2007 : Project Octopus: Lead character designer on senior collaborative Project Octopus, a first person shooter adventure/ horror in the style of H.P. Lovecraft-work included creature and character, environmental design and the game poster illustration.

-Worked with a team of artists in a collaborative process under art direction

-2007: Project Octopus awarded Best Games in the Academy of Art University’s annual Epidemic Film Festival and featured in the Academy of Art University Spring Show

2006: Academy of Art University Spring Show-Illustration Lovecraft was featured in the juried art show

References available upon request.

gryphonjackal AT yahoo DOT com