Karen Brake Barge

760.815.3804

E-mail: brake@cox.net

Resume

Professional Objective

Computer

Graphics

Multimedia

To acquire a senior level creative computer graphic design position in an enthusiastic and team-oriented environment.

Proficient in:  Adobe Creative Suite on Mac, Microsoft Office, Final Cut Pro, WordPress (Avada, Elementor, Divi), Lifter LMS., shopping cart setup and maintain

Some experience: Adobe Premiere, After Effects, Animations

Experience

CALIFORNIA 

November 2003 to present

Contract Print and UI/UX Designer/Illustrator

Internet — UI/UX Design and graphics including Learning Management System sites. Create websites from concept to finished product including; write and edit copy, write or fix some HTML code, create graphics, alter photography, and anything else with the look and feel.

Print– Design, brand, and illustrate mailers, brochures, postcards, rack cards, packaging, catalogs, sell sheets, ads for magazines, in-store advertising, indoor and outdoor signs, magazine covers, trade show booths, and logos.

Clients:

•  Borg, Norris, & Corrigan Law Firm, Carlsbad, CA

•  SHAKA Coffee Company, San Diego, CA

  DreamSmart Academy, Carlsbad, CA 

  SpendSmart Nation, Oceanside, CA 

  Christine Mohar, ESQ. Oceanside, CA

  Skinner Masonry, Mesquite, TX

  Links to Coast Realty Group, Encinitas, CA 

  Fulop Bookkeeping Services, Oceanside, CA

  AlpaGraphics, Oceanside, CA

  Jaguar Clubs of North America

  Custom Card Promotions, Carlsbad, CA

  Proto Travel & Event Management, Oceanside, CA

  Richard Drutman, San Marcos, CA

  Christian Art Lesson, Carlsbad, CA

  Ruffy Controls, Carlsbad, CA 

  CH Products, Vista, CA

  Brake Hughes Law Firm, Herndon, VA

  Schaub Insurance, San Marcos, CA

  The Interior Garden, Dallas TX

  Tackleman Charters, San Marcos, CA 

  Isabel Thomas Jewelry Designs, San Marcos, CA

January 2001 to November 2003 – Sr. Graphic Designer/User Interface Designer- Verizon Online, Carlsbad, CA. Sr. Designer for Verizon Online Web sites and CD ROM projects; including art, photography, and usability testing. Creating and art directing Flash promotional ads and applications. Creating instructional Flash applications. Designing the usability for Internet pages and instructional Flash applications.

December 1999 to January 2001 – Sr. Web Specialist- GTE Internet LLC, Carlsbad, CA, Sr. Lead Designer for all GTE Help sites created in Service Soft. Designing and illustrating Internet pages for GTE DSL Connect, GTE.com, GTE.net, and GTE Online Help. Creating and art directing Flash promotional ads. Creating instructional Flash applications for Online Help. Designing the usability for Internet pages and instructional Flash applications.

Spring 1999 to December 1999 – Lead Designer/Illustrator- GTE Corporation, Carlsbad, CA, Sr. Lead Designer for all GTE Help sites created in Service Soft. Designed and illustrated Internet pages for GTE.com, GTE.net, and GTE Online Help. Designed the usability for Internet pages.

Spring 1997 Spring 1999 – Designer/Illustrator- GTE Corporation, Carlsbad, CA  Designed and illustrated Internet pages for GTE.com, GTE.net, GTE Online Help, Internet Call Manager and the GTE Intranet. Other duties included finding and writing reviews for Cool Sites on GTE.net.

November 1992 to Spring 1997 – Designer/Illustrator- GTE Entertainment, Carlsbad, CA  Lead Graphic Designer for Internet sites supporting all GTE Entertainment products, design presentation art, design game-play for video games, design and production for video games, process live action sprites, and design graphics for entertainment and educational CD-ROM and CDI titles. Internet site creation of GTE San Diego., FX Fighter, Dust, Discovery Pack, Titanic, GTE Entertainment Company and Entertainment home pages. Other sites I worked on were Timelapse, and Forrest Gump. While I was lead artist for the Internet sites we received several awards.

TEXAS

November 1991 to August 1992 – Designer/ Illustrator- Altsys Inc., Richardson, TX, Design presentation art, brochures, responsible for concept and design and illustration of clip art, product verification testing, beta testing of new drawing programs on various platforms and beta testing of EPS Exchange for release in Spring 1992.

May 1990 to October 1992 – Contract Designer/Illustrator – .Concept to production for children’s meal cartons, for T-shirts, a catalog, children’s book series, to-go cartons including presentation art, logo design, invitations, business cards and stationery, gallery announcements, hand painted sweatshirts to promote USA Olympic clothing line, and a cassette tape cover; Clients: Sonic Inc.,Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Young Life, Denton, TX; Word Inc., Las Colinas, TX; Grandy’s Inc., Lewisville, TX; Northwest Bible Church, Dallas, TX; Jerry Hughes Photography Inc., Dallas – Paris – Monaco; JC Penney, Dallas, TX; Greg Johnson, Producer/Solo Artist, Denton, TX; Art Department, Collin County Community College, Plano, TX.

October 1987 to May 1990 – Art Director- Ambler & Hickerson, Dallas, TX,  Responsible for sales presentation art, carton design, business cards, illustrations, press checks, marketing research, brochures, logo design, production, and graphic design for various cartons, bags, cups, mugs, and squeeze bottles. Primary accounts: Brice Inc., Texaco, Sonic, Ye Olde Tyme, Grandy’s, Del Taco, PRO-TECH-TUBE, Fajita Junction, Nature’s Farms, F&F packaging.

Education

Apple Regional Multimedia Center at Collin County Community College, Plano, TX  January 1991 to August 1992, Certificate of Computer Graphics in Multimedia.

University of North Texas, Denton, TX, September 1984 to August 1987 Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree; Major: Advertising Art, Minor: English, Dean’s List.

American College of Switzerland, Leysin, Switzerland. Studied art in Geneve, Paris, Monaco, Venice and Florence, Summer 1986.

The University of Texas, Austin, TX September 1983 to May 1984.

Richland Junior College, Dallas, TX  September 1982 to May 1983, Phi Theta Kappa.

Awards

  • Astrid Creative Award, PhoneMart In-store Sales, Bronze
  • Astrid Creative Award, CD-ROM- Anytime Demo, Bronze
  • Telly Award, PhoneMart Anytime In-Store Promo, Finalist
  • Marketing Association WebAward, Best Internet Service Provider Website for www.Verizon.net
  • Astrid Creative Award, www.Verizon.net, Silver
  • Summit Creative Award, www.Verizon.net, Bronze
  • American Design Award, 2nd Place Award of Design Excellence, www.Verizon.net
  • C/NET gave GTE Entertainment Homepage 4 stars (out of 5) for concept and design.
  • Yahoo gave GTE Entertainment Homepage 3 star (out of 4) rating for concept and design.
  • I way 500, Dust Site rated #5 out of 20 under the Best Games Websites.
  • Award Winning Fine Artist in Oil Painting, SOCALPAPA “Paints the Peninsula”, Newport Beach, CA,
  • Award Winning Fine Artist in Oil Painting, Newport Harbor Nautical Museum, Newport Beach, CA

Art Exhibits

Brooks Theater, Oceanside, CA, Production SAME TIME NEXT YEAR, September 2017 -November 2017

The Vista Conservancy, Vista, CA, Walk of Fame Mural Open Air Gallery reception and Grand Opening and concert at the Moonlight Theater May 30, 2010– Karen’s her of Sara Watkins will be the drop back for the concert at the Moonlight Theater

The Vista Conservancy, Vista, CA, Walk of Fame Mural Open Air Gallery dedication ceremony March 13, 2010 — Karen displayed her mural of Sara Watkins at the Sycamore Creek Trail

Gallery 204, Vista, CA, Featured Artist February 2010

The Vista Conservancy, Vista, CA, Walk of Fame Mural Project January 18, 2010 — Karen was invited to participate in the Walk of Fame to preserve the Sycamore Creek Trail

Vista Libray, Vista, CA, Jazz Series December – May 2010

Gallery 204, Vista, CA, Miniature Show November 2009 — Received Second Place for Little Girl and Honorable Mention for Dana Point Harbor

Gallery 204, Vista, CA, Featured Artist March 2009

Hearth Gallery at San Marcos City Hall, San Marcos, CA, June- July 2008

San Diego County Fair, Del Mar, CA, Demonstrated Still Life in Oil and Watercolor June 2009

Cole Library, Carlsbad, CA, February 5 – March 7 2008

Studio 2nd Street Holiday Show, Encinitas, CA, December 15, 2007 – January 25, 2008

Laguna Plein Air Painters “Less is More” Laugna Beach, CA November 17 – December 28, 2007

Newport Harbor Nautical Museum, Newport Beach, CA Ð September 16 – October 18, 2007

SOCALPAPA “Paints the Peninsula”, Newport Beach, CA Ð September 9 – 16 2007

E-Street Cafe, Encinitas, CA – November- December 2006

Waters Edge, Gig Harbor, WA – July 1994 to 2002

Sumner Art, Sumner WA – July 1994 to 1998

Galerie 224, Laguna Beach, CA – June 1994 to 1997

Partners Art, Laguna Niguel, CA – June 1994 to 1996

Framing Warehouse, Carrollton, TX – May 1992 1994

500X Gallery, Dallas, TX – May 1992

Florence Art Gallery, Dallas, TX – November 1990- March 1991

City Art Gallery, Dallas, TX – September-October 1990

City Art Gallery, Dallas, TX – Christmas Show 1990

500X Gallery, Dallas, TX – May 1990

Thrasher Gallery, Plano, TX – April 1989

500X Gallery, Dallas, TX – May 1989

Expressions, Dallas, TX – February 1987