Home - Photography - Painted Portraits - Illustration - Design - Logo's - What's New

Ivan G. Cofre

I was born in Chicago on April 23, 1966, raised on the north side, and have lived here for most of my life. I’m the youngest of seven children and also a twin. My heritage is a combination of Spanish-Indian & French blood. I view life passionately and approach many aspects of it in this manner. I feel that my work strongly reflect this concept. Following are my feelings regarding the approach that I take toward my work.

REACTIONS, STIMULATION , and INTERPRETATIONS, are a few of the type of responses, which drive my work. My main objective is to evoke strong feelings from within, be it positive or negative. Emotions, feelings, experiences, are the core of our imagination. Everyone has led a different life with different levels of love, joy, sadness, and success. What I may see in one image will be different from what you see. All interpretations are our own. That’s the beauty of it. I believe that every decision we make has been influenced by our surroundings and any present situation, which you’re faced with.

Education & Cooperative Efforts:

Self-taught, Columbia College, Wright College

Director - Enchroma Photography Group 1996-1997

Board Member Around The Coyote 1997-1998

Awards:

SIU Photo Images ’84; April 1984

First Place: Landscape Black & White

Second Place: Sport Black & White

Honorable Mention: Open Black & White

Honorable Mention: Open Black & White

Scholastic Awards Contest 1984

KODAK: Medallion of Excellence; Finalist in National Competition New York

Golden Key Award

Golden Key Award

The Seventh Annual Amateur Photo Competition: St. Paul Federal, June 1984

Best Portrait: Intermediate

Honorable Mention: Scenic

Honorable Mention: Candid

Buckingham Fountain Art Fair; 1984

Second Place; Advanced Photography

EXHIBITS:

UPSTAIRS GALLERY APRIL 95

CLUB 950 JUNE/OCTOBER 95

EXCALIBUR (DOME ROME) NOVEMBER 95/ FEBRUARY 96

22^ND ANNUAL WELLS STREET ART FAIR JUNE 96

Da Nicola JULY/AUGUST 96

7^TH ANNUAL AROUND THE COYOTE SEPTEMBER 96

Da Nicola “A REVERIE” APRIL 97

EXCALIBUR “INTERGRATION” MAY/AUGUST 97

LAS MANOS GALLERY “CITY SHOW” 97

FIRST ANNUAL T.E.A.S.E   EROTIC ART SHOW  JUNE 97

8^TH ANNUAL AROUND THE COYOTE SEPTEMBER 97

AROUND THE COYOTE GALLERY “12 CHANNELS” NOVEMBER 97 - JANUARY 98

THE ENCHANTED EASEL – NOVEMBER 97 – AUGUST 98

IZZO’S ARTERY - SEPTEMBER 98

ART BAR – DECEMBER 98 – JANUARY 99

Feitico Gallery– JULY 99

EXCALIBUR - MAY 99 / AUGUST 99

Peter Jones - Nude Now - June 05

Peter Jones - Strange and Bizarre July 05

Pam D. Cofre

ABOUT GRAPHICS
All Graphics, Design and Production can be accomplished in house - as I am equipped with both PC and Mac platforms, a flatbed scanner, printer, DSL connection and a variety of programs. I have both PC and Mac versions of Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, as well as PC Front Page, Visual Studio and Mac Quark Express. However, if on-site work is required, this can also be accomplished, (if within an hour's drive!) My rates are very competitive and my experience dates back to 1988.

I am an experienced, versatile and detail-oriented, professional illustrator/graphic artist (with my own computers) looking for freelance work, and/or part-time employment. Since 1990, I have been using the computer to do design and illustration. I charge reasonable rates, which vary, whether it be production, layout, design or illustration. -Salary is always negotiable, especially for part-time. I have years of experience with layout, logos (creating new and recreating old) illustration, and design, I am always exploring new techniques, I am eager to learn, am open to suggestion, and am very dedicated to exceeding the expectations of my clients. Having nothing but success with previous clients, I would love the opportunity to impress you too!

PROFESSIONAL OBJECTIVES:
To use my years of experience and excel in my abilities as a Graphic Artist and Illustrator. To exceed customer expectations and develop long standing business relationships.

TECHNICAL SUMMARY:
I work on both Macintosh and PC (with Windows) platforms. I am adept in the latest versions of Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Quark Express, Front Page, Visual Interdev, and have dabbled a bit in Freehand, and Painter. ( I also illustrate using conventional media).

EDUCATION:
Computer Systems Institute, Web Development - August 2000. Bachelor Of Fine Arts, - May, 1988 Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL. Emphasis: Product Illustration. (Especially good at food!). Web Development, - August, 2000 Computer Systems Institute, Chicago. I am an old pro at Illustrator, Photoshop, and Quark Express. I can color correct digital images, manipulate them or create illustrations from scratch to a photo-realistic level in Photoshop. I am also very well versed in Prismacolor pencils, Airbrush, Technical Pen, pencil and, (a long time ago) markers from layout to finish. (P.S I love to do portraits in Prismacolor pencil on the side.)

FULL TIME/PERMANENT WORK EXPERIENCE:

MARBO, INC. 3106 N. Campbell, Chicago, IL (7/1/98 to 10/21/99). Responsibilities include an abundance of digital Illustration in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop to be used on packaging and labels both nationally and internationally for Tampico products. An abundance of layout and production, heavy in Photoshop and Illustrator. Color correction. Promotional materials, POP. Training freelancers, contacting photographers, package mock-ups, running the department when the boss was away, and anything else that was needed.

VIRTUAL COLOR (now Fort Dearborn Companies), Morse Ave., Elk Grove Village, IL Art/Electronic Dept. (11/93 to10/96). Responsibilities include designing labels for canned products and various other packaging on the Mac using Quark, Illustrator, Photoshop, and Painter. I have also done production work and an abundance of illustration.

SOME OF MY FREELANCE EXPERIENCE:

RUST-OLEUM CORPORATION - Design, Layout and Production of brochures.

MARKETING EXPRESSIONS Involved in Design, Layout and Production of brochures and Sell Sheets for SENECA apple sauce, and LORRAINE Swiss Cheese.

STUDIO 3D - I have been involved in all aspects of digital catalog work from start to finish for the Hilton Corporate CASUALS Catalogs 1999 & 2000. Aspects of this work range from creative design, including photo montage, to basic layout and typesetting. Studio 3D is a regular client

MODAGRAFICS- I worked with engineers to create computer generated designs and illustrations for signs, building fascias, truck sides, interior store displays etc. for commercial application.

TURKEY HILL CONVENIENT STORES (Washington)- Several computer generated food Illustrations used on 40" wall displays and smaller hanging signs (submitted through Modagrafics, Inc.), all created in Adobe Illustrator.

W.W. GRAINGER- Computer generated Illustrations of new branch buildings, created in Adobe Illustrator as well as layout and production for catalogs.

VIRTUAL COLOR- Label illustrations used on canned and package goods for: KRAFT Food Service THIRSTER (entire line of 14 juices, all package types- computer generated), TEMPTABLE'S (line of muffins and danishes-computer generated), STOKELY'S, ALBERTSONS SUPERMARKETS (line of products), LAKESIDE FARMS, RACCONTO, FRIEL'S, BELL'S (cartoon characters for kid's cereals), WEGMAN'S and CREOL DELIGHT.THE

DIFFERENCE ADVERTISING AGENCY/PILOT TYPE- Employed part-time to do computer graphics, layout, design, and computer illustration for a variety of accounts, presentations, ads for magazine publications, newspapers, and other promotional media.

E-STAFFING, Schaumburg Il. - Employed to do computer graphics, layout, design, and computer illustration on a temporary basis.

PREFERRED-STAFFING, Schaumberg Il. - Employed to do computer graphics, layout, design, and computer illustration on a temporary basis.

AWARDS:
PLASTIC SURGEON MAGAZINE, Cover Illustration Contest. Second Place -Prismacolor pencil