Thomasina Durkay
Designer & Illustrator
Pittsburgh, PA, USARocking chick with a "can-do" attitude & pleasant demeanor that loves to beautify the world & show others how important the arts were throughout history & are in our present day. By day, I teach Pittsburgh youth various forms of graphic design, visual arts, & dance. By night, I design & deliver advertising campaigns for events, bands, various companies, & people that just need a little creation. Proven relationship builder with a talent for communicating with all ages & walks-of-life while forging solid partnerships with students, clients, & colleagues. Please feel free to connect & hit me up as I'm always looking for ways to expand my horizons by freelancing, collaborating, & learning. I would LOVE the opportunity to work for a graphic design company full-time or part-time, remote or in-house.
Work Experience
TAD Colorful Art & Designs
Freelance Graphic Designer
Use Adobe CS6 programs (Illustrator, Photoshop, Indesign, Dreamweaver, Lightroom, Premier Pro) to create projects for clients that revolve around, illustration, branding, publication, web & digital media design, etc.
- Create briefs & sketches to help guide clients through the process & determine scope of project
- Create designs that meet clients' expectations, communicates information, & captivates attention of target audience
- Be a motivated self-starter that selects colors, images, text style, & layout.
- Meet deadlines
- Review & edit before presenting final work
- Provide detailed invoice of services, time, & price
- Create briefs & sketches to help guide clients through the process & determine scope of project
- Create designs that meet clients' expectations, communicates information, & captivates attention of target audience
- Be a motivated self-starter that selects colors, images, text style, & layout.
- Meet deadlines
- Review & edit before presenting final work
- Provide detailed invoice of services, time, & price
April 2016
-
Pennsylvania, United States
Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center
Teaching Artist, Graphic Designer, Curriculum Developer
- Teaching Artist: Travel to various PA Cyber School locations, youth homes, & alternative schools, in & surrounding Pittsburgh, to teach classes & workshops to K-12th grade students in various forms of graphic design, visual arts, & dance by developing & implementing advertisements, lesson plans, presentations & demonstrations, & projects/choreography.
* PROMOTED 8/2018 to Full-time with additional responsibilities:
- Graphic Designer: Create marketing materials for workshops, assist director with communication to teaching artists, site representatives, as well as students & families (emails & bi-monthly newsletter)
- Curriculum Developer: Work with administration team to create & edit quality art programs & help guide instructors on teaching them.
* PROMOTED 8/2018 to Full-time with additional responsibilities:
- Graphic Designer: Create marketing materials for workshops, assist director with communication to teaching artists, site representatives, as well as students & families (emails & bi-monthly newsletter)
- Curriculum Developer: Work with administration team to create & edit quality art programs & help guide instructors on teaching them.
June 2017
-
Pennsylvania, United States
Pittsburgh Public Schools
Visual Art Teacher
Teach visual arts to K-8th graders at Arsenal Elementary & Middle School by planning, implementing, assessing, & displaying projects involving drawing, painting, ceramics, fibers, etc. that allow students to build a firm knowledge of art, art processes, & art media. Also, teach art history lessons & critical thinking skills, as well as teach interdisciplinary lessons for multi-intelligences, while being extremely flexible & organized as I teach 600 students in 22 classes; PSSA proctor
* Graphic Design skills used to:
- Compose flyers for events that are sent home & displayed around the building
- Instructional resources, such as posters to increase art appreciation & inform, tutorials, & skill-building workbooks
- Photograph school events & digitally compose them into posters to display around the building to increase sense of community
- Edit pictures for use in year book
* Graphic Design skills used to:
- Compose flyers for events that are sent home & displayed around the building
- Instructional resources, such as posters to increase art appreciation & inform, tutorials, & skill-building workbooks
- Photograph school events & digitally compose them into posters to display around the building to increase sense of community
- Edit pictures for use in year book
August 2015
- June 2017
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
Online Adjunct Art History Instructor
Online Instructor of Introduction to Western Art History for approximately 25 post-secondary students (per class), most of whom are taking the course as a humanities elective & have little to no prerequisite knowledge
- Create Power Point presentations to go along with chapters of text, as well as study guides & worksheets to reinforce learning
Find Internet resources to aid in understanding of works/artists/time period
- Create, monitor, & aid discussion posts
- Create simple art projects (directions & demonstration pictures in Power Point) that help students understand what artists were experiencing
- Check & respond to email often to keep lines of communication open
- Check worksheets, discussions, projects, papers, etc. & enter grades in portal for students & administration review
- Create Power Point presentations to go along with chapters of text, as well as study guides & worksheets to reinforce learning
Find Internet resources to aid in understanding of works/artists/time period
- Create, monitor, & aid discussion posts
- Create simple art projects (directions & demonstration pictures in Power Point) that help students understand what artists were experiencing
- Check & respond to email often to keep lines of communication open
- Check worksheets, discussions, projects, papers, etc. & enter grades in portal for students & administration review
August 2011
- July 2016
Pennsylvania, United States
Portsmouth Public Schools
Art Teacher
4 days a week at Brighton Elementary School:
- Used a cart to visit 7 elementary classrooms a day to teach visual arts to K-6th
- Displayed students’ artworks @ IRC (Encore admin. building), Winter Holiday window painting & Youth Art Month @ Lobscouser’s Restaurant in downtown Portsmouth, Multicultural Fair, Career Fair, & PTA meetings, etc.
Thursdays at John Tyler Elementary School:
- Gave students of various levels an extra art class &/or assist the regular teachers &/or art teacher; also SOL proctor
- Used a cart to visit 7 elementary classrooms a day to teach visual arts to K-6th
- Displayed students’ artworks @ IRC (Encore admin. building), Winter Holiday window painting & Youth Art Month @ Lobscouser’s Restaurant in downtown Portsmouth, Multicultural Fair, Career Fair, & PTA meetings, etc.
Thursdays at John Tyler Elementary School:
- Gave students of various levels an extra art class &/or assist the regular teachers &/or art teacher; also SOL proctor
August 2014
- June 2015
Virginia, United States
Virginia Beach City Public Schools
Art Teacher
February 2014 – June 2014 = .2 Brandon Middle School Visual Arts Teacher: - Planned, implemented, assessed, & displayed beginning art lessons for 8th grade students, while helping them build a professional art portfolio, explore career options, & learn to express themselves in a healthy, creative way
- Entered students in 2014 community exhibitions: Audubon Exhibit @ Pembroke Mall & VBCPS City-Wide Exhibit @ Pembroke Mall
- Assistant Junior Varsity Forensics Coach
October 2013 – June 2014 = Day-to-day Substitute Teacher (any subject, school, or grade) & Staff (Security Assistant, Teacher’s Assistant, etc.):
- SOL Examiner, Proctor, & Monitor
October 2013 – December 2013 = Long-term Visual Arts Substitute Teacher at Ocean Lakes High School
October 2012 – June 2013 = .6 Green Run High School Visual Arts Teacher of beginner & intermediate art lessons for 9th-12th grade students:
- Help them build a professional art portfolio, & explore career options
- Entered students in 2013 community exhibitions: Youth Art Month @ MOCA, Citywide Art Exhibit @ Pembroke Mall, & Steel Pier Surf Expo & Art show @ Virginia Beach boardwalk
- Entered students in 2014 community exhibitions: Audubon Exhibit @ Pembroke Mall & VBCPS City-Wide Exhibit @ Pembroke Mall
- Assistant Junior Varsity Forensics Coach
October 2013 – June 2014 = Day-to-day Substitute Teacher (any subject, school, or grade) & Staff (Security Assistant, Teacher’s Assistant, etc.):
- SOL Examiner, Proctor, & Monitor
October 2013 – December 2013 = Long-term Visual Arts Substitute Teacher at Ocean Lakes High School
October 2012 – June 2013 = .6 Green Run High School Visual Arts Teacher of beginner & intermediate art lessons for 9th-12th grade students:
- Help them build a professional art portfolio, & explore career options
- Entered students in 2013 community exhibitions: Youth Art Month @ MOCA, Citywide Art Exhibit @ Pembroke Mall, & Steel Pier Surf Expo & Art show @ Virginia Beach boardwalk
October 2012
- June 2014
Virginia, United States
Carnegie Museum Of Art
Teaching Artist
- Summer Camp Teaching Artist: plan & teach summer art workshop (ceramics) that utilize current exhibits & visual thinking strategies.
- The Art Connection Teaching Artist (Fall & Spring): plan projects for 9th grade "Emerging Artists" that utilize current exhibits, reviews Elements & Principles of Design & various art techniques, while also guiding students into thinking more creatively & purposeful (through the use of a process/sketch book) to build an individualized collection of work that can be used for an art portfolio & showcased in the CMOA's student exhibition.
- The Art Connection Teaching Artist (Fall & Spring): plan projects for 9th grade "Emerging Artists" that utilize current exhibits, reviews Elements & Principles of Design & various art techniques, while also guiding students into thinking more creatively & purposeful (through the use of a process/sketch book) to build an individualized collection of work that can be used for an art portfolio & showcased in the CMOA's student exhibition.
May 2018
-
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Education
The Art Institute Of Pittsburgh
Digital Design Diploma
I have learned how to create brochures, business cards, logos, t-shirt designs, websites, etc. using Adobe CS6 (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign).
July 2015
- December 2016
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania
Bachelors of Art Education
My courses focused on various aspects of education (lesson planning, classroom management, state standards, etc.) & the fine arts (painting, sculpting, fibers, metals, etc.), but I also minored in art history (western, Japanese, prehistory to Renaissance, Renaissance to contemporary, etc.)
August 2005
- December 2008
Indiana, Pennsylvania, United States
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
Associate of Arts
I was awarded an academic scholarship right out of high school, so I took general education (algebra, english, history, etc.) & liberal arts classes (public speaking, college writing, psychology, sociology, etc.)
August 2002
- June 2005
Johnstown, Pennsylvania, United States
Skills
Adobe Illustrator Adobe,
Brochures Magazine Advertisements,
Brochures Magazine Advertisements,
Brochures Magazine Advertisements,
Business Cards T-Shirt,
Business Cards T-Shirt,
Collaborating,
Creating,
Design Website Design,
Digital Skills,
Digital Skills,
Digital Skills,
Discussing,
Drawing,
Excel Google Docs,
Google Spreadsheets Windows,
Illustrating,
Integrating,
Mac,
Microsoft Word Microsoft,
Painting,
Photoshop Adobe InDesign,
Poster Advertisements Postcared,
Poster Advertisements Postcared,
Poster Advertisements Postcared,
Power Point Microsoft,
Research,
Sculpting,
Software Skills,
Teaching,
Traditional Art Commissions & Exhibits
2018 Art Vending: Stage at Karma, Crosstown Cookout, Yinzfest, Pittsburgh Pancakes & Booze Art Show
4/2014 - Brandon Middle School Chorus – Virginia Beach, VA
- Volunteered to paint stage sets & helped design & decorate stage for Spring Concert of “My Fair Lady”
3/2014 - Pickin’ for Paws – Prince George, VA
- Commissioned for watercolor painting (poster) featuring hybrids of band members & pets to use as advertisement for benefit
5/2013 - Museum of Contemporary Art - Virginia Beach, VA
- Featured 2 conceptual paintings (watercolor & acrylic) in Teaching Artists Exhibit
5/2012 - Art Works - Johnstown, PA
- Volunteered services to Salvaged Treasures Project by donating garden sculpture made out of recycled chair to auction in benefit of Art Works’ gallery & studios
4/2012 - Art in Bloom - Ebensburg, PA
- Volunteered to help Budding Artist (youth project) during exhibition
12/2011 - Private Collector - Hollidaysburg, PA
- Commissioned for graphite drawing of steam engine train
10/2011 - Mainline Medical Center - Cresson, PA
- Commissioned for series of graphite drawings of historical architectural structures gravitated around the local railroad industry for patient waiting room wall
5/2004 - Pennsylvania Highlands Community College - Johnstown, PA
- Directed, designed, & featured in the first PHCC Art Exhibition
5/2002 - Penn Cambria School District - Cresson, PA
- Inducted into the Permanent Art Collection with a collage of various leaf prints in various colors of ink
4/2002 - The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art - Loretto, PA
- Featured in the Artist of the 21st Century: Student Art Exhibition of 2002 with a collage of various leaf prints in various colors of ink
4/2014 - Brandon Middle School Chorus – Virginia Beach, VA
- Volunteered to paint stage sets & helped design & decorate stage for Spring Concert of “My Fair Lady”
3/2014 - Pickin’ for Paws – Prince George, VA
- Commissioned for watercolor painting (poster) featuring hybrids of band members & pets to use as advertisement for benefit
5/2013 - Museum of Contemporary Art - Virginia Beach, VA
- Featured 2 conceptual paintings (watercolor & acrylic) in Teaching Artists Exhibit
5/2012 - Art Works - Johnstown, PA
- Volunteered services to Salvaged Treasures Project by donating garden sculpture made out of recycled chair to auction in benefit of Art Works’ gallery & studios
4/2012 - Art in Bloom - Ebensburg, PA
- Volunteered to help Budding Artist (youth project) during exhibition
12/2011 - Private Collector - Hollidaysburg, PA
- Commissioned for graphite drawing of steam engine train
10/2011 - Mainline Medical Center - Cresson, PA
- Commissioned for series of graphite drawings of historical architectural structures gravitated around the local railroad industry for patient waiting room wall
5/2004 - Pennsylvania Highlands Community College - Johnstown, PA
- Directed, designed, & featured in the first PHCC Art Exhibition
5/2002 - Penn Cambria School District - Cresson, PA
- Inducted into the Permanent Art Collection with a collage of various leaf prints in various colors of ink
4/2002 - The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art - Loretto, PA
- Featured in the Artist of the 21st Century: Student Art Exhibition of 2002 with a collage of various leaf prints in various colors of ink
Digital Design Commissions
Edgar Folks, Author & Publisher - Pittsburgh, PA
12/2018, 5/2018, 10/2017 (also edited book), 4/2017, 1/2017
- Book covers that highlights poetry contents
Lisa Illinsky, Author - Pittsburgh, PA
8/2018: Edit & layout of photos & text for book, "Life After Death"
3/2018: Business Card (front & back)
10/2017: Design cover, interior illustrations, & layout of coloring book, "Stranger Danger" that would help children interact with the story, thus learning important lesson
9/2017 - Family friend - Cresson, PA
- Create vintage-inspired party invitation (post card) to inform details
5/2017 - Riveters (formerly Ducks) Softball Team - Pittsburgh, PA
- Design jerseys (logo & typography) to re-invent team image (create strong, Pittsburgh female idea)
4/2017 - Private client - Pittsburgh, PA
- Illustrate family crests to be printed on flags
11/2016 - AIGA Get Out the Vote - Nationwide
- Flyer with Illustrator to influence Americans to vote
11/2016 - Arsenal Middle School Fall Fest - Pittsburgh, PA
- Flyer with Illustrator to advertise family event
4/2016 – Punkapalooza Music Festival – Pittsburgh, PA
- Facebook advertisement for event (flyer for cover photo) with Photoshop
8/2015 – Fourth River Revival – Pittsburgh, PA
- Facebook advertisement for band by photographing & creating digital collage
12/2018, 5/2018, 10/2017 (also edited book), 4/2017, 1/2017
- Book covers that highlights poetry contents
Lisa Illinsky, Author - Pittsburgh, PA
8/2018: Edit & layout of photos & text for book, "Life After Death"
3/2018: Business Card (front & back)
10/2017: Design cover, interior illustrations, & layout of coloring book, "Stranger Danger" that would help children interact with the story, thus learning important lesson
9/2017 - Family friend - Cresson, PA
- Create vintage-inspired party invitation (post card) to inform details
5/2017 - Riveters (formerly Ducks) Softball Team - Pittsburgh, PA
- Design jerseys (logo & typography) to re-invent team image (create strong, Pittsburgh female idea)
4/2017 - Private client - Pittsburgh, PA
- Illustrate family crests to be printed on flags
11/2016 - AIGA Get Out the Vote - Nationwide
- Flyer with Illustrator to influence Americans to vote
11/2016 - Arsenal Middle School Fall Fest - Pittsburgh, PA
- Flyer with Illustrator to advertise family event
4/2016 – Punkapalooza Music Festival – Pittsburgh, PA
- Facebook advertisement for event (flyer for cover photo) with Photoshop
8/2015 – Fourth River Revival – Pittsburgh, PA
- Facebook advertisement for band by photographing & creating digital collage