Resume

5531 Joshua St. #18., Lansing, MI 48911   217-417-3272.     lucy.synk@gmail.com

 http://lucysynkfantasyart.com/

AREAS OF EXPERTISE 

  • Expert in painting/portraiture/illustration/murals

  • Expert in oils and acrylics, pen and ink, pencil, colored pencil; proficient in multi-media and photography

  

EDUCATION

Grand Rapids Community College

  • Advanced Photoshop

  • Illustrator

  • InDesign

  • Beginning Web Design: Dreamweaver

Parkland College, Champaign, IL

  • Independent Study: Created storyboard for educational video using Photoshop.

  • Graphic Design I: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign; introduction to Dreamweaver.

  • 2D Animation: Introduction to Flash, Quick-Time, & After Effects.

  • 3D Computer Animation 1: Creating objects, texturing, color, & lighting

 

Siena Heights University, Adrian, MI

Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art: Major in Photography; Minor in Painting and Drawing.

Loyola University, New Orleans, LA

Master’s Degree in Theology, Major in Pastoral Ministry

 

Studied portraiture painting under Bruce Core and Harry Fredman, and still life painting under Bob Byerly.

 

 

WORK EXPERIENCE

Illustration and Mural Painting

  • Sept 2019-to Present: Freelance Artist, exhibiting original work at art shows and conventions

·       Oct 2017 to Sept 2019: Paint Associate at Lowe’s south Lansing.

  • Aug 2015 till April 2017: Full-time Illustrator at T.S.Shure in Chicago, IL.

  • Oct 2013-Jan 2014: Paint Associate at Home Depot, Grand Rapids, MI

  • Sept 2006 till Aug 2015: Freelance Illustrator

  • Summer 2010 Administrative Assistant at English Center USA, Champaign, IL 61820 composing emails

 and promotional material, registering students, using Photoshop to create a photomontage.

  • May 2007-Feb 2009 Full-time Art Director, Seasonal displays, Bookseller, Cashier at Pages For All Ages         Bookstore. Savoy, IL

  • June 2001 to Sept. 2006: Muralist and Illustrator at Taylor Studios, Rantoul IL 

  • Oct. 1995 to June 2001: Muralist and Illustrator at Chase Studio, Cedarcreek, MO.

  • July 1983 to Oct. 1995: Freelanced full-time; exhibited in fine art shows and illustrated science fiction/fantasy. Kansas City, MO.

  • Dec. 1979 to July 1983: Process Artist, Hallmark Cards, Inc. Kansas City, MO.

RECENT EXHIBITIONS

MMAG 16th Annual 12x12 Show, May 31-June 27, 2023, Framers Edge Gallery, 1856 W. Grand River, Okemos, MI

MMAG Volunteer Show, April 29-June 28, 2023, Okemos Public Library, Okemos, MI

MMAG Spring Show: It’s Not Easy Being Green, April 5-July 12, 2023 Neighborhood Empowerment Center, 600 W. Maple, Lansing, MI

On the Streets: The Urban Experience, Feb 22-March 19,2023 MVA Gallery, Bethlehem PA

Anything Goes, Feb 17-March 25, 2023, Gutman Gallery, Ann Arbor, MI

 

Time •Place, Feb 14- March 18, 2023, Posteriority Art and Framing Gallery, Grosse Pointe, MI

 

The Royal Oak Art Fair, Nov 17 & 18, 2022, Royal Oak Farmers Market, Royal Oak, MI

 

Women in the Arts Nov 11 & 12, 2022, Edgewood United Church, 469 N. Hagadorn, East Lansing

 

Chicon, The 2022 World Science Fiction Convention, August 1-4, Chicago, IL.

The Scene’s Spring Art Show April 23 & 24 2022, Red Barn Acres,350 E State Road 120, Indiana

 

MMAG 12x12 show June 1-June 29th 2022, Framer’s Edge, Okemos MI

 

MMAG Spring Art Show April 13 - June 15, 2022, NEC, 600 W Maple St, Lansing

Art In The Castle April 9 & 10 2022, 5052 M-66 North, Charlevoix, MI

 

Toledo Fine Art Show March 12 & 13 2022, SeaGate Convention Centre, 401 Jefferson Avenue Toledo, OH.

Art Prize September 2021, Grand Rapids, MI

Women In the Arts 2021, November 12th and 13th, Edgewood United Church, 469 N. Hagadorn, East Lansing

Mid-Michigan Arts Guild (MMAG) Fall Members Show Oct 9-Jan 8, 2020, NEC, 600 W Maple St, Lansing

WindyCon 2019 Art Show November 15th, 16th, and 17th,  Chicago, IL.

Women in the Arts 2019 November 8th and 9th, Edgewood United Church, 469 N. Hagadorn, East Lansing

 

AWARDS

· MMAG 12x12 show 2023, 3rd Place for “Berries On Satin”

· MMAG Spring Show 2023, 2nd Place for “Green City of the Future”

· Chicon Worldcon, 2022 Judges’ Choice award for “Strange New Worlds”

· MMAG 12x12 Show 2022 Award for Excellence

· Art Prize A dozen prizes awarded by attendees in September 2021

· MMAG Spring Show 2021 Merit award for “Pomegranate”

   

Before 2019:

· 20 awards at fine art shows, including first place and purchase prizes. (List available on request)

· 120 awards at science fiction convention sponsored art shows, including two awards at NOLACON II, (1988 World Science Fiction Convention.) New Orleans, LA. (List available upon request)

 

MAJOR PUBLICATIONS

· 2020 to present: Color illustrations and character portraits to supplement books by Jan S. Gephardt (list on request)

· 2020: Color Cover for The Other Side Of Fear by Jan S. Gephardt

· 2012: Coloring Book for Wickiup Hill Outdoor Learning Center, as a subcontractor for Taylor Studios.

· 2011: Color Cover for The Vision of the Lantern by Wolfheinrich von der Mulbe, published by Deborah Rogers, De Moines Iowa.

· 1993: Color Cover for PITCH MAGAZINE, January issue.  (Kansas City Arts & Entertainment)

· 1990-1993: Color covers for Gurps Magic Items. Steve Jackson Games, Austin, TX.

· 1989-1990: Ten color illustrations for ABORIGINAL SCIENCE FICTION MAGAZINE. Woburn, MA.

· 1989: Color cover for Wizard’s Worlds by Andre Norton.  Tor Books, New York, NY.

· 1989: Two Color illustrations for DRAGON MAGAZINE. TSR. Lake Geneva, WI.

· 1986: Color Illustration for March edition of CINEFANTASTIQUE MAGAZINE. Oak Park, IL.

· 1989 to1996: At least fifteen color covers and illustrations for European publishers.

MAJOR MURALS

Taylor Studios:

                  2012: Three murals for Nescopeck Nature Center, on subcontract to Taylor.

                  2006 Mural, Ranch Palos Verde CA.

                  2001 Two murals, Lincoln Log Cabin IL.

                 

Chase Studio:

            1999 designed and coordinated the painting of 15 murals, Sam Noble Museum of Natural History                   Norman, Ok.

                  1997 Cretaceous and Miocene murals at the Burpee Museum of Natural History, Rockford, IL

Bio

Graduating from Siena Heights College, MI., with a BFA in painting, drawing, and photography, Lucy moved to Kansas City, MO., to work for Hallmark Cards. Corporate work chafed, however, and she embarked on a career as a freelance fantasy artist.

 

Lucy has exhibited her art at galleries, science fiction conventions, Renaissance Festivals, and art fairs.  She published illustrations and book covers in the U.S. and Europe, including the cover for Andre Norton’s book Wizard’s Worlds.  She also continued to hone her various skills in painting and portraiture.

 

Then she discovered the Natural History exhibit industry.  Working first for Chase Studio in southern MO and then for Taylor Studios in Rantoul IL, Lucy painted murals and illustrations for over a decade. She considers her Cretaceous mural, installed at the Burpee Museum of Natural History in Rockford, IL, the high point of that career.

 

Lucy’s creative energy is not all spent on her art.  She has completed a master’s degree in Theology from Loyola University in New Orleans, using it to explore her interests in science and faith, feminine spirituality and fantasy/SF as modern myth.

 

Lucy recently worked in Chicago as an educational children’s illustrator for T.S.Shure for two years, before returning to Lansing Michigan.  Lucy is exploring brand new avenues of creativity, including using mixed media and “dirty-pour” painting and a series of modern Americana that rejoices in our differences.