JOE MRUK / redbuffaloillustration@gmail.com / 412.961.6174

EDUCATION

Bachelor's in Fine Arts, PennWest California (formerly California University of Pennsylvania), California PA. Graduated May 2010. Dual major in painting and graphic design.

Fine arts skill set includes digital and physical illustration, lettering, character design, mapmaking and painting.

15 years’ proficiency in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, and 6 years’ proficiency in Procreate on iPad Pro.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Freelance Illustrator for Red Buffalo Illustration, Pittsburgh, PA, Jan 2013 – Present. Worked with bands, venues, record labels, large events and small businesses to create commissioned images and media such as posters, editorial illustrations, album art, music festival promotion packages, maps, shirt designs and more. Previous clients: Ansys, the Pittsburgh Steelers, American Rivers, The Environmental Defense Fund, Southern Tier, Tröegs, The Clarks, The Deutschtown Music Festival, and CraftPittsburgh Magazine.Owner/operator of www.redbuffalo.org, where a full portfolio is on display.

Illustration Instructor at Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh, PA, Jan – Feb 2020 and May 2022. Upcoming class: June and July 2023. Taught kids and adults digital and analog illustration, design, composition, typography, character design, and figure drawing.

Gallery Attendant at The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh, PA, July 2014 – Sept 2015. Attended to gallery security and the safety of museum property and private collections. Experienced with front desk duties and museum sales.

Drawing & Painting Instructor at Wash Arts, Washington, PA, Winter and Spring Terms 2014 - 2015. Taught children ages 9-12 and adults age 16+ in Principles of Drawing and Illustration. Utilized and gave demonstrations for a wide range of drawing and illustration materials, and offered individualized tutelage based on each student's strengths.

Clerk at Artist & Craftsman Supplies, Pittsburgh, PA, Jan 2013 – May 2013. Keyholder, opened and closed storefront. Worked floor and register, ordered materials, assisted in frame shop. Helped to rebuild store from ground up during store expansion.

Assistant Manager at The Exchange, Pittsburgh, PA, Dec 2011 – Jan 2013. Keyholder, opened and closed storefront. Coordinated a team of floor employees to execute daily tasks, managed payroll, schedule, and employee reviews. Trained employees on trade-ins, sales, returns, inventory processing, paperwork, filing and displays. Handled bank deposits and change orders.

Room Service Agent at The Omni William Penn Hotel, Pittsburgh, PA, Aug 2011 – Dec 2011. Serviced guests of the hotel via room service orders, housekeeping and engineering requests, working register and performing various bookkeeping tasks, preparing spreadsheets for use in accounting department.

Customer Service Representative at Afni Inc., Tucson, AZ, July 2010 – Dec 2010. Serviced Verizon Wireless customers over the phone with general information, technical issues and price plan adjustments.

Graphic Designer, California University of PA, Spring 2007 – Spring 2010. Created promotional materials, flyers and programs for 15 individual exhibitions.

Gallery Director at Vulcan Gallery, California University of PA, Fall 2009 – Spring 2010. Responsible for curating exhibitions and delegation of duties for a six-person committee.

VOLUNTEER WORK

Regional Advisor for SCBWI - PA West, Sept 2021 – Present. Assists with approaching illustrators, agents and art directors to headline online webinars and critique sessions, as well as coordinating those events.

Instructor at the Warriors of the Lakota Foundation Summer Art Camp, a 5-day art camp for Lakota youth, ages 5-12, at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, SD, June of 2014, 2015 and 2016. Worked alongside the Warriors of the Lakota Foundation to uplift essential Lakota core values through art projects, storytelling and discussions on Native American artifacts. Coordinated a team of art instructors to cultivate curriculum.

Volunteer at The Drawing Studio in Tucson AZ, June – November 2010.

Urban Renewal Project in Donora PA, Oct 2008: “Consideration or Else” – Organized a group of students to convert unused municipal property into public art space.