Biography
It became apparent to me that the field of graphics was my passion and career choice when applying my artistic abilities to various high school class projects for a Commercial Art class. Class projects included corporate ID, ad design, packaging, and signage. I aced the class with “excellence” and was awarded my first job creating a letterhead for the High School. Using this class as a springboard, I obtained my Degree in Commercial Art from Dutchess Community College.
While attending college, I freelanced as a Graphic Designer for local businesses and regional store chains. Projects included sell sheets, ads, brochures, and signage. Upon graduation, I was hired for my first art directing position with a local publisher, E.W. Smith Publishing, where I art directed and produced two weekly newspapers with responsibilities of layout and design of both editorial and display ads...providing me with great hands-on knowledge and skills.
I continued my formal education at New Paltz State University majoring in both Painting and Printmaking and then transferred to the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City where I majored in Illustration and Graphic Design.
While attending SVA, I freelanced as a Graphic Designer and Illustrator for ad agencies, publishers, and design studios and was subsequently hired by Herald Communications as Art Director where I directed a bull-pen of staff artists and typesetters in the design and production of numerous tabloid publications requiring managerial skills to keep staff and vendors on track for deadlines.
I then art directed a monthly national magazine, The Music Paper, for Sound Resources. In addition to applying art, administrative, and managerial skills, I managed the budget, hired staff and freelancers, selected vendors, and held weekly editorial and sales team department head production meetings. Later, I presented and launched its in-house ad agency, Sound Design. Running both art departments with additional ad deadlines for industry-related publications like Rolling Stone and Guitar Player was a new challenge for me. We created ads for national and international brands like Fernandez Guitars and Maximum Guitar Strings as well as local store chains like Sam Ash. I helped grow the agency and its return on investment.
When I relocated to Long Island, I started working with various ad agencies. Starting as a freelance Art Director at Chandler Stillwell Advertising and was offered the agency’s Creative Director position where I worked as liaison to all clients, strategizing and conceptualizing their advertising and marketing campaigns and time managing all of its print and video productions. Subsequently, I became Senior Art Director at Linx Communications followed by Harrison, Leifer & Dimarco, and now run art-of-graphics.
I offer well-rounded creative direction, graphic design, and production knowledge for both print and web-based applications. In addition to strategic advertising and marketing skills, my background provides a solid foundation to target your audiences’ needs to increase your ROI.
Education
Dutchess Community College – Associates Degree in Commercial Art
New Paltz State University – Studied Painting and Printmaking
The School of Visual Arts – Studied Illustration and Design
“…One of Mark’s key strengths is that he really listens to what is being asked and he grasped our needs immediately. His proactive approach is most helpful for ‘nongraphic’ people like myself and he is very patient in reworking the design until full satisfaction is achieved…It’s outstanding to work with someone so open-minded and responsive.”
Elsie Flanagan Stein, Regional Sales Manager
Fernqvist Labeling Solutions
“For many years I have worked closely
with Mark on a variety of productions (and) have always found his graphic expertise to be creative, functional, knowledgeable, problem solving, and intuitive (and) his work ethic is excellent…”
Carlo Buscemi, Photographer
Carlo Buscemi Imagery
Achievements >>
631-766-5074 | levmac@optonline.net | art-of-graphics.com
Mark Levine
About | Biography | Portfolio | Achievements | Career Scope | Resume