{"id":1603,"date":"2023-05-01T18:56:59","date_gmt":"2023-05-01T18:56:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southwestmichiganartists.com\/minas-smitchger\/?page_id=1603"},"modified":"2024-03-27T16:01:24","modified_gmt":"2024-03-27T16:01:24","slug":"about-the-artist-minas-smitchger","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/southwestmichiganartists.com\/minas-smitchger\/about-the-artist-minas-smitchger\/","title":{"rendered":"About the Artist"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;section&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h1 align=center>About Minas (pronounced m\u00e8-n\u00e4hs)<\/h1>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_code _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<style><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->@media only screen and (max-width: 768px) {<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  h1 {font-size:1.4em;}<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->}<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/style>\n<p>[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_3,2_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; collapsed=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/southwestmichiganartists.com\/minas-smitchger\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/minas-skiiig-600.webp&#8221; alt=&#8221;Minas Smitchger Skiing&#8221; title_text=&#8221;Minas Smitchger&#8221; align=&#8221;center&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;|0px||0px|false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;|0px||0px|false|false&#8221; custom_css_main_element=&#8221;clip-path: circle(50% at 50% 50%); &#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;2_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Text&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<strong>As a graphic designer and photographer,<\/strong> I&#8217;m driven by my passion for creating unique and impactful work that captures the essence of my clients&#8217; vision. With a fine art background and great attention to detail, I approach each project with a keen eye for design and an unwavering commitment to quality.<\/p>\n<p>My skillset includes expertise in a wide range of programs, such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, Acrobat Pro, Corel Painter, and more. I&#8217;m also proficient in film and digital photography, as well as various social media apps.<\/p>\n<p>Over the years, I&#8217;ve had the opportunity to work on numerous high-profile projects, including tradeshow graphics and website promotional marketing packages for the <em>Fleetwood Group<\/em>, designed, printed and constructed displays for two key exhibits at the <em>New Buffalo Railroad Museum<\/em>, and created internet marketing plans, and web marketing reports for pharmaceutical products developed by <em>Pfizer<\/em> and <em>Bristol-Myers Squibb.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>While working as a graphic designer and photographer for <em>Lake Effect Group<\/em>, I did all product photography and played a pivotal role in increasing daily traffic by over 824% through an educational social media campaign that included interactive graphics and videos. Additionally, I created engaging hologram displays that boosted company and product awareness.  At <em>Dick&#8217;s Sporting Goods<\/em>, I served as a graphic artist and sales lead, working on a wide range of marketing materials. I also worked as a restoration artist at <em>Wiskirchen Studios<\/em> in Kalamazoo, Michigan, bringing new life into broken and worn religious artifacts, stained glass windows, and church iconography.<\/p>\n<p>As a freelance contractor, I&#8217;ve created branding and marketing materials for local businesses, photographed business executives to hockey players, created website graphics for <em>South Haven, Michigan<\/em>, and photographed real estate for <em>WAYA Vacation Rentals<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree (Studio Art Major with an emphasis in Graphic Design) from the College of Fine Arts, Western Michigan University (2006) &#8211; Cum Laude, and an Associate of Arts degree in Art from Kalamazoo Valley Community College (2004) &#8211; Phi Theta Kappa.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>About Minas (pronounced m\u00e8-n\u00e4hs)As a graphic designer and photographer, I&#8217;m driven by my passion for creating unique and impactful work that captures the essence of my clients&#8217; vision. With a fine art background and great attention to detail, I approach each project with a keen eye for design and an unwavering commitment to quality. My [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"<h1 align=center>About the Artist - Minas (pronounced m\u00e8-n\u00e4hs)<\/h1>\r\n\r\nAs a dedicated and dynamic graphic designer and photographer, I have an excellent eye for creating unique and impactful work. With over 15 years of experience in the field and a fine art perspective, I bring great attention to detail to every project.\r\n\r\nSKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS\r\n\r\nI am proficient in a wide range of programs, including Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Flash, After Effects, Acrobat Pro, Corel Painter, Film & Digital Photography, Photomatix Pro, Quark Express, Dreamweaver, HTML Coding, Microsoft Office, and relevant social media apps.\r\n\r\nRELATED EXPERIENCE:\r\n\r\nAt Lake Effect Group in Portage, Michigan, I served as a Graphic Designer and Photographer from 2020 to 2022, where I implemented an informational and educational social media campaign that increased followers and daily traffic by over 824%. Additionally, I learned and utilized hologram displays to engage visitors while increasing company and product awareness.\r\n\r\nPROFESSIONAL PROJECTS\r\n\r\nI have a wealth of experience in marketing, brand development, and photography, having worked on a variety of projects throughout my career. Some of my notable accomplishments include:\r\n\r\nMARKETING:\r\n\r\n    Tradeshow Graphics and Website Promotional Marketing Package and Video for the Fleetwood Group\r\n    Internet Marketing Plan of Action Strategy as the graphic designer in a marketing team for Pfizer\r\n    Plavix Web Marketing Reports as part of a design team with Bristol-Myers Squibb\r\n\r\nBRAND DEVELOPMENT:\r\n\r\n    Created Logo and Correlating Brand Materials for Advanced Industrial Resources\r\n    Photography, Web Banners, and Graphics for SouthHaven.com\r\n    Exterior and Interior Photography, Website, and Branding Materials for Waya Rentals\r\n    Designed and Created Various Lake Effect Brand Logos, Marketing, Promotional Products, and Photography\r\n\r\nPHOTOGRAPHY:\r\n\r\n    Board of Trustee Portraits for Western Michigan University\r\n    Guinness Book of World Records Largest Lightsaber Battle Images\r\n    K-Wings Hockey Team and Individual Portraits and Action Photos\r\n\r\nJOB EXPERIENCE\r\n\r\nIn addition to my freelance work as a graphic designer, photographer, and artist since 2007, I have held various positions in the field. I worked as a Graphic Artist and Lead at Dick\u2019s Sporting Goods in Portage, Michigan from 2014 to 2020 and served as a Restoration Artist at Wiskirchen Studios in Kalamazoo, Michigan from 2012 to 2014.\r\n\r\nEDUCATION\r\n\r\nI hold a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Art from the College of Fine Arts at Western Michigan University, graduating cum laude in 2006. Additionally, I earned an Associate of Arts Degree in Art from Kalamazoo Valley Community College, graduating with Phi Theta Kappa Honors in 2004. I also have a Professional Diploma from Vicksburg Community Schools, which I earned in 2002.\r\n\r\nPERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS\r\n\r\nIn my personal life, I have been an Adopt-A-Highway Captain, Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center Sidewalker, and Big Brother\/Big Sister Charity Events Volunteer. I also organized and raised $2475.00 for MS research and the New Buffalo Veterans Exhibit Construction.","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1603","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwestmichiganartists.com\/minas-smitchger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1603","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwestmichiganartists.com\/minas-smitchger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwestmichiganartists.com\/minas-smitchger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwestmichiganartists.com\/minas-smitchger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwestmichiganartists.com\/minas-smitchger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1603"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/southwestmichiganartists.com\/minas-smitchger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1603\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1765,"href":"https:\/\/southwestmichiganartists.com\/minas-smitchger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1603\/revisions\/1765"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwestmichiganartists.com\/minas-smitchger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1603"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}