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   Ben McGinnis, an artist living and working in northeastern Ohio, has been creating art works all of his life. His professional career began in 1984 after attending Kent State University. Bartending in a local hotel pub, he was asked to produce some illustrative and colorful posters to apologize for the pub's messy remodeling. The ad agency that was handling the new campaign for the pub was impressed by his illustrative skills and started giving him freelance jobs. After a short while, the ad agency hired him full-time and he worked there for five years where he was an integral part of an award winning team of designers. During this period he also taught a few night classes at the Canton Art Institute. In 1989 he decided to live out a life-long dream and move to the Camden/Rockport area of midcoast Maine. He opened up a studio in an old schoolhouse in Rockport and approached local ad agencies, businesses and publications. He developed a cartoon strip called, "Coffee Stains- a Bachelor's point of View" and was unsuccessful in his attempts for national syndication although, it was published in a few newsletters. Thankfully, one agency was very helpful and gave him as much work as they could. DOWNEAST Magazine also used some of his illustrations. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough and he had to supplement his income by doing odd jobs for carpenters, singing and playing guitar in local pubs, assisting in gymnastics coaching and finally...cleaning dogfish. The latter job, although aesthetically intense, was disagreeable enough to him that he felt that moving back to Ohio might be the best way for him to prosper in his chosen field. It was a necessary move for the evolution of his career to go back to a place that he knew well and had some established contacts. Taking two and a half years of wonderful memories and fantastic friendships, he loaded his old car with as much as she could bear and took a small trailer in tow. Friends had bets on when and where the old car would give out but all were astounded when he called to say that he had made it back to Ohio safely. Since then he has been working independently for various agencies, businesses and publications doing graphic design and illustration work. Awards of Excellence from the Advertising Federation of Greater Akron have validated his efforts. This business is supplemented by playing and singing in an Irish folk band. McGinnis has also designed many audio CD packages for other Cleveland area recording artists. Occasionally, he offers classes and workshops for area continuing education facilities in drawing, cartooning and caricature as well as humorous illustration.. The years of illustration and the various techniques that he has worked with have led him to venture into the Fine Art field . Realism paintings, pencil renderings and small woodcarvings are his focus at this time, although he is often commissioned for portraits and caricatures. Ben McGinnis is an award winning graphic designer as well and invites inquiries for freelance work. If you are interested in his graphic design skills, follow the link to CARTOONING AND COMMERCIAL work. For more information about Ben McGinnis please call: 330-677-1925 or Email: benmcg5413@aol.com Please enjoy your visit.
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