Gage Spehar
Education
Cleveland Institute of Art
B.F.A. Illustration, May 2025
G.P.A. 3.6
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Experience
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CIA Production Workshop: Animated Film Concept
Visual Development Artist
Cleveland, Ohio
January - May 2024
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Commissioned by a representative from Pixar Animation Studios to develop an environment and character design for a hypothetical Pixar film.
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Selected as one of a few submissions to be critiqued by the client and was recognized as the strongest in my class.
CIA Production Workshop: Gap Closer Games
Visual Development Artist
Cleveland, Ohio
January - May 2024
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Commissioned to create a background and villain design for an upcoming boardgame.
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Selected as best in class.
CIA Production Workshop: 7 Minute Stories Podcast Cover Image
Digital Illustrator
Cleveland, Ohio
January - May 2024
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Competition to create a cover image for a story about a man recalling his relationship with a close friend who committed suicide.
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Selected as the winner by the client because of the emotional impact of the piece, and was used on the podcast along with a cash reward.
CIA Production Workshop: Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Wildlife Conservation
Digital Illustrator
Cleveland, Ohio
January - May 2024
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Commissioned to create a poster promoting wildlife conservation of endangered species.
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Selected to be displayed throughout the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.
CIA Production Workshop: American Greetings Corporation
Digital Illustrator
Cleveland, Ohio
January - May 2024
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Commissioned to design a holiday greeting card including characters and environment.
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Design focused on gender neutral characters and underrepresented minorities.
Freelance Digital Illustrator
Cleveland, Ohio
June 2021 - Present
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Commissioned for unique projects solicited through my art portfolio on Instagram.
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Continued development of a unique brand and a distinguishable online persona.
WaterHigh
Digital Illustrator
Chagrin Falls, Ohio
June 2022 - August 2022
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Summer internship focused on designing graphics of characters for a lifestyle clothing brand.
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Collaborated directly with the art director to create new character designs.
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CIA Production Workshop: Grog Shop Concert Poster
Digital Illustrator
Cleveland, Ohio
January - May 2024
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Commissioned to design a concert promotion poster for an underground band named Meat Bodies.
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Selected by the Grog Shop for display at the front of the venue to promote the band.
Skills
Procreate
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Premier Pro
CompTIA IT Fundamentals
OSHA
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Interests
Film/TV genres: dark comedies, sitcoms, historical fiction, and adult animations.
Learning about history.
Studying the German language and culture.
Niche music genres: electro swing, breakbeat, old school triphop, etc.
Experimenting with animation as a hobby.
References available upon request
