Gina Llerena is an Ecuadorian and Italian born illustrator/designer who currently lives in Brooklyn, New York. She attended undergraduate school at Pratt Institute for illustration receiving a B.F.A. in Communications Design. After working for several years as a freelance illustrator and window display designer, she has returned to Pratt Institute and is currently a candidate for a M.S. degree in Art and Design Education. She hopes to eventually work in a museum teaching art and design to high school and college students.
PROFESSIONAL RESUME
Education
Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY M.S. Art and Design Education completion 05/10
Dalvero Academy, Brooklyn, NY Graduate Illustration courses 8/05 - present
Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY Major: Illustration BFA Communications Design 5/05
Professional Development
Student Teaching in the Galleries Program Pratt Institute Spring 2009
A full-semester course that entailed taking high school students from soho to different museums, galleries, and educational spaces around New York. The focus was teaching them how to look at and interpret art while also creating opportunities to inspire them to create on-site art.
Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, NY April 2009
Introducing Art to Students: A Workshop for Pre-Service Teachers
A full day workshop given by two Met educators illustrating two diverse strategies of how to design a museum visit including designing a thematic curriculum linking researched objects, as well as using the Nolen Library to obtain Met publications, teacher resources, and using the Met website to research within the collections database.
Brooklyn Museum of Art Brooklyn New York June 2008
Teaching Exchange: Strategies for Facilitating Object-Based Learning
2 day workshop learning how to select key teaching objects, develop a lesson to include a variety of learning styles, create questions,and create visits that are both informative and fun. The workshop focuses on effective and engaging teaching approaches for developing valuable, accessible, and creative object-based lessons that can be incorporated into various museum teaching practices.
Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY M.S. Art and Design Education completion 05/10
Dalvero Academy, Brooklyn, NY Graduate Illustration courses 8/05 - present
Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY Major: Illustration BFA Communications Design 5/05
Professional Development
Student Teaching in the Galleries Program Pratt Institute Spring 2009
A full-semester course that entailed taking high school students from soho to different museums, galleries, and educational spaces around New York. The focus was teaching them how to look at and interpret art while also creating opportunities to inspire them to create on-site art.
Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, NY April 2009
Introducing Art to Students: A Workshop for Pre-Service Teachers
A full day workshop given by two Met educators illustrating two diverse strategies of how to design a museum visit including designing a thematic curriculum linking researched objects, as well as using the Nolen Library to obtain Met publications, teacher resources, and using the Met website to research within the collections database.
Brooklyn Museum of Art Brooklyn New York June 2008
Teaching Exchange: Strategies for Facilitating Object-Based Learning
2 day workshop learning how to select key teaching objects, develop a lesson to include a variety of learning styles, create questions,and create visits that are both informative and fun. The workshop focuses on effective and engaging teaching approaches for developing valuable, accessible, and creative object-based lessons that can be incorporated into various museum teaching practices.
Professional Experience
92Y Programs New York, NY 6/08 - 9/08
Illustration teacher for camp programs, primarily special needs students ages 7-16. Responsibilities included designing appropriate curriculum for various age groups, including adaptations for special needs students, and teaching 7 diverse groups daily.
McGarry Bowen Advertising New York, NY 1/06 - present
Illustrations of various animals for Crayola, The Art of Childhood Campaign, The Girls and Boys Club of America and billboard promotion for the Crayola factory. Three illustrations featured in Wondertime Magazine. Fall 2006
Donna Karan International New York, NY 1/05 - present
Illustrations of window concepts and interiors for visual director and creative team for presentation purposes and final execution.
DKNY Donna Karan New York New York, NY 1/05 - present
Visual Merchandising Freelancer
Creative Services Intern: Executed drawings for window displays, sourced materials and props, executed window changeovers and merchandising. 9/04 - 12/04
S.Orangetown Central School District Orangeburg, NY Substitute Art Teacher K-12 4/06 - present
The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, NY 5/01 - 9/01
Internship: Visitor Services Department International Information Desk Translator: Responded to questions about museum and art history, galleries, and specific art pieces and eras. Directed visitors and international tourists to sections of museum based on art history knowledge as well as fluency in Italian and Spanish.
Illustration Clients
Crayola, McGarry Bowen, Donna Karan New York, Marc Eisen for Wal Mart, Wondertime Magazine, Victoria’s Secret.
Illustration teacher for camp programs, primarily special needs students ages 7-16. Responsibilities included designing appropriate curriculum for various age groups, including adaptations for special needs students, and teaching 7 diverse groups daily.
McGarry Bowen Advertising New York, NY 1/06 - present
Illustrations of various animals for Crayola, The Art of Childhood Campaign, The Girls and Boys Club of America and billboard promotion for the Crayola factory. Three illustrations featured in Wondertime Magazine. Fall 2006
Donna Karan International New York, NY 1/05 - present
Illustrations of window concepts and interiors for visual director and creative team for presentation purposes and final execution.
DKNY Donna Karan New York New York, NY 1/05 - present
Visual Merchandising Freelancer
Creative Services Intern: Executed drawings for window displays, sourced materials and props, executed window changeovers and merchandising. 9/04 - 12/04
S.Orangetown Central School District Orangeburg, NY Substitute Art Teacher K-12 4/06 - present
The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, NY 5/01 - 9/01
Internship: Visitor Services Department International Information Desk Translator: Responded to questions about museum and art history, galleries, and specific art pieces and eras. Directed visitors and international tourists to sections of museum based on art history knowledge as well as fluency in Italian and Spanish.
Illustration Clients
Crayola, McGarry Bowen, Donna Karan New York, Marc Eisen for Wal Mart, Wondertime Magazine, Victoria’s Secret.
Publications
Graphis Magazine: New Talent Design Annual 2005 Book Illustrations Fall 04
Wondertime Magazine: Two full page double spreads featuring Crayola ad campaign Fall 07
Skills
Software: Adobe Creative Suite 2, Microsoft Office, Mac and PC platforms.
Languages: Fluent in Italian and Spanish.
