CHUCK TODD BIOGRAPHY

The artwork of illustrator, visual journalist and sequential artist Chuck Todd has appeared in newspapers, magazines, literary journals and annual reports over the past fifteen years.

In the mid to late 1980's he studied painting, illustration, graphic design and printmaking at Southwest Missouri State University (now Missouri State University). During this time his mother's battles with manic depression and cancer had a profound affect on his artwork.

He received his BFA in 1989 and joined The Springfield News-Leader, a Gannett newspaper, where he honed his skills as a narrative artist and visual journalist and created award-winning informational graphics and illustrations. In 1996 he relocated and began graduate studies at the Academy of Art College in San Francisco, receiving a master's degree in illustration in 1999. His studies culminated with his graphic novel thesis project and exhibition "A Fratricide: The Heart of Stone."

Currently, in addition to freelance projects, Chuck is Presentation Editor at the Contra Costa Times, a Bay Area newspaper. He has also taught drawing and storyboarding classes at the Academy of Art College. His work has been exhibited in the midwest and in the Bay Area, including the San Francisco Society of Illustrators. His illustrations and informational graphics have won awards from the Associated Press, Best of the West, California Newspaper Publishers Association, The East Bay Press Club and The Society of Newspaper Design.

With author Gary Bogue, Chuck's first illustrated book, The Raccoon Next Door: Getting Along with Urban Wildlife, was published in November 2003 by Heyday Books. Chuck recently created artwork for "There's an Opossum in my Backyard" an illustrated children's book with author Bogue also published by HeyDay.

He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and two daughters - his most ambitious projects to date.

 

CHUCK TODD RESUME

(925) 691-8541

EDUCATION

MFA Illustration, 1999, Academy of Art College, San Francisco, CA.

BFA Design/Image Production, 1989, Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield, MO.

CLIENT LIST INCLUDES:

ESPN/ABC/NHL, MediaNews, Leap Frog, The Missouri Review, Gannett, HeyDay Books

AWARDS AND EXHIBITS

Society of Newspaper Design, award of excellence, illustration, 2002; award of excellence, features page design (art director), 2006; California Newspaper Publishers Association, first place informational graphics/illustration, 2001, second place 2002; first place 2003; letter of achievement 2004; East Bay Press Club, first place infographics, second illustration, 2001, second illustration, 1999; Best of the West, second place illustration, 1999 regional newspaper competition; A Fratricide: The Heart of Stone, 1999 MFA thesis project exhibition, San Francisco; Spring Show, Academy of Art College, 1999, 1998 and 1997, San Francisco; San Francisco Open Studios, 1998; San Francisco Society of Illustrators, The Annual Show, 1997; Kansas and Missouri Associated Press 1996 Graphics Contest, first place informational graphics; Kansas and Missouri Associated Press 1994 Graphics Contest, third place and two honorable mentions for informational graphics. Missouri Press Association, 1993, first place for informational graphic; Private Apparitions, 1990, exhibit of works by M.S. Franklin, Todd Lowery and Chuck Todd, Springfield, MO; Springfield Area Artists Exhibition, 1989, Springfield (MO.) Art Museum.

EXPERIENCE

Presentation Editor, The Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, CA (San Francisco Bay Area Newspaper), 2005 to present (News Artist 1999-2003; Graphics Chief 2003-2005). In charge of Design and Infographics at the Times. Work with section editors on advance and daily design packages for the paper. Art direct, collaborate and mentor the News Art and Design staffs at the paper. Responsibilities include assigning, art directing, planning and creating daily and advance informational graphics, illustrations and page designs.

Undergraduate and Graduate Instructor, Academy of Art College, San Francisco, CA, 1999-2003. Instructor in the animation and graduate illustration departments teaching storyboarding and drawing classes. Duties include lecturing, planning lessons and assignments, critiquing, grading, setting up poses with models, demonstrating techniques and approaches to drawing, illustration and sequential art.

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Academy of Art College San Francisco, CA, Fall 1998.Teaching assistant in graduate level drawing class "Figure and Expression" with AAC instructor Carol Nunnelly. Duties included planning lessons, lecturing, critiquing, working with models and demonstrating drawing techniques.

Graphic Artist/Illustrator, The News-Leader, Springfield, MO, 1991-1996. Created feature and editorial illustrations on a wide range of subjects utilizing traditional and digital techniques. Created daily maps, charts and graphics including full-page informational graphics. Design duties included magazine covers, feature pages, news layouts and special projects. Attended American Press Institute Graphics and Design Seminar in Reston, VA, 1995.

Graphic Artist, advertising and marketing. The News-Leader, Springfield, MO, 1989-1991.Created and designed daily ad layouts, spec ads, line art illustrations, promotional fliers and rack cards.

Designer/Illustrator. SMSU Publications, Springfield, MO, 1989. Designed and produced brochures, catalogs, advertisements and illustrations.

Computer skills: Freehand, Quark, Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign.