Artist Bio
Hi there! I’m Sierra Tuazon, a freelance illustrator currently based in Illinois. My work is a mix of digital and traditional media; I specialize in digital paintings with Procreate, vector illustrations with Adobe Illustrator, and traditional paintings using watercolors and acrylics. I have an interest in commercial work, gallery exhibitions, and live painting engagements that are either competitive or demonstrative. I strive to put an emphasis on conveying the emotions that flow through us, like watery ink on paper.
Experience
2021-07 - Present
Production Artist
Sticker Mule, Remote
I troubleshoot customer artwork, communicate artwork and production information with customers by sending proofs, and investigate quality complaints. I create production files following specific production guidelines for various products such as die cut stickers, labels, magnets, buttons, packaging tape, poly and bubble mailers, t-shirts, posters, keychains, etc. I also assist other departments, such as Support and Sales, by providing artwork and printing knowledge.
2018-08 - 2021-07
Production Artist
iCanvas, Morton Grove, IL
I processed artwork sent to us by our licensed artists and created print files for the artwork to be printed and produced onto canvases and fine art paper. I created 3D mockups and Lifestyle images depicting various artworks for our third-party retailers to show what the canvases will look like when purchased and what the canvases will look like in a room. I sketched ideas for custom concepts that clients would like to have printed and once approved I created vector artwork for them to be printed on canvas. Examples include officially licensed artwork for collegiate football teams and Guacamole Taqueria in Niles, IL.
Artist Educator
Side Street Studio Arts, Elgin, IL
I help teach, guide, and direct creatives in all ages in self-directed projects for workshops and themed gallery exhibitions. Students come to me with their creative visions and what they want to create and I help them focus their project as well as help with any technical questions they may have about their chosen medium. Examples of mediums I have helped teach are drawing, watercolor painting, and digital art.
2021-08 - 2021-10
2018-03 - 2018-08
Production Artist
Huetone Imprints, Elk Grove Village, IL
I checked customer artwork for suitability with screen printing, created and sent proofs to customers depicting their artwork on the specified garments needed, made separations for screen printing in Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop, and created custom artwork for clients' garments for screen printing.
2017-09 - 2018-02
Production Artist
Target Decorated Apparel, Naperville, IL
I checked customer artwork for suitability with screen printing/embroidery, created and sent proofs to customers depicting their artwork on the specified garments needed, made separations for screen printing in Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop, and created custom artwork for clients' garments for screen printing, heat transfer, and embroidery.
Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Illustration & Design
Skills
Traditional
Painting
Watercolor
Acrylic
Oil
Gouache
Live Painting (Competitive and Demonstrative)
Acrylic
Pen & ink
Dip pens
Fountain pens
Brushes/brush pens
Markers (Copics)
Calligraphy
Western
Foundation Hand
Italic Hand
Copperplate Script
Digital
Adobe Creative Suite
Adobe Photoshop
Photo manipulation
Photo retouching
Digital painting
Adobe Photoshop Sketch
Digital painting
Adobe Illustrator
Vector illustration
Logo design
Typography
Production file layouts
Adobe Illustrator Draw
Vector illustration
Logo design
Adobe InDesign
Typography
Layout
Adobe After Effects
Animation
Procreate
Digital painting
Animation
Procreate Dreams
Animation
Microsoft Office/Google
Microsoft word/GOOGLE DOCS
Page setup
Text formatting
Editing/Proofreading
Microsoft Excel/GOOGLE SHEETS
Creating/managing spreadsheets
Creating tables/pivot tables
Shows & Exhibitions
March 20th, 2020
Slaysian Online Exhibition @ artistsonthelam.com/slaysian
I exhibited with “The Era of Waves,” which is exciting as it was my first experiment with replicating traditional watercolors using digital media.
Year 7 Exhibition @ Side Street Studio Arts - Elgin, IL
“Nostalgia Smells Like Cherry Blossoms” is my first digital piece to be entered into an exhibition, and fits into the theme of memory as nostalgia is a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations. This was an incredibly personal piece for me to exhibit, and I am extremely proud that it won “Audience Favorite”!
March 5th, 2020
Art Battle - Chicago @ Lagunitas Chicago TapRoom & Beer Sanctuary - Chicago, IL
A live painting competition in which artists only have 20 minutes to paint an 18” x 24” canvas, which can be purchased later in the night in a silent auction.
July 27th, 2019
Year 6 Exhibition @ Side Street Studio Arts - Elgin, IL
“Blossoms at Dusk” was the first watercolor painting I had finished since graduating in June 2017. It was also the very first painting I had ever entered into an exhibition, and the first one to be accepted.