MARA TEACHES

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MY STORY

Born in Venezuela, South America, Mara Gil has lived all over the world but grew up primarily in the United States. From an early age, art was her all-consuming passion which lead her to get a Summa Cum Laude Bachelors of Fine Art in Sequential Art from Savannah College of Art & Design and later a Masters In Fine Arts in Illustration with Distinction at Edinburgh University in the College of Art. For 15 years, she was a working artist for companies including but not limited to: Hearst Publishing, TokyoPop, and Blizzard Entertainment, doing comics and illustration art. Currently, she is the Visual Arts Coordinator for BASIS International School Shenzhen where she teaches 6th grade and up, AP Art and Digital Art.

Mara believes in preparing students for the rigor of real-life artistic professional endeavors as well as the skills needed to succeed in the Advanced Placement for Art. Emphasis is placed on anatomy and perspective as well as a wide variety of media. Mara developed and teaches the first Digital Art course in the entire BASIS network, using iPad Pros and the app Procreate.

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EXPERIENCE

What I do

Aug 2016 - Present

VISUAL ARTS COORDINATOR,
BASIS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL SHENZHEN

Instructor of art from grades 6th grade and up, AP Art (2D and Drawing), 6th grade Art History, High School 2D Studio Art (Intro to Advanced), Digital Art (Intro to Advanced) in an international school with a focus on English Language Learners (ELL) students. Focus on both practical art and computer art. SIOP trained. In charge of multiple art shows, both internal and external, for students, and running various clubs, including the Comic book Creation Club.

Jan 2008 - May 2011 & Aug 2014 - May 2016

ADJUNCT PROFESSOR,
PHOENIX COLLEGE

Duties include creating and teaching a complete college certificate course in sequential art for the college. Taught classes in penciling, inking, coloring, and toning. Principal organizer of the “Comics Art Forum” gallery show in February 2010, which featured a gallery and panel of local professional comic book artists to speak to students.

2002 - Present

ARTIST,
SELF-EMPLOYED

Have worked for various publishers including TokypPop, BOOM! Comics, and Hearst Publishing in the position of a "Ghost Artist" or "Fixer" as well as more recognized position as penciler, inker, toner, and/or colorist. I have also designed layouts and logos. I have worked in some capacity in almost all aspects of the comic book industry as well as magazine comic strips and newspapers.

2012

GUEST LECTURER,
VARIOUS

Presented various lectures for both conventions (Phoenix Comic Con & Saboten Con) and festivals (North Lanarkshire Council) that included coloring & toning for comics, comic strip creation, storytelling.

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