kent lovelace
from print to web design
This the story of my journey from a traditional fine arts education and career, through the introduction of computers to the production of print advertising and graphic design. It also chronicles triumphs and tragedies while showcasing creative work I was doing at the time and life lessons I have learned along the way.
I was born and raised in Lynchburg, Virginia, a small town in Southwest Virginia. I was always interested in making things with my hands.
My Mom was taught 1st grade and my Dad worked for the Postal Service.
One snowy day while schools were closed, I spotted this "Draw Me" ad in a magazine and challenge Kevin, my brother to a drawing contest. We mailed in the results to be judged. I win a “Commercial Art” course. The course wasn’t very helpful but it got me thinking maybe I should look into becoming a Commercial Artist!
Three years later, I was accepted into Virginia Commonwealth University's School of the Arts. I learned about well known artists and art movements. I also studied how art influences society and how society is reflected in art. Some of my favorite artists are Robert Motherwell, Mondrian and Bauhaus movement.
When I wasn’t studying the finer points of the Art Nouveau movement, I got involved in campus ministry. That’s where I met and fell in love with Jaiver Jarvis. We don’t meet people by accident. They are ment to cross our path for a reason. She would later become my wife.
Ilanded my first agency job where I gained many skills such as paste up, storyboarding, concepting, presentations and other things about advertising. I worked with some of the best art directors and copywriters in the business, on national ad accounts like Mercedes Benz, Wrangler Jeans, Healthtex and Mobil Oil.
The first Apple computers were introduced to the Creative Department at the Martin Agency in 1986. We Began training on QuarkExpress, Adobe Photoshop and Freehand, which later became Illustrator. Back then, a one megabyte file was considered to be massive!
In 1985 there was talk
of computers coming to print production.
Hello, I'm here!
Its 1986.
So things were going pretty good for me. My career was on a good track, I had been happily married for about six years, and we had decided that we would start a family when life, as it often does, threw a serious curve ball.
At 31 years old, Jaiver died suddenly of complications from a stroke.
Life has knocked me down a few times, showed me things I never wanted to see. I have had many failures. But one thing I have learned to do is get back up. So after ten years, I left the Martin Agency to work as a freelance Designer. Occasionally, I would work full-time for small design and marketing firms.
Someone once said “if life can remove someone you never dreamed of losing, it can replace them with someone you never deamt of having”. Thank God He knew just what I needed. Sharon has been there for me through the toughest of times. I knew she was a keeper, so I asked her to marry me.
An Art Director friend put in a good word for me at Saatchi & Saatchi Los Angeles, so I flew out and freelanced as a Studio Artist with a few ad agencies around town. After a couple of months, I was offered full-time position. So we loaded up the truck and moved to Beverly.
More than half a million American children are in foster care, taken away when their families were in crisis. We wanted to help by becoming foster parents. It was a rewarding experience for Sharon and I. But there came a point when we couldn't imagine life without our little girl, so we adopted her.
That was a good day.
And just when we thought we were going to live happily ever after, The economic crisis of 2008 causes layoffs at Saatchi. Two months later, Sharon loses her job to layoffs as well. So I was able to pick up some freelance work to keep things going.
With the economic crisis in full effect and no jobs to be found, making myself more marketable became more important than ever. When one day I heard a radio broadcast of an interview with (Eric?) from The Iron Yard Academy.
Sharon said "You should totally do it!"
The Iron Yard Academy
Durham, NC!
She was right. But it wasn't easy. There were times when I didn’t think I could make it. Thank you Julia, Jessica, Clinton and my Cohort for giving me not only knowledge but the belief that I can do this. You all are truly special. The Iron Yard Academy ROCKS!
