Kevin O'Callaghan
Me (the short story):
- Didn't enjoy High School much. Serious A.D.D. But I was drawing constantly - and well - but regretfully never took an art class at NTW. I still feel resentful that some teacher / advisor there never pointed me in the direction of art. I'm sure they must have had some great teachers / classes.
- Lincoln Jr. College, downstate IL, made several lifelong friends, went to protests, including hitchhiking to DC when Nixon bombed Cambodia. Took art classes and really dug it. Girlfriend became pregnant, baby adopted, I looked the daughter up in 1995, now great friends - happy ending!
- Got BFA from Fairleigh Dickenson U. in New Jersey.
- A couple of years of manual labor - mostly with the Kenilworth Park District. Also, gigs at the Union 76 in Glencoe, and bartender at Barnaby's!
- Back to school at 27 - the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. First time in my life I got great grades - and worked ass off. Fell in love with graphic design and art direction.
- My teacher/mentor hires me - small office in LA (Wilshire and Highland), learn everything there is to know about advertising from a NYC madmen pro.
- Get job in New Zealand! Senior Art Director for McCann-Erickson in Wellington. Hated it at first, then loved it. Met future wife at agency. Spent most time with Leo Burnett International, winning awards, winnning new business. But the important part is - learned to love sailing! Bought a 33' keeler built in 1910 with my best friend - both landlubbers. Sailing grounds: The Marlborough Sounds - deep salt water protected by fjords. Got married, became dual citizen, stayed 14 years.
- With 6 month old daughter, we move to Minneapolis. Get job as Creative Director at ad agency. Stay working there for 16 years. Learn to (almost) love the MN winters.
- Left job in 2011, been freelance ever since. Still working. And doing more fine art - oil paintings, pastel paintings, drawings. Also doing lots of road trips - many are solo trips - clears the mind. Also, started teaching design class at Univ. of Minnesota.
- Health good. Finances only just OK. Still play guitar (not enough), and play golf (not enough). Next: who knows? We talk about moving back to NZ. Or Europe. Or California. That's it. K.O.
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