Hi, I'm Laurie Neilsen! I'm an artist who grew up in coastal Connecticut. From the moment I got my first camera at nine years old, I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up.
After an educational journey that took me to Brooklyn and Austin, then finally back to Connecticut, I landed at an amazing catalog company called Educational Innovations. While I was there I got to live out my childhood dream of being a professional photographer, along with learning everything I know about graphic design and marketing.
I was able to use my illustration skills in the design of exclusive products and lesson guides. I learned how to make package designs for mass production. I researched and created the packaging for an exclusive Bill Nye bobblehead, which the man himself approved from the first draft! (If that doesn't impress you, you should know that he is incredibly hard to please.)
After a few short years, I was skilled enough at layout that we were able to design our catalogs completely in-house and save a lot of money. Not bad for a fine arts major with a degree in Art Education.
I also used my immense (and possibly pathological) love of Excel spreadsheets to keep track of everything from product price changes over time to social media posts and engagement. The customer service department was thrilled with my timely updates, as it helped the office run smoothly and kept everyone informed of what they needed to know.
In my free time, I honed my photography skills taking pictures of my friends in the HVBRIS fire performance troupe (that's my photo on their home page), I started a couple of web comics, including Justice League Bark, and I designed some t-shirts, among many other creative pursuits.
Now that Educational Innovations has been purchased by Flinn Scientific, I'm ready for my next challenge. I don't know where that will be, but I know I'll bring a unique creative vision wherever I go.
Check out my resume here.
I didn't have anywhere else to put this on the site, but I really like this Photoshop I made of my friends running from a T-Rex.