[artist info]

it's all about me

My name is Greg Schoen. I'm an accomplished Web Designer of 10 years with a diverse background in visual arts. After receiving a BFA in Film/Video from Columbia College in Chicago, I started my career as a cameraman in motion picture and television productions. My experience in this industry has shaped the way I approach most of my artistic endeavors, but changes in my personal life (that is to say, children) caused me to adjust my career path in favor of something more suited to a young, growing family where daddy was expected to be home at least some of the time.

I've been an avid photographer since the age of 14, when my father gave me my first "real" camera, an old beat-up Canon EF 35mm SLR. Anyone remember those? No, I thought not. Well, I've gone through a number of cameras and lenses since then, but when I discovered Photoshop and digital imaging, my creative world changed - and so did my career. Digital Imaging soon led to Graphic Design and then to Web Design. I have found that while my right-brain-self is always striving to create engaging visuals, my left-brain-self is well-fed by the logical complexities of web programming.

Since 2001, I have been helping businesses build and maintain a professional presence on the internet, sometimes as an independent consultant and sometimes as a full-time staff member. I have also continued to photograph portraits and events and more "artsy" subjects whenever there's a need. The web has changed a great deal since 2001. I've seen design trends come and go. I've seen web browsers come and go. I've seen HTML and CSS standards change. I've seen an array of new applications and platforms become integrated into web technology. Did I mention I'm a lifetime student? Yeah. Keeping up with all this is part of the job, but the visual aesthetic persists even if the methodology is always in flux. As a client once told me, "Greg, you just know how to make things look good." I do try. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder and even the beholder can (and will) change their mind. Any artist who's being honest will tell you that for every "good" creative idea, there are several "less good" ideas that never see the light of day. I don't look at these as failures - they are merely part of the quest for excellence. I know this quest has no end, but I will keep pursuing it nonetheless. Did I mention I'm a masochist? Yeah.

I currently reside in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois with my beautiful wife, Julie, and my two inspiring daughters, Kira and Skye. They are my muses, my collaborators, and my best friends.