About the Artists
GISELE LEGARE
Fresh out of highschool, I enrolled in a commercial arts program (specifically Interior Design) at the Baltimore Art Institute in Pikesville, MD. After completing the program, I attempted a career in Interior Design but ended up a waitress in the DC area, as the need to pay my bills became imperative. Being a rather stubborn and persistent individual, I returned to college a few years later to continue my education. After completing a two year Graphic Arts Program at the Sante Fe Community College I began the interviewing process once again.
A month later I was working for the Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry (DPI) in downtown Gainesville, FL. While working at DPI, I drew a variety of plants and bugs, designed display pieces for exhibitions and brochures about fruit flies. During my tenure at DPI I continued my education at Sante Fe Community College and received another Associates degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences. Two years later, I relocated to Paris, France.
After a few months of searching for work, I managed to get a position as a freelancer for a British magazine called "Boulevarde." Although it wasn't financially rewarding, it gave me a taste of the crazy world of magazine production and served to improve my very limited knowledge of the French language.
In 1998, I returned to the states and found myself in Lexington, Kentucky. The interview process began once again. Eventually I landed a position as a graphic artist in the publications department at the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER). Here I gained a wealth of knowledge and experience. In addition to a variety of projects such as website design, annual and bimonthly reports, CDRom Proceedings, exhibits for trade shows, the Center hosted and worked a series of conferences and workshops, which we structured from the ground up. As time went on, folks began to hire me for their own departmental or personal projects and over the years, a client base developed. After 7 wonderful years at the CAER I decided to take the plunge and DigiZel Grafix, LLC was realized.
So, here we are...
—Gisele Legare—
