DORKY AND FUN? OR MODERN REALISM?   Experienced in many illustration styles. Vector Specialist. National award winner.   Drop me a note or give me a call! ellen@ellenbyrne.com 240-405-6317           Manoa Elementary School, Honolulu, Hawaii   In third grade my teacher, Miss Kokamei, told me I had a great imagination. She encouraged me to draw and paint but said it was my imagination that set me apart. I took Miss Kokamei's advice, took art classes, learned art techniques from my Grandfather, grew up, married, raised four terrific kids, moved frequently to lots of interesting places, had odd jobs, took more art classess, and finally settled in the cool little city of Frederick, Maryland, a place full of fabulous graphic design and marketing firms as well as a rich fine arts. In my forties I started applying for jobs as an illustrator but no one would hire me. After telling a job coach my dream of being a practicing illustrator she said "now how realistic is that?!". A potential employer actually laughed at me when I approached him at a job fair. I'd like go back and thank these people because their attitudes caused me to be more determined than ever to follow my passion - to tell stories with pictures. I started my own business in late 2003, and within seven years I'd won mutiple awards including a national gold ADDY for illustration. Being a Freelance Illustrator is the best job in the world. Getting to know all kinds of people from many sides of life, the excitement of discovering the challenges the next email or call will bring. Developing a strategy and efficient solution to making a client's project come alive with the right visuals are challenges I enjoy daily. Life is good.