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Freddie Erasmus Information Service
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Curriculum Vitae

-Freddie Erasmus-

Versatile Visual- & Performing Artist

This Resumé may serve in the recruitment for:

1. Graphic Design & Fine Art

2. Performing Arts (Music & Drama)

3. Call Centre

4. Retail

5. Hospitality

6. Photographic Modelling

(Biography & Portfolio appear on my general website

Audio samples of my musical repertoire on my official myspace)

Intro Letter for Graphic Design

My ideal employer/ partner have a passion for visual art and wants to entrust their reputation in the capable hands of an outstanding, innovative and versatile creative person. An employer already established, rather than experimenting with a new trade and the livelihood of others. An employer who understands the standard of good design, who operates in a professional, cosmopolitan environment, viewing its team as valuable, talented assets and not economic labourers and who is interested in the end result, rather than what selection of medium was used to obtain it. My qualifications would be important, but even more so, the quality of my portfolio.

I am focussed, responsible, loyal, professional, objective, fresh, friendly and fun with a witty twist. I pay attention to detail as is evident in my portfolio. With leadership qualities of my own, I also accept authority very well. My experience and interests in other creative industries give me a greater leap of creativity and knowledge that often results in effective combinations. I even contribute fine art techniques for unique textures and atmospheres. I'm fascinated by different cultures. I've had colleagues from all over the world from various races, religions, orientations, classes and backgrounds. I am non-prejudice, non-judgemental and believe in mutual respect. A job is where you spend most of your hours per week. There is no reason why it should not be enjoyed by all, neither a place where you are exploited, nor something that you are not exceptionally good at. I apply a positive attitude of teamwork and take great pride in the company/ project(s) I work for. My personality makes me a great social companion for most of my co-workers, yet I take my career seriously. I like to maintain a responsible balance. I have a good understanding for deadlines and even voluntarily work over-time out of enjoyment, without expecting merits. I despise however the submission of wishy washy mediocre designs for mass production and money crazy people and in the process lowering the standards of my company's reputation and that of my own.

Dear employers, unfortunately I have to emphasize the necessity of contracts from the start, to appease the honest motives and happiness of both the employer and employee/ partner.

Please note: I am by interest and speciality a graphic (NOT Web) designer of trade. I enroled in additional web design studies to enhance my graphic skills and broaden my pallette of media tools. To have a wider concept than a fundamental graphic designer, should I work in conjunction with web designers or design content for the web. This advantage enables me to be an ideal counterpart for organizers, programmers, coders, developers etc. who prefer working with the technicalities and information, and need a person who can concentrate on the artistic components. After all, mixed media in digital art is just as rewarding as it is in fine art.

In the past I have been asked to be involved in the copywriting for my ability to come up with with original catchphrases, slogans, messages and straplines. I have strong writing and verbal abilities, whether to compile documents or write lyrics.

I try to follow a strict code of the keywords "creative" and "challenge". I use a wide range of programs and mixed medium of photographic and fine art techniques. Apart from my qualifications, I also do personal research and experiment with other combinations and formulas. I most frequently use the powerful and magical Photoshop. Domestic consumers find Photoshop particularly difficult, but I can do practically any job entirely on Photoshop.Occasionally I use Fireworks. It is still the best Gif Creator in my opinion. And as and when appropriate, Freehand for drawing needs. All of which should of course be legally purchased programs. As a highly skilled and gifted graphic artist, I have to make it clear that I am neither a printer nor a Corel Draw operator. I I find Corel Draw widely required in South Africa, most probaby for positions in conjunction with printing. I regret to inform that I avoid being involved in the arbitrational and mechanical frustrations of printing and Corel Draw dependant operations. It contributes nothing to my career. It is certainly not the industry's avenue for the artistic aspect of design. I rarely find Corel recommended among visual artists. It wasn't included in my internationally recognized curriculum abroad and in my own experimentation found it to be restrictive, and for a program that is template-orientated, not user-friendly at all. I prefer using Illustrator for this purpose.Changing contact details and "designing" name plates on a plain background in an Arial font is both amusing and offensive to the development of my skills and enthusiasm. I recommend these easy administrative tasks to anybody on Microsoft Word. I identify with the client's needs in very enjoyable briefings and consultations with adequacy, free from a constant navigator over my shoulder.

If we share more or less the same vision in design and attitude, it will be an exciting and unforgetable venture of longevity. I recommend a good browse of my portfolio and a careful read of this cover letter.Good luck with your decision. Enjoy my resumé, portfolio and website. My website would be your most indicative source to formulate your opinion.

Personal History:

Gender:

Male

Nationality:

South African

Temporary Residential Status Abroad:

UK 2003-2007 as student & working holiday maker

Date of Birth/ Geboortedatum:

11 May 1977

Contact details (mobile & email):

+27823664221 / thefredfiles@zoomshare.com

Marital Status:

Single/ Ongetroud

Criminal Records:

None

Home Language:

Bilingual

Other Languages:

Afrikaans, English, German (Matric)

Primary & Secondary Education:

Primary School:

Laerskool Wierdapark

High School:

Hoërskool Eldoraigne

Highest standard & year passed:

Matric (Grade 12) 1995

Subjects passed:

Afrikaans (Higher Grade), English (Higher Grade), German (Higher Grade), Art (Higher Grade), Geography (Standard Grade), Mathematics (Standard Grade)

1.a. Graphic Design Tertiary Education in the UK:

Learning Institute & Location: Qualification & Subjects:

Commonwealth Academy, Leytonstone, London

Graphic Designer specializing in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and Macromedia Freehand MX

Blake Hall College, Dock Offices, London

Web Design Course in HTML4, Flash, Fireworks & Dreamweaver

1.b. Employment History in Art & Design:

Most Recent Employer:

V.A.P. (Visual Advertising Promotions)

Position:

Creative Head

Duties & Responsibilities

To mediate between sales- and marketing teams and design teams. To manage and oversee all design. To design the entire corporate ID, billboards, brochures, ads and presentations of VAP. To design content for the web and for VAP's website. To start as the first and only graphic designer of VAP as a new business, handling the entire design and copywriting responsibilities untill company expands.

Reason for discontinuation:

Weak challenges. No promising prospects. New company with associates lacking effecient design industry expertise. VAP closes down soon thereafter.

Employer:

Action Publishers, Centurion, Gauteng, S. Africa

Position Held:

Illustration Artist

Doing Illustrations for academic publications.

Reason for discontinuation:

Not permanent. Contracted per manuscript.

As Freelance Graphic Designer & Fine Artist

Murals, portraits, paintings on private orders and most below the line and through the line design.

Bonus skills ideal for involvement in Copywriting:

Strong writing skills and the ability to come up with original catchphrases, slogans, messages and straplines. Ideal for copywriting. Editorial Staff of High School Newspaper. Meriete St.8 vir Beste Prestasie in Kreatiewe Skryfkuns Hoërskool Eldoraigne 1993

2. Performing Arts (Music, Drama & Public Speaking):

2.a. Music Industry Education & Achievements:

The Margaret Brumer Contemporary Music College, Church Street Pretoria/ Weavind Park Broadcasting Centre, Gauteng, South Africa

1998: Grade 5 Jazz/ Classical Theory Bridge Course & 1 Year in Sound and Performance with Keyboards and Vocals as majors. Other subjects included Melody Writing, Chord Construction, Rudiments, History of Jazz, Fundementals of Sound Engineering.

Reason for discontinuation:

Industry needs as performing creative artist fullfilled.

Bonus skills for jingles and soundtracks:

Experience in music production in various styles on industry standard programmes such as Cubase VST, Kristal, Audacity, FL Studio, Magix. I use and experiment with different ones as and when appropriate. My sample-abundant, layered and scenic atmospheres and versatile styles is ideal for the exploration of jingles and film music. In bigger commercial studios I prefer making use of a sound engineer for technical assitance.

Musical Achievements in the UK:

My UK singles "Glow" & "Madelaine" with british band My Sleeping Thoughts enjoyed hundreds of regular airplay spots on popular radio stations. I receive AMD Fastrax reports courtesy of our pluggers in Scotland. An EP album "Surgery for Souls" is available on Diamond Life Records from most world wide retail download outlets such as dj-shop.at

Live performances of Simpatico/ My Sleeping Thoughts include Guildford Festival, the legendary Hope & Anchor, London Islington and Dublin Castle, London Camden Town.

2.b. Drama & Public Speaking

Secondary & Tertiary Education, Awards & Achievements:

University of Pretoria

Street Law Human Rights Public Speaking Certificate 1995

SA Guild of Speach & Drama Teachers,

Pretoria branch

Certificate for Effective Communication at the 1992 Public Speaking Festival

AT Strydom Drama Studio, Centurion

Student from 1988-1990. Trophy for Best Senior Drama Boy 1990, Chairman of Drama Committee 1990, Advertising member of Drama Committee 1989, Completion of all years with gold certificates, except 1st year with a silver certificate for a promising late enrolement in the 3rd term.

Afrikaanse Kunswedstrydvereniging, Centurion

Versilwerde Sertifikaat Voordrag Seuns 1986

Vergulde Sertifikaat Gedramatiseerde Prosa 1986

Vergulde Sertifikaat Spreekkoor 1986

Versilwerde Sertifikaat Voordrag 1989

Versilwerde Sertifikaat Voordrag 1990

Versilwerde Sertifikaat Voordrag 1991

3. Call Centre:

Employer: Position held/ Period of employment:

The Ronin Corporation, London Victoria, UK

Market Research Telephone Interviewer, Jan 2005 - Feb 2005.

(Reason for discontinuation: More suitable opportunity)

Deliverance, London Farringdon, UK

Call Centre Sales Advisor and Customer Contact Specialist, Mar 2005 - Dec 2007. Okt 2004.

(Reason for discontinuation: Studies completed, return to South Africa.)

4. Retail:

Employer & Location: Position & Dates

Central News Agency, Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa

Dec '95 - Jul 2000, Late Sales Supervisor

Exclusive Books, Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa

Sales Advisor

5. Hospitality & travel jobs:

Employer & Location: Position & Dates

The George Hotel, Wallingford, Oxfordshire

Kitchen Assistant: Aug 2003 - Aug 2004. Reason for Leaving: Holiday and travel job.

The George Public House, South Woodford, North East London

Front of house staff, Sept 2004 - Okt 2004. Reason for Leaving: Holiday and travel job.

Excel/ Sharestaff, Brimsdown, Enfield

Sorting Porter, Nov 2004 - Jan 2005. Reason for Leaving: Holiday and travel job.

6. Photographic Modelling:

Agency: Dates & Details:

Images, London, UK.

Contract with Images Model Agency London, 14/11/05 - 14/03/06, for published work.

Reason for departure:

To accomodate travel plans, I agreed on a 3 month contract only

As freelance model:

(Also been asked to do private work for various photographers with professional publications such as established London/Cape Town Photograper Miguel Sobreira (see www.miguelsobreira.com) as well as student portfolios.

Destiny Models, Clubview, Centurion, South Africa.

Accepted for 2008 with admission for work in catagories Photographic Modelling, Catwalk, Vocals, Film -Television -and Radio, Dance (optional).

Reason for departure:

Essentially for the purpose of opportunities and exposure I prefer a more active agent in the industry as my representative source. Modelling schools, who is comfortable with the high passive earnings of registrations, photoshoots and classes, are commonly found.