South Region

What About the About Page?
Create an About Page (or Bio) that Attracts

How important is the About page on your website? How about your bio on LinkedIn and other social media? What opportunities are you potentially missing when you leave them stark or generic?

Clients, employers and audiences want to know what makes you different. Especially right now, they’re desperate to find connection, confidence and clarity.

Join branding and copywriting expert Danielle Hughes and illustrator Ed Shems as they reveal the importance of building a profile that reflects who you really are, showcases what makes you uniquely different, and draws in your target audience.

Danielle will help you build a bio or About page that attracts, and provide real life “before and after” examples that show her process and how it works.

You’ll learn:

• How to use your About page or LinkedIn bio to vet prospects and attract only the right people
• Which generic terms you should avoid
• How to create a message that makes you stand out from the crowd, but still feels like you
• Why you should never hold yourself back from being truly you
• How to create loyal and rabid customers through authenticity

Danielle Hughes

As the Chief Personality Officer of More Than Words Marketing, Danielle Hughes helps individuals and institutions to develop their Genuine Personality Brand. This allows you to own and embody your message, feel comfortable expressing it and convey what makes you different from your competition so you can attract the right audience and repel the wrong one. And while she can’t pull a rabbit out of her hat, she can hone your brand message, engage your audience and deadlift you or your employees, but not at the same time. That’s just irresponsible.
(note: Danielle is available for office party tricks and accepts payment in bottles of Bordeaux.)

Ed Shems

A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Ed has been an illustrator and graphic designer for more than 25 years. His current obsession is with writing and illustrating chapter books, graphic novels and comics.
Ed is the Special Guests Coordinator for the Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo (MICE), a member of the Illustration Advisory Council for RISD, and a long-time member of the Guild.
At home, he is the chief tomato grower for his garden.

Members attend for Free
Non members Regularly: $25.00  Early Bird Special $20.00

Mind Your Creative Business
Resources and Inspiration for Creative Professionals.

Join us for a live series where you can ask questions about running a creative business.

A monthly live event where we dig into the challenges faced by the creative community and share resources from out in the world as well as from the Pricing and Ethical Guidelines Handbook. Watch live and ask Terrence Moline and Ed Shems questions, or catch the replay.

The two hosts will discuss common topics creatives experience in their day-to-day business endeavors.
Follow this series on The Graphic Artists Guild LinkedIn page.  Previous episodes of the series can be found by scrolling through past content on on LinkedIn.

About the Hosts:
Terrence Moline lives by design. He resides at the corner of marketing and art by utilizing his skills to create identities, communities, and communication. With 25+ years of industry dedication, his illustration, strategy, and design have helped raise the profile of community causes and educational organizations. Terrence is also the Founder and Head Listener at African American Graphic Designers (AAGD.co), the largest collective of AA/Blk designers who collaborate while growing as a family.

Ed Shems has been freelance illustrating and designing for more than 25 years, working primarily in the early reader, middle grade, comic, graphic novel, and education markets. Ed is a member of the Illustration Advisory Council for the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), and the Special Guest Coordinator for the Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo (MICE).Ed has been a member of the Graphic Artists Guild for more than 20 years, and a volunteer for a good portion of that time.

Repeats the 3rd Wednesday every month
12:00pm – 12:30pm ET / 11:00am – 11:30am CT
10:00am – 10:30am MT / 9:00am – 9:30am PT

Show Off & Tell

Join the Graphic Artists Guild for Show Off & Tell! An informal gathering to show off some recent work, get feedback on works in progress, or do some fun drawing exercises to keep your skills sharp.

All creatives welcome! Whether you want to show off your work (and enjoy some oohs and ahhs), or just participate in the telling part, come and schmooze with us.

Got new stickers in your store? Working on a website? Designing a business card? Come SHARE with us!
Limited space available.

*RSVP HERE*

Hey there, graphic artists!
It’s time to grab a cup of your favorite brew, get comfy, and join us as the Guild Goes Live!

Join us for June’s Guild Goes Live! as we feature the incredibly talented designer,
and Guild member, Leanna Bowers, known for her problem-solving skills and
diverse expertise, as she shares her unique approach to business and inspires
us all to continually improve in our creative journeys.

Guild Goes Live is our energetic and inspiring monthly LIVE broadcast, hosted by our very own Guild President Yanique DaCosta. It is your chance to immerse yourself in the world of creativity and resourceful solutions.

What’s in store for you?

• Insider scoops and juicy news in the world of graphic arts
• Lively discussions on the hot topics that keep designers, artists, and creatives buzzing
• Genius hacks and practical solutions to tackle everyday challenges head-on
• A sneak peek at upcoming Graphic Artists Guild events you won’t want to miss
• Candid and inspiring interviews with current Guild members, giving you a glimpse of their creative journeys

Ready to join the party?

Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to connect with like-minded graphic artists, learn from current Guild members, and gain valuable insights from the Graphic Artists Guild’s leadership.
Join us as the Guild Goes Live and let’s unleash our creative spirits together!

First Friday of Every Month
 1 pm ET / 12 pm CT
11 am MT/ 10 am PT

Watch our Live Stream from these Platforms:

LinkedIn
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Instagram(sometimes)

Get to know our awesome host, Yanique DaCosta. MFA

Yanique is a passionate graphic designer and fine artist on a mission to empower fellow creatives. From a solopreneur to the proud owner of a thriving, fully remote design firm, she’s been there and done it all! With her decade of experience in brand development and advertising, Yanique brings a fresh and exciting perspective to the Graphic Artists Guild, launching member-centric initiatives like Guild Chat, Guild Chat LIVE, and Monthly Member Spotlights.

Yanique has worn many hats within the Graphic Artists Guild, including Southern Regional Representative (2016-2019), At-Large Representative (2019-2021), Treasurer (2021-2023), and ICoD Delegate (2018-Present).

Mind Your Creative Business
Resources and Inspiration for Creative Professionals.

Join us for a live series where you can ask questions about running a creative business.

A monthly live event where we dig into the challenges faced by the creative community and share resources from out in the world as well as from the Pricing and Ethical Guidelines Handbook. Watch live and ask Terrence Moline and Ed Shems questions, or catch the replay.

The two hosts will discuss common topics creatives experience in their day-to-day business endeavors.
Follow this series on The Graphic Artists Guild LinkedIn page.  Previous episodes of the series can be found by scrolling through past content on on LinkedIn.

About the Hosts:
Terrence Moline lives by design. He resides at the corner of marketing and art by utilizing his skills to create identities, communities, and communication. With 25+ years of industry dedication, his illustration, strategy, and design have helped raise the profile of community causes and educational organizations. Terrence is also the Founder and Head Listener at African American Graphic Designers (AAGD.co), the largest collective of AA/Blk designers who collaborate while growing as a family.

Ed Shems has been freelance illustrating and designing for more than 25 years, working primarily in the early reader, middle grade, comic, graphic novel, and education markets. Ed is a member of the Illustration Advisory Council for the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), and the Special Guest Coordinator for the Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo (MICE).Ed has been a member of the Graphic Artists Guild for more than 20 years, and a volunteer for a good portion of that time.

Repeats the 3rd Wednesday every month
12:00pm – 12:30pm ET / 11:00am – 11:30am CT
10:00am – 10:30am MT / 9:00am – 9:30am PT

Show Off & Tell

Join the Graphic Artists Guild for Show Off & Tell! An informal gathering to show off some recent work, get feedback on works in progress, or do some fun drawing exercises to keep your skills sharp.

All creatives welcome! Whether you want to show off your work (and enjoy some oohs and ahhs), or just participate in the telling part, come and schmooze with us.

Got new stickers in your store? Working on a website? Designing a business card? Come SHARE with us!
Limited space available.

*RSVP HERE*