The Designer - Les Barker
 I was commissioned to do a snowflake for the cover of the Lemstone Christian Bookstores Christmas 2003 Christmas catalog. |
By vocation I am a
web designer. By avocation I am a graphic designer and photographer. I
have a bachelor's degree in art and a master's degree in Instructional
Systems Technology.
I have a lovely
wife and two fantastic kids. We live in the western suburbs of Chicagoland.
I have a great job and get to work with great colleagues.
Many an evening, after
the kids are down for the night, I pull out my paper and X-acto knife
and try another snowflake.
My worldview
is a product of my faith in Christ, a fascination with art and music,
eighteen years of living and working in Japan, and the beautiful Canadian
woman that I married in 1989.
If people have
any preconception of paper snowflakes it is of something that they did
in grade school. I feel as though I've been given a chance to take this
simple artform and give it new life. I have found that it has become a
creative outlet for me... something I can do that is uniquely my own.
In addition to my day job and making snowflakes, I do some freelance graphic design on the side. If you have need of any of the following services, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Design:
- Desktop publishing of newsletters, brochures magazines, books
- Graphic design for a wide variety of projects, from CD jackets to posters
- Logo design and basic identity package (letterhead, business cards, etc.)
- Web design examples:
| www.alliantleadership.com | Executive training and coaching | |
| www.carolynlarsen.com | Author, speaker and dramatist Carolyn Larsen | |
| www.karitos.com | Karitos Christian Art Festival site | |
| www.blanchardroad.org/beyond | The Beyond Campaign website | |
| www.fatherfreedom.com | Creating a healing wave... one heart at at time | |
| www.todcarter.com | Storyboard artist for Disney and Big Idea, etc. | |
| www.legalsolutionsinternational.com | Legal services company based in Chicago | |
| www.auroramediapro.com | Video production company in Seattle | |
| www.timothyhodge.com | Storyboard artist for Disney and Big Idea | |
| www.nostalgiabaseball.net | Statistics-based baseball simulation | |
| www.wheaton.edu/history | History Department at Wheaton College | |
| www.wheaton.edu/chaplain | Chaplain's office of Wheaton College | |
| www.wheaton.edu/blackhills | Wheaton College Science Station | |
| www.wheaton.edu/wadecenter | Marion E. Wade Center at Wheaton College | |
| www.wheaton.edu/scriptureconf | Conference scheduled in May, 2004 | |
| www.mwangaproductions.com | Special video project in Congo, Africa | |
| www.kenandbola.com | Website for Ken & Bola Taylor |
- Caricature and illustration
- Proficiency in various software tools such as Adobe Photoshop (member, NAPP), Adobe Illustrator, QuarkXPress, Macromedia Dreamweaver, and others.
Japanese Culture:
- Japanese language interpreting
- Presentations on Japanese culture
- Kanji workshop (learning Japanese "kanji" written characters)
.
I am a member of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals, Naperville Art League, and I also enjoy the fellowship and encouragement of the Lively Arts group, which is a monthly gathering of Christian artists.