About Me: Kevin Dean Sundquist
I grew up around Issaquah/Bellevue Washington area all my life. I had a good childhood and was raised with a caring family with a mom and a dad, two older siblings who were also boys. I went to High School in Issaquah and graduated with an AAS degree at Bellevue Community College. I always had an interest in art the youngest I can remember at least. Computers came later but soon was the platform in which I did my future art and designs.
I first took classes in High school level in keyboarding and art in my first year. I learned how to type and draw quickly and accurately. I learned in the next couple of years what I really wanted to pursue in my future career: Digital Imaging through graphic design courses offered at Tiger Mountain Community High School. Digital Imaging and Video Foundations were classes just outside of my high school campus. It was a small school but had vast resources in computer technology. The Programs I learned in these classes were "Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Final Cut Pro.
In my senior year I was finishing my classes and readying myself for graduation. I did my senior project community service tutoring students in digital imaging. I helped students learn the computer hardware and software that was needed for the class. It was fun and rewarding! I still had time to do a paid internship creating a website for the Issaquah High school career center. This was over 100 hours and was by far one of my more challenging projects. I also had other hobbies like running cross country and track and taking part in Boy Scouts and hiking. It was the highlight of my young adolescent life and became a rewarding and promising future for me.
In the next few years, I went to school full-time at Bellevue community college and worked in retail part-time. My first real job was at Barnes and noble booksellers. I was a café barista. I soon left BN and went to Michaels Arts and Crafts where I learned how to sell and make picture frames. I worked there for two years and soon left for Western Washington University. I learned a lot from attending Western Washington University even though I did not complete the focus major I intended on. The next ten plus years I worked in retail and soon settled in at my new job at Lowe’s Home Improvement. I learned a lot from school and working for a company that thrived on workers doing "their Job." It was a difficult job. I at first started as a loader and soon went to a Cashier position in garden and more recently a lumber cashier position opened, and I jumped on it.
One thing I got out of working at Lowe's was my "store map" I created and the skills I obtained by working on a POS computer system. Soon after all the hype of the store map I created I was promoted to the Building Materials and lumber CSA floor job in early February of 2018! I did my final map of the department even before my new position started-which helped me learn the department even better! I soon returned to Cashiering after a short four months. I learned the lumber department better as an associate and soon became a more valuable cashier back there.
In the past months to come I took a break from Lowe's and cashiering and practicing another profession unrelated to design and art. Even though this was a mistake I gained perspective and reawakened my passion for design as I returned to Lowe's as a Cashier. I took several courses post BCC and high school but soon realized my true calling was something I would have to do on my own, not a school setting. Now I am doing just that, creating work and getting experience along the way for anyone I can find. I've done work for my friends, I created works for my job, and also my own art that keeps me going!
Even now I am optimistic of doing more in my career and still want to pursue doing what I have "talent" and "skill" at in design and beyond. In the future I intend to keep improving my skills in the field of design and art. The one goal I have had since high school was become certified as an Adobe Expert and get employed as a designer. I'm 40 years old, I work hard and am passionate about the art and design that I produce and enjoy helping others reach the ultimate potential in their work or projects. Check out my cover letter and resume above in my "Qualifications" link. Feel free to contact me if you would like to know more:
kevinsundquist83@gmail.com
Best Regards,
Kevin Sundquist