Biography

We will now introduce Barry Brown, owner and Chief Designer of Big Bear Art. Barry is affectionately referred to by his colleagues as the Big Bear. Standing 6'2'' and tipping the scales at over 500 lbs., you can see why. Always the practical joker, many a colleague has dreamt of the time when they can "get Barry back" for his last practical joke. His smile and quick wit offsets them quite frequently, and mostly, it's the quality and originality of his work that keeps him so busy. Let's delve into some of Barry's past that brought him to develop Big Bear Art.

When Barry was a boy he was frequently caught by his mother cutting up TV guides and magazines. He would cut out parts of pictures and ads and make humorous collages. At the early age, Barry learned the secrets of cut, copy, and paste. He would design new and funny TV Guide covers to amuse his friends and family. Loving the positive feedback to his work, Barry took an architectural drafting course in high school and learned layout and design. This interested him so much that he took a Graphic Arts Info course. It was in this course that Barry decided to pursue a career in offset lithography.

At the age of 18, Barry knew he wanted to be involved on the printing industry. He decided he would do whatever he could to learn the skills necessary to be a pre-press operator. In 1976 Barry took a job as a janitor at Miami True Color (a pre-press house). His chores included cleaning up after the litho strippers. By hanging around after hours he soon learned how to compose film for four-color process. In 1978 Barry moved on to Avanti Press, where his duties included pre-press, halftones, and image setting. Deciding to branch out more in his field, Barry took a typesetter job with Gold Coast Graphics. He worked on an old VariTyper. His other duties included dot etching, color adjustment, and 4-color process. He also worked on a 2.5 million dollar Hell Chromacon console. In 1982 Barry moved on to designing logos and forms for UARCO, the largest US business forms designer.

After twelve years in the printing business Barry became interested in computer graphics. His first foray into computer graphics was on an expensive Mac. He now says he works on a $2000 machine and it's easier and faster! In 1990 Barry moved over to the PC platform as Windows was just hitting the market. He designed logos and forms for hospitals, medical institutions, and Fortune 100 companies. In 1991, Barry joined Thomas Jefferson University and was responsible for the original logo that they use today. He was pressured to come up with a logo so he scanned a nickel, touched it up, and viola', a new logo. Fortunately, he discovered that the face design on the nickel is in the public domain.

Deciding to combine his printing skills with his new found computer skills, Barry started BZB Printing with Bentley Charlemagne in 1994. During the next 3 years Barry would form extensive contacts with other printers and brokers. He has kept his finger on the pulse of the graphics and print industries for several years now. Branching out further, Barry decided to form Bear Graphic and Design in 1997. After doing some artwork for the MultiMedia Mall, the owner, Dean A. Banks, asked Barry to join the Mall in early '98. The MultiMedia Mall was a collection of media-related companies under one roof; a one-stop shop of graphic design, web design, audio, photography, and video. During Barry's tenure at the Mall, he designed album covers, video covers, business cards, web backgrounds and buttons, and usually whatever was handed to him.

Barry designed the brochures for the '97, '98, and '99 Bob Marley Festival in Wilmington, DE. Many people became interested in his work and Bear Graphics grew. As a result, Barry has designed video covers, CD covers, ad copy, PowerPoint presentations, web graphics, booklets, and magazines. Barry decided to take a break from the intense schedule at the MultiMedia Mall in '99. He joined PC Connect as a Graphic Designer and a Computer Designer. In June of 2002, Barry has contracted with BZB Printing as Chief Designer and Office Manager, and has created Big Bear Art to meet all of your graphics needs.

Barry's experience in the graphics and printing industry is only eclipsed by his wit and creativity. His unique way of looking at things, turning them upside down, juxtaposing them with clashing concepts and ideas, and looking at the humorous element, affords any client the ability to portray their concept in a memorable way. Remember, when you lost in the woods, look for the Big Bear!