Brian
McAndrew
The
early parts of my career involved
shows of my original
paintings and other artwork
in Ontario and later in BC. After
moving to the Gibsons BC in 1987,
I started BEYOND GRAPHIX,
painting signs, screen printing,
original paintings, etc.
1988
I was hired by a community paper
(The Sunshine Coast News) and during
my 4 year stay there I became familiar
with all facets of news paper production
in the old "cut and paste"
method. This also included the operation
of a Robertson 480 Linestack Camera,
developing the 18"x23"
negatives, opaquing and stripping
in colour. I gained some experience
with the editorial and front office
as well as some time as Production
Manager. After 2 years, Macintosh
computers were brought in with industry
standard publishing programs, and
a second paper was added to the
weekly schedule. During my computer
training I became proficient in
Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop,
and designed a time saving Quark
XPress template to handle the classifieds
for both papers.
In
November 1992, I made BEYOND GRAPHIX
a full time job and invested in
the necessary Macintosh and compatible
equipment and since then, some of
my logos have gained international
recognition.
In
early 1995 I contracted out to Coast
Creative Printing & Design in Sechelt
to help them trim time from the
production of a weekly ad and leisure
paper and a monthly magazine. Within
2 months my training and changes
to production helped to trim enough
hours from their production time
that they no longer needed an extra
production person.
I
moved on in September 1995 to start
Northern Light Publishing Inc.,
a bi-weekly community style newspaper
(9,500 copies) in a 6 column 11.5"
x 17.5" tabloid format. Three months
after starting my paper, The Powell
River Peak, backed by the Lower
Mainland Newspaper Group moved in,
and immediately got into a price
war with the "Powell River
News", the other establish
paper. Northern Light was caught
in the cross fire and had to close.
Since
1996 I have lived in Grand Forks
BC spent 1 1/2 years with another
broadsheet newspaper, the Castlegar
Sun, where I won the first page
layout and design awards the paper
had. I was an integral part of their
change over to complete digital
transfer of their broadsheet newspaper
to the printer.
By
1999 I had designed the logo and
other advertising material for the
local service provider (Sunshine
Communications) and soon added
website design to my services.
In
order to advertise and market my
talents and establish myself in
Grand Forks, I started and ran for
1 1/2 years, a booklet style, local
news publication called the
OpenMinder. I solicited and
designed the ads and publication
layout, interviewed for stories,
typeset, published and delivered
1000 copies every 2 weeks.
In
2001 I worked with Cannabis
Research Institute designed
all the graphics, including letterheads,
working out flow charts, and presentation
material for the bid on the government
contract to grow the first crop
of medical marijuana.
I
am currently also C.E.O of Andrew
Stone Casino Promotions Ltd. and
head of the team that has designed
proprietary equipment for the roulette
table.
Taking
on the title of Art Director/Production
Manager for CANNABIS HEALTH
will allow me to do more than bring
together my publishing experience,
to produce a top quality magazine.
It has a mandate I believe in and
have worked toward for more than
30 years.
