The Scribe - Page 15

A Foundation in Graphic Design Amber spent nearly nine years (June 2010 to March 2019) working at Giant Eagle Market District stores in Pittsburgh, advancing from Graphic Artist to Visual Merchandising Team Leader. This role was formative in her career, as she worked with teams of in-house graphic artists creating hand-painted signage similar to what you’d see at Trader Joe’s or Zingerman’s. The position offered significant creative freedom within brand guidelines, allowing her team to incorporate nostalgic references from the 1950s-1960s era. She managed teams across multiple Market District locations in Pittsburgh, Ohio, and Indianapolis. During grand openings, she participated in store walkthroughs to determine permanent artwork placement and mural locations to optimize customer experience. Her responsibilities included collaborating on display planning to communicate product messaging, guiding weekly and monthly display planning meetings, and organizing in- store events such as celebrity chef demonstrations and seasonal NFL “Chalk Talk” radio shows for WDVE. Building Hysteria Company Amber has been running Hysteria Company full-time since 2019, operating from Studio #12 at 400 1/2 South Main Street in Findlay. The business offers skilled contracting work including mural work, brand building, animal portraits, logo and layout designs, digital illustrations, commission paintings, and marketing/advertising. To maintain income consistency, she contracts with the University of Findlay as a scenic theatre painter starting in August 2023, teaching students new techniques in set painting and finishing set designs from directors. Her artist mission statement reflects her philosophy: “Through my artwork, nature, and community; I am able to be an active member and educate within environments and communities to cultivate safety, connection, and a true sense of belonging. The beauty of art is its power to create change and inspire hope in our lives.” Amber emphasizes that she loves every mural not because of the artwork itself, but because of the impact it has on the people who commissioned it. ARTIST FEATURE