Windy city workforce

This department spotlights a relatively recent addition to the workforce, focusing on the person’s educational or working background, daily responsibilities, challenges, passions, frustrations and outlook for his or her future in the field.

Name: Guillermo Munro
Age: 35
Company: Chicago Sun-Times
Title: Art director of the Controversy/Books section in the Sunday edition
College Path: A background in Architecture and Art at Southwestern College in San Diego

 

How you ended up here: I was working in Seattle and had planned to stay there, but I got an e-mail from the design director at the Sun-Times, Eric White, and he told me he had seen my work and thought that it would fit well into a new section they where creating. I never thought about leaving Seattle really, and I never thought about living in Chicago. To make a long story short, I really liked the project, I really liked the new boss I was going to have and where I was going to work, and I fell in love with Chicago. Now my plans are to stay here as long as I can. I have been having an amazing time, too good of a time to be true.

How long you’ve been at it: I started in newspapers doing illustrations in November of 1997, and I have not put down the mouse or the brush since then. I had not touched a computer in almost eight years, since I was in college. I had not painted for about six years or so. I have not stopped since then, except for a period where I went to Oaxaca and painted for four months and traveled throughout this country with a photographer. You can check his work at ryandonnell.com.

Who you answer to: I answer to my thoughts first, but in my job I answer to my two kick-butt, no-bullshit design directors, Eric White and Craig Newman. I firmly believe that if your bosses give you space, you will flourish like flowers in the spring. These guys “let me be,” and that is the best thing anything could give a guy like me.

Hours you expect to be at work: They vary depending on the day. And sometimes I take work home or just wander around Roscoe Village thinking about the stories I have to illustrate. I usually work from 11 a.m. until I think my job is done. I do about 6-to-9 illustrations per week, plus design the 10 pages of the section, look for pictures, etc.

Breakdown of what people anticipate from you: Go crazy, go crazy, go crazy.

What your friends assume you do: Eat barbacoa tacos all day.

Combining graphic design and art is... one of the best things that has happened to me. I cannot express how much I enjoy my work. The problem is that I cannot stop. I go home and keep working until 3 or 4 in the morning.

Best perk: Good friends.

Where you can go from here: Probably to cook barbacoa tacos. But if I am lucky, I can keep doing what I am doing. As long as I can keep painting and doing shows, I am happy. I do not want to be a boss. I want things to do and projects. Being a boss means I have to keep track of people and work with numbers, and I am terrible at that. I am happy with color, photos, design and my Mac. I like to solve problems creatively. I cannot do them numerically, and I have tried.

I know it’s a good day when... after doing one or two illustrations, the day is clear and nice, I go out and ride my longboard, have a drink at the Four Moon Tavern, meet my girlfriend for dinner and watch a movie with her and then maybe after that, paint for the rest of the night.

The last thing I did I was truly proud of was... an illustration I did about cold cases that involved bringing justice to crimes committed against the freedom fighters and African Americans a long time ago. It came out Oct. 8. I like my September 11 edition, and also a section before that where I painted all in cardboard and just black paint. And right now, I am traveling to Mexico to have a show in a gallery that we are putting together. I will have a show with my dad and my brother. I think that makes me proud, and happy. Too bad my sisters don’t paint, as I would love to be in a show with them also.

The newspaper business can be best described as... freaky and beautiful.

The best art … is all art or anything that is created to solve a problem or voice opinion, show expression or seek justice.

Things can get tense when... they get tense?

Artists, in general, tend to be... nuts!

If the ideas aren't flowing for a painting, I usually... hang around my girlfriend and be goofy and drive her crazy, or I read a book, watch a movie or drink at one of the bars in Roscoe Village.

I have trouble dealing with... people who lie to my face. People who are fake. I like real people, even if you don’t like me. I want to know that is how you are.

Why you wear a smile when you come to work: Because I know I will be painting or doing an illustration on the computer and hanging out with my friends there.

Advice for joining the field: The field of illustrators is doing well, I think. And the field of informational graphics is always growing. Just check out magazines like National Geographic, Time and Newsweek. They have more graphics than ever before. Magazines that have been short and sweet are even shorter and sweeter and more visual than ever. Being in creative or visual communication is great.

Click here for more Windy City Workforce