John Malmstrom received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a Specialization in Illustration from California State University at Long Beach in 1984. Throughout the 1980s, John worked in Los Angeles as a freelance illustrator, staff Art Director for Stolrow Advertising, Creative Director and partner in his own firm, K. Wesley Hall Advertising. In 1989, he accepted a position with Graphic Edge as its Senior Art Director. In 1995, John moved to Richmond, Virginia to become Group Creative Director for Capital One Financial, a Fortune 100 firm and leading direct marketer of financial products. Here he founded and led the firm's creative department develop new advertising ideas to support its $750 million annual marketing budget, supervised the creation of over 1600 marketing packages a year, recruited and managed a department of over 34 staff and freelance creative workers, and selected and managed 7 ad agencies billing with over $5 million in annual project billing. Since then, John has devoted himself to Art and the process of creativity. He teaches watercolor and oil painting and his artwork is exhibited internationally. He is represented by galleries in the US and Canada. John has served on the boards of non-profit Arts & Cultural organizations in the US and Canada. He is currently Vice Chair of the Annapolis Region Community Arts Council (ARCAC) and Chair of Bear River Innovation, Development, and Growth Society (BRIDGS). John lives with his wife, Susan, and three cats in the picturesque tidal village of Bear River, Nova Scotia. Email John Back to the Creativity Seminar