MY PORTFOLIO AND SKILLS

Liza Araujo Grzeskowiak

N. Detroit St.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323)8828290
(323)4014770
editor@checkitoutmag.com


Welcome to my portfolio blog where you can see samples of my work from over ten years of graphic design, photo styling, art direction and skateboarding.

Skateboarding, music and fashion inspire my work.

Please take a look at my portfolio and feel free to comment and contact me regarding working with you on your projects.



Article in Paper magazine about Check It Out (my skateboarding for girls magazine)



EDUCATION

B.A. degree in Art, November 1996, at USP - Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil
Various technical classes in Sales, Design, Marketing, and Noritsu photo machine.



CURRENT JOBS

Editor and Founder of Check It Out Skateboarding for Girls Magazine since 1995.
Duties: Writing, Art Direction, Layout, Design, Production, Marketing, Ad Sales, Fashion Stylist, and some Photography.
Knowledge of printing, pre-press and film output processes
Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, QuarkExpress and INDesign




Founded by Liza Grzeskowiak in 1995, Check It Out magazine started as a photocopied newsletter to help keep girls in Sao Paulo, Brazil, informed about events happening in the skate world.
Back in the day, there was so much discrimination towards a girl skateboarder that it was almost impossible to progress in any tricks. All the girls wanted was some space in the magazines or an event to participate in.
Back in the 90's, the skateboarding media published advertisements with girls: a hot girl hanging on a pro skater.
They never really did anything hard-core enough to empower the girl skate scene.
So as a skateboarder myself, I decided to use my typewriter and photo copy machine and mailed all those skate girls a little 'zine. It inspired me to be a sort of activist and create the first Check It Out Girls Skateboarding Contest.
The first event brought 15 girls and 20 pro skateboarders (male) who came to support our effort. Their support definitely changed a lot of the other boys' minds; having the skate icons say that girls skating is cool because it strengthens the industry itself. The more skaters there are, the stronger the sport.
So it all came together, the zine and the girls united going after more contests always publishing the results and the next events, and covering contests, tours and profiles.
We traveled a lot throughout Brazil, we created some amazing prophets! They still are out there spreading the word about girls skateboarding. Girls contests still happen every weekend in Brazil and there are some awesome Brazilian female skateboarders.




They have their niche skate scene there and now we have the power to make it global.
Once our popularity grew, it allowed 5 of us to come and out and experience the california skate scene.
In 1999 we came to the ALL GIRL SKATE JAM (www.allgirlskatejam.com ): the biggest all-girl skate event at the time.
About a hundred girls flew to Los Angeles, from all over the world: Europe, Canada, Japan, Brazil.
When we got here, we met some girls, some brands, and some people that motivated us. Their support allowed us to stay and extend our journey out here in Los Angeles.
Since then we being living in Los Angeles, distributing our magazine nationally with Ingram Periodicals and at a variety of skate shops.
We have made it our mission to support, promote and educate girls who want to play in the traditionally male realms of sport. We kicked down the doors of the boys club, it has been a 10 year journey.
In the magazine there is a mix of skate photography, fashion and the occasional celebrity interview. In order to spice it up a bit we love doing the Street Fashion Wear product review. We always work with the brands that support girls skateboarding.



Check It Out Skateboarding 4 Girls is about empowering the girls to skate better, to push harder. We also strive to empower the industry to support the women's skateboarding scene.
To show appreciation to the brands who support skateboarding and have a full team of girls , we try to encourage our readers to buy from the brands that care about women in action sports.
Lots of times "tom boys" only buy the guys stuff and the pro model of any pro skateboarder will be discontinued if it doesn't sell. In the past, many female skateboarders' pro shoes, for example, have been discontinued because of a perceived lack of interest.
We want people to keep supporting the GIRLS teams- not only in skateboarding. To be a female pro in any of these sports is challenging and impressive. Lately we been promoting, snow, surf and motocross as well.

www.checkitoutmag.com


LAST EMPLOYERS

STEREO SOUND AGENCY
2006-2007

Skateboarding company owned by the skateboarder and actor Jason Lee and skateboarder and artist Chris Pastras.
Title: International Sales Manager
Duties: Sales, International Marketing Director,PR, Trade Shows, International Shipping, Invoices and Territory Developer.
Freelance work: Desinging post cards, catalogues some photography, styling some ads and assisting in some product developement as such Chris Pastras radio cruiser board.








Styled and shooted by Liza G.


Photo by Liza G.




ICON PHOTO LAB
2004 AND 2006

Duties: Finishing Dept. , assinting on the dark roon developing pics, spoting and packaging

NARDULI PHOTO LAB
2005

Duties: Printing on Noritsu Machine, Spoting, Packaging, Scaning, Color Correction and Custumer Service





FOLLOW BELLOW SOME OF MY ARTICLES AND LAYOUTS






















FASHION

Colaborations: PAPER MAGAZINE MAY 2007 (NY) - writing TONY ALVA'S STORE ARTICLE
KISS ME MAGAZINE ( ITALY) - STYLING FASHION EDITORIAL AND COVER SHOT
CHECK IT OUT MAGAZINE - STYLING, PRODUCING AND SCALPING LOCATIONS FOR FASHION SHOOT



ALVA'S SHOP ARTICLE ON PAPER MAG - BY LIZA G.




SHOOTING " NEW GIRLS" AD CAMPAING - SUMMER 2007



NEW GIRLS ( BRAZIL) - AD CAMPAING SUMMER 2007- PHOTOGRAPHED AND PRODUCED BY LIZA GRZESKOWIAK



NEW GIRLS ( BRAZIL) - AD CAMPAING SUMMER 2007- PHOTOGRAPHED AND PRODUCED BY LIZA GRZESKOWIAK



NEW GIRLS ( BRAZIL) - AD CAMPAING FALL 2008- PRODUCED BY LIZA GRZESKOWIAK , PHOTOGRAPHED BY NENE



NEW GIRLS ( BRAZIL) - AD CAMPAING FALL 2008- PRODUCED BY LIZA GRZESKOWIAK , PHOTOGRAPHED BY NENE



FASHION EDITORIAL FOR CHECK IT OUT MAGAZINE PRODUCED BY LIZA G. PHOTOGRAPHED BY LUCIANA ELLINGTON




FASHION EDITORIAL FOR KISS ME MAGAZINE ( ITALY )- PRODUCED BY LIZA G. PHOGRAPHED BY LUCIANA ELLINGTON




COSTELLA HAND BAGS CATALOGUE - PRODUCED BY LIZA G. AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY LUCIANA ELLINGTON




COSTELLA HAND BAGS CATALOGUE - PRODUCTION AND PHOTO ASSISTANCE



FASHION EDITORIAL FOR KISS ME MAGAZINE - ART DIRECTION AND WARDROBE BY LIZA GRZESKOWIAK AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY LUCIANA ELLINGTON







PHOTO SHOOT IN MALIBU - SUMMER 2007



PRODUCTION, WARDROBE AND LAYOUT BY LIZA A. GRZESKOWIAK


PRODUCTION, WARDROBE AND LAYOUT BY LIZA A. GRZESKOWIAK


PRODUCTION, WARDROBE AND LAYOUT BY LIZA A. GRZESKOWIAK


PRODUCTION, WARDROBE AND LAYOUT BY LIZA A. GRZESKOWIAK


PRODUCTION, WARDROBE AND LAYOUT BY LIZA A. GRZESKOWIAK

MUSIC



KELLY OSBOURNE - INTERVIEW AND PAGE LAYOUT BY LIZA GRZESKOWIAK




EMILY BLOG FROM MY VELCRO - INTERVIEW AND PAGE LAYOUT BY LIZA GRZESKOWIAK



BONNIE - ARTICLE AND LAYOUT BY LIZA G.



DESIGNER AND MARKETING FOR SUPERDOSE BAND FROM SAO PAULO
PHOTO BY LUCIANA ELLIGTON , PRODUCED BY LIZA GRZESKOWIAK
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/SUPERDOSEBRAZIL



TIGARAH - JAPANESE MC - PRODUCED AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY LIZA G.




NOAH FROM SCHOOL GIRLS BAND - KISS ME MAGAZINE - PHOTOGRAPHED BY LUCIANA ELLINGTON - PRODUCED BY LIZA G.

PORTRAITS



STEVE WILLIANS INTERVIEW - PHOTO: LUCIANA ELLINGTON - PRODUCED BY LIZA G.




THANK YOU FOR VISITING LIZA'S RESUME BLOG

Born and raised in Brazil, I been now living in California for about 8 years and I love this country, where I have being learing and growing so much every day.
With over 10 years skateboarding professionaly and now only for fun, I appreciate art, music and fashion and I search for the opportunite of the right job that will help me keep my biggest dream alive, my independent magazine.
So if you would like to work with me in some of your projects or hire me to work with your company please let's talk.

Thank you for you time looking through my work and please feel free to leave me a comment.

Best regards

Liza A. Grzeskowiak

editor@checkitoutmag.com
323.401.4770



Always ready for a shot



Skateboarding is my Life!



Liza Araujo Grzeskowiak

N. Detroit St.
Los Angeles, CA 90046

(323)4014770 cell
editor@checkitoutmag.com

The End.