Hi, I’m Tom Arvis, a freelance graphic designer and illustrator based in Rockville, Maryland. I create branding, editorial, and promotional visuals for a wide range of clients, from major publications to small businesses, with a focus on clear storytelling through color, typography, and memorable illustration. With decades of hands-on experience across print, apparel, signage, and digital media, I bring concepts to life—from initial sketches to production-ready files. I enjoy collaborating with clients to craft visuals that reflect their voice and values, and I love solving design challenges with creativity and practicality.…

Tom Arvis

PRO

Hi, I’m Tom Arvis, a freelance graphic designer and illustrator based in Rockville, Maryland. I create branding, editorial, and promotional visuals for a wide range of clients, from major publications to small businesses, with a focus on clear storytelling through color, typography, and memorable illustration. With decades of hands-on experience across print, apparel, signage, and digital media, I bring concepts to life—from initial sketches to production-ready files. I enjoy collaborating with clients to craft visuals that reflect their voice and values, and I love solving design challenges with creativity and practicality.…

Available to hire

Hi, I’m Tom Arvis, a freelance graphic designer and illustrator based in Rockville, Maryland. I create branding, editorial, and promotional visuals for a wide range of clients, from major publications to small businesses, with a focus on clear storytelling through color, typography, and memorable illustration.

With decades of hands-on experience across print, apparel, signage, and digital media, I bring concepts to life—from initial sketches to production-ready files. I enjoy collaborating with clients to craft visuals that reflect their voice and values, and I love solving design challenges with creativity and practicality.

See more

Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Freelance Graphic Designer/Illustrator at TOM ARVIS CARTOONS & ILLUSTRATIONS
January 1, 1989 - Present
Providing professional freelance graphic design, illustration and production services to clients, with projects ranging from editorial and promotional materials to branding and collateral for major clients such as The Washington Post, Marriott Corp., STORES Magazine, 7-Eleven, and Alexandria Hospital.
Graphic Designer/Illustrator at Planet Cotton, Inc. (Souvenir Design)
November 1, 2015 - October 2, 2025
Graphic Designer/Illustrator, Separator and Production Artist for catalogs, souvenir t-shirts, textile and novelty products.
Graphic Designer/Illustrator, Writer, Separator and Production Artist at API, INC. (Advertising, Premiums & Incentives)
May 1, 2015 - October 2, 2025
Graphic Designer/Illustrator, Writer, Separator and Production Artist for t-shirt, textile and novelty products in a full-time role.
Graphic Designer/Illustrator, Separator and Production Artist at NIGHTMARE GRAPHICS, INC.
August 1, 1998 - October 2, 2025
Souvenir t-shirts and novelty products; permanent, part-time position.
Graphic Designer/Illustrator, Separator and Production Artist at NIGHTMARE GRAPHICS, INC.
April 1, 2010 - October 2, 2025
Souvenir t-shirts and novelty products; continued in a second period.
Graphic Designer/Illustrator and Production Artist & Assistant at GWP, INC. (Apartment Showcases)
October 1, 2003 - October 2, 2025
Assisted on an 800-page monthly real estate catalog; part-time position.
Art Director/Designer, Illustrator and Production Artist at THE ADAMS GROUP, INC. (Ad Agency)
December 31, 1989 - October 2, 2025
Recruitment Advertising, including video direction.

Education

Bachelor of Science Degree in Communication Arts/Journalism at James Madison University
January 11, 2030 - October 2, 2025
Bachelor of Science at James Madison University
January 11, 2030 - October 2, 2025
Bachelor of Science in Communication Arts/Journalism at James Madison University
January 11, 2030 - October 2, 2025

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Other, Media & Entertainment, Professional Services, Retail, Government, Education
    uniE608 Davis Gestiehr EP Illustrations
    This is a quick video of four illustrations I produced to accompany musician, Davis Gestiehr's 4-song EP, "I'm Always Lying...Make Me Famous". Each image was created from descriptions provided by the client to accompany their respective song titles, and was penciled and inked by hand, scanned and colored in PhotoShop Layers by Tom Arvis. Provided to the client as album art and for online promotion. Mr. Gestiehr's music can be found on Apple Music, I-Tunes and Spotify. video…
    uniE621 "Smushbottom's Pigs Save Christmas" sample page 2
    Second of 6 interior sample illustrations- penciled and inked by hand, scanned and digitally colored in photoshop layers, and formatted for 24-page children's book in Adobe Illustrator. illustrator graphicdesigner…
    uniE621 "Smushbottom's Pigs Save Christmas" sample page 6
    Sixth of 6 interior sample illustrations- penciled and inked by hand, scanned and digitally colored in photoshop layers, and formatted for 24-page children's book in Adobe Illustrator. illustrator graphicdesigner…
    uniE621 "Smushbottom's Pigs Save Christmas" by Jacob Clarkson
    One Christmas Santa's reindeer get sick and he travels to the Ozarks to find flying pigs to pull his sleigh!- pencil, ink, scan and digitally color, layout and format 24-page children's book for publication on Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing from client/author, Jacob Clarkson's wildly imaginative and hilarious manuscript. graphicdesigner illustrator logo branding childrensbooks…
    uniE621 "Smushbottom's Pigs Save Christmas" sample page 5
    Fifth of 6 interior sample illustrations- penciled and inked by hand, scanned and digitally colored in photoshop layers, and formatted for 24-page children's book in Adobe Illustrator. illustrator graphicdesigner…
    uniE621 "Smushbottom's Pigs Save Christmas" sample page 1
    First of 6 interior sample illustrations- penciled and inked by hand, scanned and digitally colored in photoshop layers, and formatted for 24-page children's book in Adobe Illustrator. illustrator graphicdesigner…
    uniE621 "Smushbottom's Pigs Save Christmas" sample page 4
    Fourth of 6 interior sample illustrations- penciled and inked by hand, scanned and digitally colored in photoshop layers, and formatted for 24-page children's book in Adobe Illustrator. illustrator graphicdesigner…
    uniE621 "Smushbottom's Pigs Save Christmas" sample page 3
    Third of 6 interior sample illustrations- penciled and inked by hand, scanned and digitally colored in photoshop layers, and formatted for 24-page children's book in Adobe Illustrator. illustrator graphicdesigner…
    uniE621 40th Annual Santa Monica-Venice Christmas Run Mock Comic Book page 1
    Page One of 12-page mock comic book created for annual 5K-10K "Christmas Run" for charity- penciled and inked by hand, scanned and digitally colored and lettered in PhotoShop and Adobe Illustrator. graphicdesigner branding illustrator logo comicbooks mock comic books…
    uniE621 "Remodeler Man" Mock Comic Book page 2
    Mock Comic Book page 2 created for Sales Conference Promotion for Zurich Insurance- penciled and inked by hand, scanned and digitally colored in PhotoShop layers, and lettered in Adobe Illustrator. graphicdesigner illustrator branding logo comicbook mockcomics…
    uniE621 "Valley Of Gold" Mock Comic Book page 2
    Second interior page of Mock Comic Book for Geico Annual Sales Conference promotion. Penciled, inked and lettered by hand based on client's script, scanned and digitally colored in Adobe PhotoShop layers. logo graphicdesigner branding illustrator comicbooks illustration mockcomics…
    uniE621 "Remodeler Man" Mock Comic Book page 1
    Mock Comic Book page 1 created for Sales Conference Promotion for Zurich Insurance- penciled and inked by hand, scanned and digitally colored in PhotoShop layers, and lettered in Adobe Illustrator. graphicdesigner illustrator branding logo comicbook mockcomics…