Aric Liljegren - Creativity Coach

Aric is one of the most well-rounded creative mavericks you are likely to meet. As a musician, he is an accomplished pianist, oboist and composer. His passion for art has lead him to run his own art-related businesses and lead him to work in television, photography, illustration, Web design and sculpture with his artwork counted among private collections around the world; his life-long love affair with the theater has prompted Aric to engage as an actor and director in over 40 theatrical productions since first taking to the stage in 1979; and his fervor for storytelling spurs him to devote himself to pursuing the secrets of story development and successful communication techniques.

After earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Communications with a Major in Illustration and a Minor in Art History from the College for Creative Studies, Aric accepted a position as an art director/producer with one of the oldest and largest advertising agencies in the world - J. Walter Thompson. Six years later, due in large part to his strong background in music and theater in addition to his writing and visual art skills, Aric became one of the youngest creatives to be appointed a partner with the company and AdWeek magazine named him one of the "agency creatives on the move." Aric produced hundreds of television commercials and won seven Telly Awards for excellence in television production during his time with JWT.

Aric resigned his position at J. Walter Thompson in 2001 to become the Creative Director for Stone Soup Communications, a full service creative company he helped to found. While with Stone Soup, Aric served as the Chairman of the Visual Communications sections for the National Association for Interpretation and won the 2003 Media Award for Best Interpretive Web Site for an online, animated educational game developed for Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Aric then went on to serve as the Interim Director of Communications for ArtServe Michigan, a statewide nonprofit organization that advocates for the arts and culture throughout the state, encouraging quality arts education in schools and communities while supporting artists, arts educators and arts and cultural organizations through programming, education and advocacy.

In addition to being a Creative Coach, Aric is now the Director in Residence at the Historic Marquis Theatre in Northville and a working artist, actor and director.

To learn more about Aric’s experience and training in a specific creative area, click the discipline below.

Art Music Theater Writing

To read Aric’s philosophy on creativity and teaching, visit Cultivating Creativity.

ART
Training:
• Bachelor of Arts – Center for Creative Studies
• DCCC

Teaching Experience:
• Dearborn Arts Council/Dearborn City Hall – developed and taught a series of arts classes for all ages; and the
• Detroit Public Schools – Volunteer Art Teacher for underprivileged kids within Detroit's poorest areas

Additional Achievements:
• Aric's artwork is included in private collections in 14 countries around the world including Japan, Germany and Australia
• His work has been available for purchase in galleries as well as through the Order of the Artisan, a successful medieval heraldic costume and art shop he owned at the Michigan Renaissance Festival.
• His private commissions range from portraiture to architectural renderings and storybook illustrations as well as book interiors and spot illustrations. Aric specializes in figure illustration, story boarding, and photo illustration/retouching.
• Aric has been engaged to create award-winning, hand drawn cell animation, computer animation, Web design, graphics for television, award shows, and more.
• Aric has also served as Chairman of the Visual Communications Section of the National Association for Interpretation, a group whose mission is to educate and promote excellence in creativity and communications among interpretive organizations (such as zoos, national parks and museums).

MUSIC
Training:
• Piano performance - Joseph Gurt/Eastern Michigan University
• Voice training - Roberto Morrisi

Teaching Experience:
• Six years as a Private Instructor
• Member of the Michigan Music Teachers Association (1988-1993)
• Member of the Music Teachers National Association (1988-1993)

Additional Achievements:
• National Creativity Award for original musical composition
• Frederick Chopin Pianist Award
• Tri-M (Modern Music Masters) Award
• Arion Orchestral Award
• Toured as the principle oboist with the American Musical Ambassadors during their 5-week European tour

THEATER
Training:
• Acting/Directing - Purple Rose Theater/Guy Sandville
• Stage Combat - Maestro Istvan Denosi
• Dance - Noretta Dunworth School of Dance
• Voice training - Roberto Morrisi
• Various workshops through EMU, Ball State & Second City/Chicago

Acting Experience:
• Portrayed "Sir Cedric" at the Michigan Renaissance Festival for six years
• Performed in 35 productions between 1979-2006
• Favorite roles include:
       Camelot (Mordred - received PAGE award for best actor)
       Oliver! (Bill Sykes - nominated for PAGE award for best actor)
       Jesus Christ Superstar (Peter) – became a touring production
       Brigadoon (Thomas Albright)
• Most recent stage acting experience (2006-present)
       Cat On A Hot Tin Roof (Brick)
       The Foreigner (S/Sgt "Froggy" Leseur)
       Lend Me A Tenor (Max)
       Two By Two (Japheth)

Directing Experience:
• Currently the director in residence for the Historic Marquis Theatre in Northville
• Most recent stage directing experience (2006-present) includes:
       Steel Magnolias (Hartland Players)
       The Adventures of Raggedy Ann and Andy (Marquis)
       Annabella Broom (Halloween show at the Marquis)
       The Jungle Book (Marquis)
• Film directing experience includes:
       Tales From An Oblong Box "The Sheenie Man" (horror)
       Tales From An Oblong Box "Timeless Antiques" (horror/suspense)
       Tales From An Oblong Box "Sweet Tooth" (fantasy)
       Ellen's Runnin' (drama - art director)

WRITING
Training:
• Creative Writing coursework at College of Creative Studies

Experience:
• Wrote a series of articles for Pyramid Magazine (Steve Jackson Games) on how to write more compelling, creative stories.
• Contributing Writer for the Stone Soup Storyteller
• Wrote over 100 scripts for radio and television commercial clients
• Penned press releases and other story-based communications for ArtServe Michigan and other organizations
• Script editor for the Marquis Theatre to accommodate technical requirements and weave in addition of characters into the storyline

Explore. Share. Grow.

Contact Creativity Coach Aric Liljegren by
phone at (517) 545-0181 or send an email today!