Hello!
I would love to encourage your students.
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My Background
I have worked as a professional designer and illustrator for over 20 years. During that time, I collaborated on the creation of board games, book covers, video game guides, picture books, and many other projects.
Art takes place in a collaborative world, and illustrators are visual problem solvers. I work with designers, editors, writers, educators, engineers, and a wide range of professionals. So much of what I do involves learning about what others need. Regardless of your students' interests, connections will be made during our time together.
I want to ignite a sense of possibility in the classroom, both in the arts and beyond.
I still remember the power of meeting an illustrator who visited my school.
I vividly recall stepping into my school library in Elementary school and watching him work on the easel in front of us. I was so excited to see him create; the way he could draw was like magic.
It was equally exciting to be able to show a professional some of my own work and ideas.
My goal is not just to talk to your students, but to get them engaged in the content. No matter the topic, we will activate creativity in the classroom!
How I want to help...
As an educator myself, my goal is to come alongside the good work you are already doing. If you are an art instructor, I want to reinforce the topics you are already teaching! If you teach in the sciences, I want to show how art connects to those concepts. If you are teaching writing, I can share about the process and how...
Whatever your content is, my goal is to support those concepts with an additional perspective.
I can speak to large groups, and I'm happy to do so; however, I also enjoy working individually or with small groups.
Sample Topics
These are some of the topics I've spoken on in the past. All of the content is presented in a way that allows each age group to glean from the experience. These topics are concise yet easily expandable into more comprehensive lessons. All topics have actionables for students.
Character Creation - How Language and Observation Inform Design
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"I learned more about character design in two hours here than I had learned in a two-week-long character design camp earlier this summer."
- IWU Wildcat Academy High School Camper
Collaboration - Why we work as a team!
Scope seems intimidating. Making complex things simple is a key component of teaching any idea. This session shows the process of collaboration behind my season of developing board and tabletop games, and expresses how working together and asking for help allows you to creatively go further than you can alone.
How Are Books Made?
Learning through trial and error
One of the things that keeps many young people from moving forward is encountering failure, and yet this is an important part of the process.
Students see firsthand examples of how professional artists and writers learn through failure. Samples and early versions of picture books are shown, and discussions revolve around how taking feedback and making changes can move an idea from bad to good—or good to great.
Digestion - Finding Stories in Unexpected Places
Trial and error are a huge part of the creative process.
Students see firsthand examples of how professional artists and writers learn through failure. Samples and early versions of picture books are shown, and discussions revolve around how taking feedback and making changes can move an idea from bad to good—or good to great.
Have an idea? Let's talk about it!
I love collaborating and seeing ideas come together to make great workshops. If you have a specific topic you want to explore a topic in your space, feel welcome to share it! We can explore together to see what is possible.
Visit Options and Rates
Full week: $3000
Meet with all of your students in their special topics classes for each grade level in your school.
Example: Prairie Trace Elementary, full class sessions with content and activity for all 600+ students, grades K-5, for each class.
K-2 grade topics: Book making and Digestion
3-5th grade topics: Board Games and Collaboration
Single day: $600
Large forum discussion with many grade levels and/or multiple class interactions with content, instruction, and activities
Half day: $300
Large forum discussion with many grade levels and/or multiple class interactions with content, instruction, and activities
One hour: free?
(within 20 miles of travel from Fishers, Indiana)
Additional notes: Books are made available for purchase at 50% off the retail price to your students. including signing and special items (posters, etc.)
My Teaching Background
Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, IN
Associate Professor of Illustration 2020 – Present
Courses taught: Illustration I-II, Thematic Illustration III, History of American Illustration, Computer Illustration, Game Concept & Design, Storyboarding & Composition, Costume & Character Design, Animatics: Animated Stories, Graphic Design 101, Empirical Drawing I & II, Capstone Business Practices
Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, IN
Adjunct Faculty 2016 – 2020
Butler University, Indianapolis, IN
Adjunct Faculty 2019 – 2020
Courses taught: Depiction, Introduction to Visual Arts
Indianapolis Arts Center, Indianapolis, IN
Instructor 2019 – 2020
Courses include: Illustration, Teen Art Council
Classroom Visits and Workshops
Prairie Trace Elementary
One-week workshops Carmel, IN 2025
The Nature School of Central Indiana
Indianapolis, IN 2025
Converse Elementary
Converse, IN 2025
Winchester P-TECH Program
Storyboarding Demo, Online 2025
Eastbrook Schools
One-week workshops, Marion, IN 2024
Indy Vineyard Church
Indianapolis, IN 2023
Wisdom Builders Homeschool Co-op
Indianapolis, IN 2023
Northview Elementary
Gas City, IN 2023
CSA, Community School of the Arts
Marion, IN 2023
Converse Elementary
Converse, IN 2022
Heritage Christian School
Indianapolis, IN 2023
Mission Christian Academy
Fishers, IN 2022
Harvest Homeschool Co-op
Noblesville, IN 2022
Indianapolis Children’s Museum
Indianapolis, IN 2022
Northpoint Homeschool Co-op
Noblesville, IN 2020
Converse Elementary
Online 2020
New Britton Elementary
Fishers, IN 2020
Prairie Trace Elementary
Carmel, IN 2020
Epworth United Methodist Preschool
Indianapolis, IN 2019
Converse Elementary
Converse, IN 2019
North Newton Elementary
Newton, NC 2019
Maple Seeds Cooperative Preschool
Indianapolis, IN 2018
Elwood Middle School Visit - Indiana Wesleyan University
Marion, IN 2017
Cornerstone Home School Co-op
Carmel, IN 2017
Contact
I'm always looking for new and exciting opportunities. Let's connect.
123-456-7890