Naylene Justis
Teaching Artist
Education: California State University Fullerton, BFA Animation/Entertainment Art
I have always loved cartoons since childhood. They are part art, part science, and part magic trick. After copying characters out of coloring books for years, I learned how flipbooks created the illusions of movement. I have been hooked ever since. In addition to being a Teaching Artist for the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity, I work as a Caricature Artist and freelance on cartooning and graphic design projects.
Being a Teaching Artist is important to me because animation is such a huge part of our culture. I love exposing people to how it works and making it accessible for anyone.
My favorite Chuck Jones character: Witch Hazel
My favorite "ah ha" moment from students is when they see their characters start to walk.
LEE FAIRCHILD
Teaching Artist
Education: New York University BA Fine Arts, Minors Education, Studio Art; Hunter College, MA, Childhood Education, Professional Certification NYS
I have been teaching for the past twelve years all over the world, starting in New York City, at the International School of Iceland, and now here in Southern California! I have taught art to kids of all ages and my background is in developing art integrated project-based curriculum. As an art teacher I feel strongly that children should be allowed to explore their own ideas, look at possibilities, and discover what works for them. Children’s art should reflect themselves and their own imaginations and feelings. If a child is given the opportunity to be creative and become a confident thinker, then they will be ready to take on the future. Learning how to cope with failure and doubt is a big part of that. Part of my growth as a teacher has been to learn to step back and let kids try to figure out answers for themselves. The best art education should be inspirational and demonstrate possibilities and the kids should take it from there!
I love teaching all forms of art, but my favorites are ceramics, printmaking, and collage. I also have a huge passion for collaborative art and mural making. My primary interests are making ceramics and teaching art, but I also enjoy cycling, running and I'm a voracious reader.
As a child my brother and I would watch Looney Tunes and Chuck Jones cartoons for hours. We even named our two kittens Tom and Jerry!
My favorite Chuck Jones character: Marvin Martian
My favorite moments are when a student can revise their art based on successes and failures. If they can go from a draft or sketch to a finished work and adapt then they are showing true learning.
MIKE FUNT
Teaching Artist
Mike Funt travels the globe performing and directing as a clown, actor, director, and teacher. Funt has led workshops in clown, mask, improv, and circus arts in China, India, Japan, England, France, Brazil and all over the U.S., with his home base at The Clown School in Hollywood. Funt is also a regular performer in the theatre, in the circus, theme parks, cabarets, comedy clubs, and through the relief efforts of Clowns Without Borders and medical clowning.
For years, Funt served as the Artistic Director of the internationally-touring, multi award-winning clown troupe Four Clowns. He also works with play expert Dr. Stuart Brown’s National Institute for Play.
Funt was trained and certified in Laughter Yoga with Dr. Madan Kataria. Additionally, Funt is a Mentor Leader for PlayMatters!, a committee of the Southern California Advocates for Every Young Child. He formerly taught at the San Francisco Comedy College and served five years as head of the Theatre Department for the Georgia Governor’s Honors Program.
BRIAN “BOOGIE” BLACK
Teaching Artist
Boogie was raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. He moved to Los Angeles to attend UCLA as a Design major. He went on to study architecture at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design. Returning to Santa Monica, his career took him into motion graphics and early computer animation. Boogie followed the media landscape’s transition from analog film to digital video. Today, he is Founder / Creative Director of Black Light Design, a boutique design, production and development firm specializing in simple but clever user experiences. Boogie currently resides in Honolulu and is a Glassblowing instructor at Punahou School.
BEn Olson
Teaching Artist
Ben is the founder and principal owner of 3 Monkeys & Aardvark Studios, a creative agency based in Schaumburg, IL.
From the age of 5, Ben has unleashed his imagination to venture through a wide variety of mediums. Upon his acceptance into Ringling School of Art & Design, Ben soon realized that the cost of a great art school wasn’t in the books. However, fine art, illustration, graphic design and more would all become tools in his creative repertoire through college, self-teaching, mentors, and collaboration between very talented colleagues.
In 2008, he would start 3 Monkeys & Aardvark Studios just outside Chicago. Within a relatively short amount of time, Ben began creating for companies such as Verizon, Mattel, and Simon Malls, just to name a few. His work and talents reach across international waters in Japan, China, and across Europe.
Ben is very active in the community. He serves as a former chairman and ex-officio board member of the Schaumburg Business Association and serves on the board of directors of the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity and serves as Chairman of the backyard EXPERIENCE. In addition, he:
• volunteers as an emcee at various events for non-profit events
• mentors art students
• serves as a Warner Brothers fine artist with works in the Chuck Jones Galleries and
• donates design work to a variety of causes.
Ben enjoys spending time with his kids as a father of teenagers and toddlers - all of whom have inherited a healthy affection for all things Looney Tunes, Marvel, DC, Star Wars & Disney.