Comix Workshop Instructor Bios

Emily Carroll graduated Sheridan College's classical animation in 2005, has since worked in Vancouver's television animation industry, and more recently in illustration and comics. In addition to the comics viewable online at emcarroll.com (which won The Joe Shuster award for Outstanding Web Comics in 2011), her work has appeared in collections such as The Anthology Project Vol II, Explorer: the Mystery Boxes, Little Heart, Kuš! #9, Spera, The Unexpected and the horror series Creepy. She has also self published two minicomic works, That Night in June and Dear Princess, and is currently writing and drawing her first graphic novel, a collection of short horror stories to be published by Margaret K. McElderry Books.

Zelda Devon and Kurt Huggins are an illustration duo from Brooklyn, bringing a darkly whimsical edge to storytelling, concept art, editorial illustration and advertising. Past clients include Realms of Fantasy, Dover Publishing, Random House, Saatchi & Saatchi, Vertigo/DC Comics, Night Shade Books and Wizards of the Coast.

Scott Hampton began his career following in the footsteps of brother and fellow comic book creator, Bo Hampton. Hampton studied under Will Eisner in 1976, and his first professional comic work was the three-page story "Victims" published in Vampirella #101 (Warren Publishing, 1981). His work on Silverheels (Pacific Comics,1983) is regarded as the first continuing painted comic. Working as a freelance comic book artist, Hampton has illustrated such iconic works as Batman, Sandman, Black Widow, Hellraiser, and Star Trek, in addition to work on his creator-owned projects such as The Upturned Stone. His latest works include Spookhouse (IDW Publishing, 2004) and Batman: Gotham County Line (DC Comics, 2005).

Chris Moeller is a writer and painter, specializing in fully-painted graphic novels. Moeller’s signature creation is the Iron Empires science-fiction series, comprising two fully-painted graphic novels (Shadow Empires: Faith Conquers, 1994 and Sheva’s War, 1998), a short story in Dark Horse Presents, and a contribution to the anthology Negative Burn. In 2006, Iron Empires inspired the creation of a new role-playing game - Burning Empires. Moeller received a BFA in painting from the University of Michigan School of Art, and an MFA in Illustration from Syracuse University.

Mark Smylie has seen virtually all aspects of the comics and graphic novel publishing field, including as published and self-published author, freelance illustrator, editor, and publisher.  He broke into comics writing and drawing the award-winning Artesia series, originally published by Sirius Entertainment, before going on to found Archaia Studios Press as a self-publishing company.  Archaia Entertainment (www.archaia.com) has since grown to encompass other creator-owned titles, such as the Eisner-Award winning titles Mouse Guard by David Petersen and Return of the Dapper Men by Jim McCann and Janet Lee; translations of some of Europe’s finest comics offerings, including the Eisner-nominated The Killer by Matz and Luc Jacamon; and graphic novels resulting from publishing partnerships with the Jim Henson Company, Zachary Quinto’s Before the Door Pictures, and other media companies -- including the most recent Eisner Award winner for Best Original Graphic Novel, Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand.  Mark is currently Chief Creative Officer at Archaia, overseeing the company's brand management and literary content acquisition.

Brian Stelfreeze is an accomplished comic book artist who has worked for nearly every major American comic book publisher. He is one of the original members of Atlanta's Gaijin Studios, a prominent breeding ground for some of comics' most highly regarded talents. Stelfreeze began his career as the artist for the sci-fi miniseries CyCops in the mid-1980s. While he has been known throughout his career as a cover artist, Stelfreeze has also produced a significant amount of sequential work, most notably the miniseries Domino (Marvel Comics) and Matador (DC Comics). Currently, Stelfreeze acts as art director for 12 Gauge Comics and has provided artwork for their series The Ride, and its prequel, Gun Candy.

Durwin Talon is an illustrator, graphic designer, art director and educator currently teaching Illustration at Emily Carr University in Vancouver. Talon’s education work has an emphasis on visual communication, storytelling with roots in the comic book art from, and technique classes ranging from traditional to electronic methods. He lectures on illustration, sequential art, video games and new media and has written books on sequential art (Panel Discussions and Comics Above Ground). His illustrations have been featured on publication covers, gallery exhibitions and advertising, and his creator-owned projects include Bonds (Image Comics, 2007-2008, Society of Illustrators 49th Annual and Exhibition) and Beautiful Scars (with Guin Thompson, Archaia Studio Press, 2013).

Robin Thompson completed his art education at the Ontario College of Art in Toronto and moved to Vancouver to pursue his dream of drawing his own brand of comic books. He formed his own publishing identity and worked on independent titles such as Champions of Hell, Zombie Jesus, Knuckles Malone, Lil' Natas, Outnumbered and Captain Space Man. This inspired him to begin his own drawing programs for young artists. His workshops have been featured in community centers and elementary schools throughout Vancouver, and at the annual "Word On The Street" literary festival.  Thompson continues working in Vancouver as an instructor, comic book artist, self-publisher and freelance artist.