Jon used to get in trouble for doodling in class. Now he gets paid to doodle (and teach others how to doodle) in class.

 

For 9 years Jon was a full-time faculty member at the prestigious Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida where he got paid to learn from the world's most gifted animation students ... and sometimes teach them a thing or two. He was somehow imparted the privilege of teaching the coolest courses in the school's Computer Animation curriculum: Visual Development and Concept (Story) Development. Divine intervention, no doubt. Jon also served as the Course Lead for the Visual Development courses. During his time at Ringling he had the honor of overseeing the Visual Development process for 6 of the college's 14 Student Academy Award winning animated short films. Many of his former students are currently working in some of the animation and gaming industry's top studios including Walt Disney Feature Animation, Pixar, DreamWorks Animation, Blue Sky Studios, Blizzard Entertainment, etc.

 

In 2016 Jon left Ringling to teach in the newly established Animation & Game Art department at Pennsylvania College of Art & Design, of which he was soon appointed Department Chair. Recently, after leading the charge to establish the Animation & Game Art curriculum, he decided to transition into the Illustration department as a regular full-time faculty member. 

Jon received his BFA in Illustration at RCAD, and his Associates Degree at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design, also in Illustration. Before beginning his teaching career he worked as a freelance illustrator, and as a Character Artist at Animated Storyboards in New York City, a studio specializing in creating animatics for TV commercials. He has worked as a freelancer in character design, illustration, and art direction. Jon prefers writing about himself in the third person with the intent of making his accomplishments sound more credible.