Resumé

SIMWIG Studios
Co-Founder, Animator, Actor, Puppeteer, Milkman · 2020 to Present
Film studio specializing in narrative music videos and short films. Stop-motion, puppetry, live action, and beyond!

Out of Toon Studios
Co-Founder, Instructor, Animator · Established 2015
An animation studio dedicated to teaching the art of stop-motion animation, while creating original content. Animated shorts. Music videos. Short Films. Online Classes. Art Camps.

Tommy & Jamie's Claymation Classroom
Instructor, Animator · 2013 to 2015
Through the magic of MarkKistlerLive.com, we broadcast weekly virtual lessons dedicated to the art of stop-motion animation. Students of all ages follow along step by step, learning everything they need to know to produce their very own claymation shorts. Our lessons are recorded to be viewed at the students' own pace.

Cartoon Adventure Camp
Claymation Instructor · June 2013, August 2013
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
During Tim Decker's week long Summer Art Camps, I taught students animation and sculpting skills to help them create their own stop-motion animations. I also assisted with puppet construction, had a few scribble-off drawing competitions, and lectured on the history of Popeye the Sailorman.

YoungBlood Theatre
Illustrator, Animator · Oct 2012 to Dec 2012
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
I animated cartoons that were projected throughout the show, illustrated title cards, character images, and designed the poster for YoungBlood Theatre's production of "CARTOON"
a play by Steve Yockey.
Performed live at the Milwaukee Fortress Nov 30 - Dec 15, 2012

Mark Kistler's Imagination Station
Instructor, Animator, Cartoonist · 2012 to Present
Houston, Texas · Albuquerque, New Mexico
During week long Summer Art Camps, I teach hundreds of students (ages 6-15) the art of puppetry, claymation, and drawing. Students gain confidence as they learn the skills to create anything they can dream of with their own hands. We even exercise imaginations with scribble-off competitions along the way. Each camp ends with a live performing arts extravaganza.

Marquette University
Guest Animation Instructor · Oct 2011 to May 2012 
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
I aided Tim Decker in teaching students of the community the art of Lego stop-motion animation. Marquette's Engineering Department offered our Lego class once in the Fall and in the Spring.

Swanson Elementary School
Guest Animation Instructor · Oct 2011 to Mar 2012 
Brookfield, Wisconsin
I taught a weekly 4th grade class how to animate using the art of stop-motion and traditional 2-D methods.

John Michael Kohler Arts Center
Guest Artist, Animation Instructor · May 2010 to Jul 2010 
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
I assisted Tim Decker in teaching the basics of animation. While animating poems for the Poetry Foundation's Poetry Everywhere program, the students learned stop-motion, claymation, paper cut-out, and traditional 2D animation.

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Animation Club
President · Spring 2010 to Spring 2011 
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
During the weekly Animation Club meetings, we would help students with stop-motion and traditional animation skills. We also held animation screenings and discussions.

Elm Dale Elementary School
Instructor · May 2003 to May 2011 
Greenfield, Wisconsin
I taught students the art of drawing, cartooning, and character design during their annual "Discovery Day."