Wes Price, Animator, Casserole Chef

Wes has over 12 years professional experience in illustration and animation with a track record of producing extraordinary results for more than 20 national and community-based organizations. He is a life long student of anatomy and animation, and in 1996 was awarded a Master of Science degree in Medical Illustration by the Medical College of Georgia, one of only four accredited graduate programs of its kind across North America. Currently, Wes is a contributing medical illustrator to Amirsys Inc. as well as a full time faculty member at the Art Institute of Colorado teaching under the Media Arts and Animation Department.

Wes has an ongoing interest in children’s art education and has achieved several accomplishments. Upon moving to Colorado, Wes has volunteered for several community organizations, one example being the annual Procession of the River Species in Fort Collins, Colorado. The Procession culminates in a parade, often 300 “species” strong, to bring awareness of the importance of biodiversity to local watersheds. In the weeks preceding the Procession, Wes facilitated a free art studio for children and parents, assisting them in making masks and costumes of their favorite river species from recyclable materials to be worn during the parade. More recently, Wes has organized animation workshops for the Denver Public School system, delivered successful workshops for the 6th, 7th and 8th graders at Dora Moore School as well as crafted a “Mesa Murder Mysteries” animation workshop for juniors and seniors at the Mapleton Expeditionary School of the Arts. During the summer of 2008, Wes delivered a three week animation workshop entitled “Stop the Madness” to middle schoolers at the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Shop, an after school tutoring center managed by the prolific educational non-profit 826NYC. He was also instrumental in delivering the Animation Station workshop during the 2008 Denver International Film Festival, cultivating original animations by both children and adults alike. Many of these works have been projected at the Starz Tivoli in Denver and the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s (BAM) Theater in New York. He consistently coaches his college students to enter original work in the Art Institute’s quarterly animation and video showcase, the REEL Thing. Wes is a board member of ASIFA-Colorado, the regional arm of the “Association Internationale du Film d’ Animation”, and continues to create opportunities for young people to express their ideas through the animated medium.

Current résumé

Medical Illustration and Animation portfolio

Concept Art portfolio

Animation and Illustration Demo Reel:

Randy Buckle, Assistant Animator (Miniature Sets)

Randy is Studio Manager for Cooper & Cunningham, a multimedia art studio which specializes in educational interpretives, environmental design, and public art. Although currently dedicated to sculpture at his studio, Randy has worked in a myriad of theatrical productions and in a variety of functions for 15 years. Not only an actor for an audience or camera, he has also worked in several temporary and permanent scene shops building sets, designing special effects, script writing and editing, or applying make-up. The hobby he has pursued from a very young age is working in miniature. Tiny environments, similar to model train sets, serve as the background for small vignettes incorporating highly detail-painted characters from various time periods. Storytelling is the focus in all of his works, from character illustrations to improvisational theater. Randy has worked as an assistant teacher to Wes Price on occasion, introducing stop-motion techniques and animation history to local schoolchildren at Dora Moore Middle School and the Mapleton Expeditionary School for the Arts. Randy’s interest in working with underserved youth actually stems from personal experience. As a Little Brother in the Big Brothers/ Big Sisters program, and having graduated from an alternative high school in Aurora, CO, he is no stranger to the difficulties young people face when not given the same opportunities as other children, both financially and emotionally. Given the chance to potentially inspire people to see beyond their hardships and realize their own capability to positively affect the world, is quite an honor.

Here is an original animation created by Wes Price, Christine Wise and Randy Buckle, as an homage to Edweard Muybridge's motion studies, Jann Svankmajer and The Verve's remix of "Just One of Those Things":

Emily Moyer, Assistant Animator (The Shrine to Animation)

Emily received a BA in Media Arts and Animation from the Art Institute of Colorado in 2006. After graduating with top honors in her class, she immediately began working in the art department for National Cinemedia, a company that owns several theater chains nationwide. While working as a computer animator for National Cinemedia, Emily helped create animated pre-show entertainment, often directed towards an audience of younger viewers under the age of 18. Emily is currently pursuing a Teaching Certificate at Metro State College of Denver, and hopes to find work as an art educator as soon as her certification is complete. In her spare time, she participates in art shows at the Art Students League of Denver and volunteers for ASIFA-Colorado.

check out some of her artwork here!

Joey Buhrer, Assistant Animator (Establishing Shots)

Joey graduated from the Art Institute of Colorado in the Spring of 2006 and received the Portfolio Par Excellence Award for crafting the best portfolio in his class. He accepted a position with a small visual effects company in Los Angeles called Two Headed Monster, where he contributed animation for music videos and commercials, including work for Columbia Records recording artists The Decemberists. Recently he has relocated back to Denver and has been working for Masque Publishing, creating animation and illustrations for PC games as well as projects for AOL and Apple. One of Joey’s main interests is in working with children and the underserved, in hopes of introducing others to the fulfilling and enriching aspects of art. He believes that there is great benefit in encouraging and dignifying the work of those who may not have many outlets for their creativity. He has enjoyed finding many opportunities to do so, including 1-on-1 mentorships with school children through Community Resources, Inc., participating in children’s animation workshops with the Denver Film Festival, and working as a Peer Mentor while studying at the Art Institute of Colorado. Currently, Joey serves on the Board of Directors of ASIFA-Colorado.

Check out some of his artwork here.

Stacy Price, Musician

Stacy currently works with youth at the Denver School of Rock, The Music and Arts Centers, and Castle Rock Music empowering her students to achieve their goals in becoming young musicians and whole-persons. She has 8 years of experience under her belt and enjoys teaching Alternative Rock, Folk, Pop, and a little bit of country. Stacy earned her BA in Classical Guitar and her MA in Education. Stacy is currently recording her debut album with a producer who works from time to time with the nationally acclaimed Denver band, The Fray.

Hear a sample of her music!