CIRRICULUM VITAE

BIOGRAPHY
Düfner has traversed from a cartoonist to a mixed media artist. Raised in the 1980’s without computers, Düfner spent many hours each day in his room drawing comics. After graduating SVA in NYC, computers were slowly becoming accessible and he dove into web development and graphic design. He has taught these subjects at Universities for the past 22 years. After graduating the University of Central Florida master’s program ‘Studio Art & The Computer’, Düfner started teaching online for the Los Angeles Film School.

ARTIST STATEMENT
My work begins with a story. I believe narrative is our first and most fundamental art form. In my practice, I use this ancient tool to build bridges, between image and imagination, between wonder and wisdom, between the reader and their own experiences.

Whether crafting a children’s book where friends saves the day, composing a comic panel where suparnatural suspense holds the readers aniticipation, or constructing a fine art piece where people spend time with their own paper representation, my process is the same. The medium shifts, soft watercolor, bold ink line, photogrphic imagery, to serve the emotional rhythm of the story being told. The vibrant simplicity of a picture book aims to plant early seeds of empathy; the sequential punch of a comic engages with mythic struggles of growth; the symbolic depth of a photograph invites a slower, more personal excavation.

My goal is not merely to tell stories, but to create visual vessels that can hold them. I aim to make art that acts as a portal, offering a hand to the young reader stepping into their courage, and a mirror to the older viewer remembering the magic that still resides in a well-told tale. In the end, I am building a single, expanding universe, one story at a time, where every character, every splash of color, and every silent glance exists to remind us of the transformative power of a journey begun with “Once upon a time…”

WORK IN PROGRESS
Paper Lights – My latest fine art series
The Key To Gullsville – A children’s graphic novel. 135 pages. To be published by Monarch Comics 2026.
Jack & Murray – An adult comic book about the kids of Gullsville as teenagers in a zombie apocalypse. 2 issues complete. 20 pages per issue. Currently shopping it around to comic publishers.
Blackened Nebula – My band’s newest song, set for release 2026
Vlad – Kid Vampire – A children’s graphic novel. 100 pages. Currently scouting publishers before we start.
Sock You! – An adult sock puppet series

PERSONALITY
2020-2022:  “The Big Story Podcast” co-hosting with Alex Morrissey, interviewing comic book artists and writers while I draw.

Awards
2019: Employee of the Month – Los Angeles Film School
2017: Outstanding Academic Service & Commitment for Student’s Success – Sanford-Brown College (International Academy of design and technology)
2016: Faculty Member of the Year – Sanford-Brown College (voted by students) (International Academy of design and technology)
2016: Named Top 20 Best Web Designers in Orlando Florida by Expertise.com – https://www.expertise.com

Comic books
2025:  Jack & Murray #2 – looking for publisher
2024:  Jack & Murray #1 – Self Published. January.
2024: United Forces #7 – Self Published. January.
2023: It’s Monkey Time #2 – Monarch Comics. August. (reworking the book to be The Key To Gullsville)
2022: It’s Monkey Time #1 – Monarch Comics. August. (reworking the book to be The Key To Gullsville)
2021: United Forces #6 – Monarch Comics. June.
2020: United Forces #5 – Monarch Comics. June.
2019: United Forces #4 – Self-publishing. May.
2018: United Forces #3 – Self-publishing. October.
2018: United Forces #2 –Self-publishing. April.
2017: United Forces #1 – Self-publishing. October.

Music and music videos
Set to release in 2026: Blackened Nebula – Music created and music video sample
2024: Stranded In Mutiple Dreams – Music created and music video.
2023: Wake – Music created.
2023: Sleep Away From The World – Music created.
2023: Overturned – Music created and music video.
2023: The Sunrise of Nothingness – Music created and music video.
2022: What Can Not Die – Music created and music video.
2022: Power of the Pit – music video.
2022: “Power of the Pit” album – Music created.
2020: The Anxiety Of Never Knowing – Music created and music video.
2020: Bitchin’ Camaro – Music created and music video.
2019: I Desire – Music created and music video.
2019: She is Magic – Music created and music video.

Book
2016: Men’s Handbook About Women, Gary Dufner – Providing guidance to men about women on how to traverse the full life cycle of relationships. Self-published through Amazon. December. (link)

Thesis
2015: Real People Acting Out Interpersonal Issues With Paper Representations, Gary Dufner – Fine art thesis memoir; includes artwork, thesis exhibition show photos and collateral. Self-published. August 2015. (link)

Peer Review
2014: Paper: Text & Image: Varying Sizes Of Balloons in Comics, Gary Dufner – Analyzing the impact of the size of word balloons on images in comic books to understand readers viewing patterns. Published in IJOCA: International Journal Of Comic Art. Vol. 16, No.1, May 2014. Page 445-457. www.ijoca.com

DIRECTOR / CINEMATOGRAPHER / EDITOR
2023:  “Overturned” music video for Vetika
2023:  “The Sunrise of Nothingness” music video for Vetika
2020-2022:  “Sock You!” puppet show
2022:  “Power of the Pit” music video for Vetika
2022:  “What Can Not Die” music video for Vetika
2021:  “One Regret” music video for Vetika
2021:  “The Anxiety of Never Knowing” music video for Vetika
2020:  “Bitchin’ Camaro” music video for Vetika
2019:  “The Bonnie & Cassie Show” puppet show
2019:  “I Desire” music video for Vetika
2019:  “She is Magic” music video for Vetika
2016:  “Potato Girls” performance by Masami Koshikawa & Juliet Romeo DiIenno (artinoddplaces.org article)

COMC BOOK CONVENTIONS
10/05/2024 Pancakes & Booze, Orlando, FL
09/06/2024 – 09/08/2024 Fanboy Expo, Orlando, FL
06/14/2024 – 06/16/2024 Heroes Convention, Charlotte, NC

FINE ART EXHIBITIONS
12/2018 – 4/2018: Hyatt Regency Winter 2018 Exhibition, Orlando, FL
09/2018: Eclectic Knights X, Orlando Museum Of Art, Orlando, FL
06/2017: Guava Tree Gallery, Potato Girls’ “Dirty Competition”,  Cinematographer, Orlando, FL masamikoshikawa.com
05/2017: Art Of The Poster, Orlando Museum Of Art, Orlando, FL
02/2017: The Finer Things, Orlando Museum Of Art, Orlando, FL
01/2017: What’s Behind The Mask, Orlando Museum Of Art, Orlando, FL
12/2015: Spectrum – Art Basel event, Miami, FL (link)
09/2015: Creative Connection Student Showcase, City Arts Factory, Orlando, FL
06/2015: Art Through The Lens, Yeiser Art Center, Paducah, KY
05/2015: SNAP! Orlando Presents, City Arts Factory, Orlando, FL
03/2015: It’s About Time, UCF Art Gallery, Orlando, FL (Link)
10/2014: Open Studio Tour, UCF MFA, Orlando, FL
03/2014: Open Studio Tour, UCF MFA, Orlando, FL
04/2014: Nude Nite, Tampa, FL
03/2014: Nude Nite, Orlando, FL
10/2013: Open Studio Tour, UCF MFA, Orlando, FL
07/2013: Medium Rare, Gallery 500, Orlando, FL (Link)
03/2013: 50/50, City Arts Factory, Orlando, FL
02/2013: Open Studio Tour, UCF MFA, Orlando, FL
10/2012: Open Studio Tour, UCF MFA, Orlando, FL

CITATION AND REVIEWS OF FINE ART EXHIBITIONS
03/2015:  University of Central Florida. “It’s About Time” (Link)
03/2015:  Wexelman, Alex. ”UCF gallery ‘It’s About Time’ shows MFA candidates’ work”, March 4, 2015 (link expired)
07/2013:  J. Palm, Matthew. Orlando Sentinel.”UCF Exhibition”, February 27, 2015, Page 28 (link)

GALLERY LIGHTING
03/2015:  It’s About Time, UCF Art Gallery, Orlando, FL
07/2013:  Medium Rare, Gallery 500, Orlando, FL

EDUCATION
2015:  University of Central Florida
Orlando FL
Master’s Degree of Fine Art: GPA 3.9
– Emphasis: Photography, Illustration, and Digital Manipulation

2003:  Winter Park Technical School
Winter Park, FL
Certificate
Web Design – HTML, CSS, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Illustrator

1991:  School Of Visual Arts
New York, NY
Bachelor’s Degree of Fine Art: GPA 3.4
– Skills: Illustration, Sequential Art, Figure Drawing, and Photography

EMPLOYMENT:
2025-present: St Joh Rivers College Online Professor, Palatka, FL
Teach: Time Based Media (Premiere Pro & After Effects)

2024-present: Valencia Hybrid Professor, Orlando, FL
Teach: Intro to Digital Media (Premiere Pro & Photoshop) students create stop motion animation, short film, movie poster, and HTML CSS website

2017-present: Los Angeles Film School, Online Professor, Winter Park, FL
Teach: Storytelling & Video (social media), Eye on Design (Photography for designers)
Past classes: Advanced Sketching in Composition, Drawing for Designers, website (WordPress)

2017-2017: Daytona State College, Adjunct Professor, Daytona, FL
Teach: Narrative Editorial Photography: Fine Art Photography strategies for commercial photographers

2015-2017: Seminole State College, Adjunct Professor, Sanford, FL
Teach: Web publishing 1 & 2, Web Effects 2

2015-2016: University of Central Florida, Adjunct Professor, Orlando, FL
Teach: Intermediate Computer Graphics

2010-2012: Graphics Club Director, International Academy Of Design & Technology, Orlando FL
Guided student designs for ADDY Awards

2003-2016: Sanford-Brown College (formerly International Academy Of Design & Technology),
Adjunct Professor, Orlando, FL
Teach:  Drawing for Designers, Photoshop Intro & Advanced, Web Design 1 & 2

2003-present: Webskinz Founder & CEO, Orlando, FL,
2017-present: Film & Video creation
2003-2017: Websites (Dreamweaver), logos, server, domain names, photography, client interaction

CERTIFICATE
2021: Modern Art & Ideas – MOMA, NYC. The Museum of Modern Art. 6-week certification course on Coursera.org on the history of photography. Verify at (link)
2020: Art & Activity: Interactive Strategies for Engaging with Art – MOMA, NYC. The Museum of Modern Art. 6-week certification course on Coursera.org on the history of photography. Verify at (link)
2016: Seeing Through Photographs – MOMA, NYC. The Museum of Modern Art. 6-week certification course on Coursera.org on the history of photography.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES:
2017: Search Engine Optimization Lecturer at Daytona State College, FL
2016: Web Design Lecturer at Winter Park Technical College
2016: Digital Art Judge for Seminole State College
2016: Web Development for the Central Florida Women’s Learning Center
2015: Admissions support for ‘Creative Connections Student Showcase’

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS / AFFILIATIONS:
2024-present: Adobe Community Expert (view video tutorial playlists)
2016-2017: Seminole State College Advisory Board
2009-2016: Sanford-Brown College Advisory Board
2009-2015: inDesign Users Group
2006-2011: NAPP – National Association of Photoshop Professionals
2004-2017: Apopka Chamber of Commerce
2004-2012: Winter Park Tech Advisory Board