VFS Foundation Visual Art & Design Faculty Page

An experienced Writer and Performer, Tom has collaborated with creative people to produce and market cultural events in BC for over a decade, including Whistler Pride and Ski Festival. He has spent 20 years at VFS, focusing on empowering creatives to find full expression as professionals.

A Vancouver-based Producer/Director whose films span the globe, Leigh is passionate about using media as a powerful agent of change, particularly in the areas of environmental and human rights issues. She loves to share this passion with students.

Chad is a multidisciplinary Visual Artist, with two decades of experience in storyboard illustration, prop making, and puppetry. His main focus is writing & directing as an independent filmmaker and his credits include Gaia, Zelda: A Missing Link, and Mister Sandman.

Ingrid is a Graphic Designer and Visual Storyteller with a BA in Digital Arts from the University of West London. She has worked in the UK, Canada, and South Africa. Her work includes illustrating the world of Popsiebelle and manufacturing associated merchandise.

A Writer, Film Scholar, and Instructor, Paul’s passion for cinema & the visual arts has labeled him a walking encyclopedia. A seven-time Instructor of the Year, he is regularly invited as an Academic Leader & Guest Speaker to schools & universities both locally & internationally.

Julia has worked as an Assistant Director in international feature films and commercials. She's also worked as an Editor and Assistant Editor while directing her independent films. Her documentary 'Sadika's Garden' has earned many local and international awards.

Dylan animates for music videos, promos, commercials, TV shows, and segments for live-action features. Under his banner, Outhouse Cartoons, he wrote and directed the feature-length animated films The Case of the Midnight Murderer and The Snot That Ate Port Harry.

Mohadese is a studio-based Visual Artist, Educator, and Instructor with a focus on painting and drawing. She holds an MFA from the University of Regina, has exhibited her work internationally, and is a recipient of the Elizabeth Green Shields Foundation grant.

Kari Rust is an Illustrator, Author, and Animation Artist. She has animated for TV, film, and video games including Ren and Stimpy, God of War, and Sausage Party. She also writes and illustrates children's books.

Jay Senetchko is Figurative Artist. His work exists in both public & private collections and has received numerous awards. Since 2002, he has been a post-secondary professor of life-drawing, perspective, composition, painting, colour theory, and art history.

Mark began his career in theater working with stage lighting and sound for local and traveling productions. With extensive experience in radio broadcasting and commercial TV in Europe, he now focuses his skills in Canada on film production, lighting, and camera.

With 20 years of experience, Gloriz is a Mixed Media Artist who actively engages in group & solo exhibitions as well as competitions. She crafts surreal narratives of daily life, often featuring humans as central storytellers. Born in Iran, she holds a master’s in fine arts.

With two decades of experience in motion design, Fernando has worked in advertising, film, TV, and games. In his classes, students are presented with the experience of delivering high end projects, as well as the challenges that every designer faces during their professional life.

Parastou is an experienced motion designer who's excited to share the world of motion graphics with students. She is passionate about sharing all the tricks and techniques that will bring the visual designs to life, make them pop, and leave a lasting impression.

With a background as a counsellor and a lawyer, Keiron has worked as a mediator and trainer for more than twenty years. At VFS, he helps students learn to work as part of a production team. His practice focuses on (re)building work teams and other relationships in the workplace and community.