Education
2019 MFA, Animation Savannah College of Art and Design
2003 BA, Art University of Arkansas
Supporting Areas of Emphasis: Drawing and Graphic Design
Professional Experience
2022–24 Head of Animation and Visual Development
Silver Comet Productions
- Developed and managed assignments and production schedules.
- Directed team of 10 artists in creating illustrations and animated shorts featuring anthropomorphic characters for kids music property.
- Lead weekly art meetings, and individual art reviews.
- Lead visual development in concept art and world building.
2020–22 Assistant Professor- Digital Art
University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Art and Design.
- Digital and Timed Media
- Computer Applications in Art
- Digital Imaging
- Motion Graphics
- Principles of Animation
- Vector Graphics
- Illustration
- BFA Thesis Project
- Book Illustration
- Concept Illustration
- Editorial Illustration
- Intro to Illustration
- Sequential Media
- Visual Story Development
2017–20 Visiting Professor- Digital Art
University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Art and Design.
2015 Adjunct Instructor- Sequential Media
University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Art and Design.
2013–17 Graphic Designer/Illustrator
University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Office of Communications.
- Maintained design standards for communication and marketing materials.
- Lead designer for athletics rebranding and marketing campaigns.
- Managed digital signage, print, and promotional branded designs.
2005–13 Graphic Artist
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
- Editorial and features illustrator.
- Developed infographics for news and business stories.
2001–09 Editorial Cartoonist
- Northwest Arkansas Times
- Benton County Daily Record (2003–06)
- Arkansas Times (2004–05)
Benton County Daily Record (2003–06)
Arkansas Times (2004–05)
1999–Present Freelance Designer
Torchbearer Creative LLC.
Creative projects for clients including:
- Arkansas Educational Television Network
- Backfocus Productions
- BassCat Boats
- Coca Cola
- Clinton School of Public Service
- Kinetic Canvas
- Microsoft
- National Federation of Press Women
- Procter & Gamble
- Silver Comet Productions
- Unicorn 5 Short Film Productions
Publications as Illustrator
Higgins, D., White, John A. (2022). Why it Matters: Reflections on Practical Leadership. Austin, TX: Greenleaf Book Group Press.
Higgins, D., Smith, R. V., (2021). Modern Messages from Green Gables on Loving, Living and Learning: The Anne Stories. Newcastle, UK. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Higgins, D. (2019) Hyper Narratives: Structures for Interactivity in Film and Advertising. MFA Thesis. Savannah College of Art and Design.
Higgins, D., Parry, J. A. (2018). Arkansas’s Cartoon Campaign Advertisements, 1942-1970. The Arkansas Historical Quarterly, 77(3), 208-249.
Higgins, D., Jensen V. (2017). Valkyrie Beer Delivery. Lynwood, WA: Stela Publishing.
Higgins, D., Smith, R. V., (2017). Opus Optimus: A Model for Renewing Life’s Later Years. Austin, TX: River Grove Books.
Higgins, D., Venditti, R. (2017). Miles Taylor and the Golden Cape: Rise of the Robot Army. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster.
Higgins, D., Smith, R. V., Densmore, L. D., Lener, E. F. (2016). Graduate Research: A Guide for Students in the Sciences (4th ed.). San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
Higgins, D., Venditti, R. (2015). Miles Taylor and the Golden Cape: Attack of the Alien Horde. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster.
Higgins, W. D., Jensen, V. (2014). Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer: Complete Edition. Atlanta, GA: Top Shelf Publishing.
Higgins, D., Jensen, V. (2012). Pinocchio Vampire Slayer of Wood and Blood part 2 (vol. 4). San Jose, CA: SLG Publishing.
Higgins, D., Smith, R. V. (2012). The Way of Oz: A Guide to Wisdom, Heart and Courage (1st ed.). Lubbock, TX: Texas Tech University Press.
Higgins, D., Jensen, V. (2012). Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer Volume 3: Of Wood and Blood part 1 (vol. 3). San Jose, CA: SLG Publishing.
Higgins, D., Shooter, J., Francisco, E., Harren, J. (2011). Turok, Son of Stone Volume 1: Aztlan. Dark Horse.
Higgins, D., Wolfe, R. (2011). Knights of the Living Dead. San Jose, CA: SLG Publishing.
Higgins, D., Jensen, V. (2010). Pinocchio Vampire Slayer and the Great Puppet Theater (vol. 2). San Jose, CA: SLG Publishing.
Higgins, D., Jensen, V. (2009). Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer. San Jose, CA: SLG Publishing.
Higgins, D., Smith, R. V. (2005). Pedestals, Parapets & Pits: The joys, Challenges & Failures of Professional Life. Fayetteville, AR: Phoenix International Inc.
Collaborative Projects
2025 Director, “Star Slugzz – (Official Music Video),” Silver Comet Productions, January 16. https://youtu.be/QeBRGo3v8AI?si=8Vdg0RVxbt3uN0uk
2024 Art Director, “Climbing Tree (Official Music Video),” Silver Comet Productions, December 6. https://youtu.be/anSOHsf-_Pc?si=g3X2zadcsq488K1W
2024 Director, “Pinky Promise (Official Music Video),” Silver Comet Productions, November 14. https://youtu.be/TRzh3TEsqM0?si=OxnqnKsgS812SrLO
2024 Art Director, “Rocktober (Official Music Video),” Silver Comet Productions, October 25. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ8oaPcKKQM
2024 Art Director, “Beam On (Official Music Video),” Silver Comet Productions, September 26. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bwahCv50xE
2024 Director, “Star Forest – Let Me Be Real (Official Music Video) | Meet The Band!,” Silver Comet Productions, September 5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpVeQs6uO2I
2024 Director, “Lore Nerds Star Here – The Sonic Secrets of Star Forest,” Silver Comet Productions, August 7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KsK6FU3dxc
Group Exhibitions
2024 Art That Works: Illustration Exhibition, Brad Cushman Gallery, Little Rock, AR
2022-23 Guillermo del Toro: Crafting Pinocchio, Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY
2022-23 Illustrated Arkansas: The Art of Comics, Bobby Roberts Library of Art and History, Little Rock, AR
2021 Faculty Biennial Exhibition, Ann Maners and Alex Pappas Gallery, Little Rock, AR
2019 Faculty Biennial Exhibition, Brad Cushman Gallery, Little Rock, AR
2017 Outside the Lines, Mugs Café, North Little Rock, AR
2015 Blue Lines & Black Ink, Mugs Café, North Little Rock, AR
Lectures & Presentations
2016 Panelist and Moderator, River City Comic Expo, Little Rock, AR, June 11-12.
2013 Panelist, FablesCon, Rochester, MN, March 22-23.
2013 Panelist, Arkansas Literary Festival, Little Rock, AR, April 20.
2012 Panelist, Teen Book Con, Houston, TX, April 14.
2010 Lecture/Presentation, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, April 16.
2010 Panelist, San Diego Comic Con, San Diego, CA, July 22.
2010 Panelist, Arkansas Literary Festival, Little Rock, AR, April 11.
2005 Panelist and Moderator, Drawn and Quartered, Fayetteville, AR, October 13-14.
University Service
2022 Drawing/Painting Search Committee Member
2020-22 Policy Advisory Committee-College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Education
2020-22 Assessment Committee- Department of Art and Design
2020-22 Academic Advisor
2020 Drawing/Painting Search Committee Member
2017–22 Faculty Mentor-Student Design Team
- Organized and facilitated projects for 2-4 graphic design students each semester in the creation of marketing and communication materials for events and promotion within the UA Little Rock Department of Art and Design.
2020 ArtSPARK Workshop Instructor
- Digital animation workshops as recruitment events for high school students.
2019 Art and Design Technician Search Committee Member
2018 Drawing/Painting Faculty Search Committee Member
Awards & Honors
2017 Junior Library Guild Selection Junior Library Guild
2015 Junior Library Guild Selection Junior Library Guild
2014 Graphics/Illustration Finalist Great Plains Journalism Awards
2013 First Place, Division III, Non-Traditional News Item The Associated Press Managing Editors Association of Arkansas
2010 Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens Young Adult Library Services Association
2009 First Place, Division III, Non-Traditional News Item The Associated Press Managing Editors Association of Arkansas
2008 First Place, Division III, Non-Traditional News Item The Associated Press Managing Editors Association of Arkansas
2008 Third Place, Graphics – Print-Large Daily 56th Annual Green Eyeshade Awards, Society of Professional Journalists
2007 First Place, Division III, Graphics The Associated Press Managing Editors Association of Arkansas
2006 First Place, Division III, Graphics The Associated Press Managing Editors Association of Arkansas
2003 Mark of Excellence National Award Winner- Editorial Cartooning Society of Professional Journalists
Bibliography
Megen de Bruin-Molé, “Victorian Monsters? Strategies of Appropriation in the Neo-Victorian Mashup,” The Victorianist: Bavs Postgraduates (blog), May 18, 2015. https://victorianist.wordpress.com/2015/05/18/victorian-monsters-strategies-of-appropriation-in-the-neo-victorian-mashup/
Megen de Bruin-Molé, “Pinocchio: Vampire Slayer,” Frankenfiction (blog), February 11, 2015. https://frankenfiction.com/pinocchio-vampire-slayer/
Jennifer Reynolds, “Star Forest Brings Sophistication to Children’s Content,” Georgia Entertainment, May 13, 2024. https://www.georgiaentertainment.com/2024/05/star-forest-brings-sophistication-to-childrens-content/
“Georgia-Based Virtual Band ‘Star Forest’ to Release New Album, Let Me Be Real, on September 26,” Georgia Entertainment, September 19, 2024. https://www.georgiaentertainment.com/2024/09/georgia-based-virtual-band-star-forest-to-release-new-album-let-me-be-real-on-september-26/
Sean Clancy, “Bryant illustrator’s artwork on Pinocchio graphic novel is on display at NYC’s Museum of Modern Art,” Arkansas Democrat Gazette, January 22, 2023. https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/jan/22/opinion-paper-trails-bryant-illustrators-artwork/
Angelita Faller, “UA Little Rock Faculty Member Examines Arkansas Politics as Illustrated in Mid-20th Century Cartoon Ads,” UA Little Rock News, April 4, 2019. https://ualr.edu/news-archive/2019/04/04/higgins-20th-century-cartoon-ads/
Brian Warshaw, “Break from the Bat #16: Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer,” Batman News, June 16, 2017. https://batman-news.com/2017/06/16/break-from-the-bat-16-pinocchio-vampire-slayer/
Christian Trimmer, “It’s My Summer 2016 Novels!” Trimmer Tales (blog), April 25, 2016. https://www.christiantrimmer.com/blog/tag/Dusty+Higgins
“Six Minutes With Dusty Higgins,” LitPick, February 24, 2016. https://litpick.com/author/dusty-higgins
Adam Hoffman, “Four-color Fairy Tales: Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer,” Fairy Tale Fandom (blog), August 24, 2016. http://www.fairytalefandom.com/2016/08/
“Conque Announces Logos, Little Rock Trojans Board” Little Rock Athletics, July 1, 2015. https://lrtrojans.com/news/2015/6/29/athletics_0629150244.aspx
Matthew Price, “Comics Writer Moves to Prose,” The Oklahoman, June 21, 2015. https://www.oklahoman.com/story/entertainment/books/2015/06/21/comics-writer-moves-to-prose/60739276007/
Chris Heady, “Artist Gets Novel-y Graphic,” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, July 14, 2015. https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2015/jul/14/artist-gets-novel-y-graphic-20150714/
Albert Ching, “Dusty Higgins Covers ‘Miles Taylor’, Robert Venditti’s Debut Novel,” Comic Book Resources, Oct. 7, 2014. https://www.cbr.com/dusty-higgins-covers-miles-taylor-robert-vendittis-debut-novel/
Hillary Brown, “Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer by Van Jensen and Dusty Higgins,” Paste Magazine, July 10, 2014. https://www.pastemagazine.com/books/pinocchio-vampire-slayer-by-van-jensen-and-dusty-h
“Pinocchio Vampire Slayer,” Pop Culture Uncovered, June 24, 2014. https://popcultureuncovered.com/2016/07/22/pinocchio-vampire-slayer/
Shawn Daughhetee, “Review: Pinocchio Vampire Slayer Vol 1 TP,” June 5, 2013. https://www.thedollarbin.net/shows/review-pinocchio-vampire-slayer-vol-1-tp.html
Shane McCauley, “Indie Comic: Knights of the Living Dead,” Make Comics Not Excuses (blog), October 10, 2012. https://shawnmccauley.com/news/?p=607
“Interview – Van Jensen and Dusty Higgins,” Omnicomic, August 29, 2012. https://www.omnicomic.com/2012/08/interview-van-jensen-and-dusty-higgins.html
Chris Sims, “The ‘Pinocchio: Vampire Slayer’ Saga is Really, Really Good [Review],” Comics Alliance, August 7, 2012. https://comicsalliance.com/pinocchio-vampire-slayer-review/
L. Lamor Williams, “Cutting-edge Comics: Two aArtists Illustrate the Books’ Evolution From Kids Stuff to Modern Medium,” Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette, July 24, 2012. https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2012/jul/24/cutting-edge-comics-20120724/
Marty Mulrooney, “Book Review – Pinocchio: Vampire Slayer by Dusty Higgins and Van Jensen (Graphic Novel),” Alternative Magazine Online, February 28, 2011. https://alternativemagazineonline.co.uk/2011/02/28/book-review-pinocchio-vampire-slayer-by-dusty-higgins-and-van-jensen-graphic-novel/
Jonathan H. Liu, “Puppets and Kings and Undead Things,” Wired, Dec. 19, 2010. https://www.wired.com/2010/12/puppets-and-kings-and-undead-things/
Calvin Reid, “Panels and Presentations: What to See at Comic Con 2010,” Publishers Weekly, July 20, 2010. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/43908-panels-and-presentations-what-to-see-at-comic-con-2010.html
“First Look: Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer and the Great Puppet Theater,” Comic Book Resources, June 4, 2010. https://www.cbr.com/first-look-pinocchio-vampire-slayer-and-the-great-puppet-theater/
“Interview With the Creators of Pinocchio: Vampire Slayer,” IOM Geek, July 2, 2009. http://www.iomgeek.com/2009/07/interview-with-the-creators-of-pinocchio-vampire-slayer/
Collections
University of Arkansas Special Collections, Fayetteville, AR