Creator & Lead Instructor, 402 Manga Studio
Founder, Turtle Slap Studios | Teaching Artist, 402 Arts Collective
Brandon Jones is an Omaha-based freelance artist, comic creator, and manga educator with over 25 years of experience developing his artistic craft. Inspired by a lifelong passion for anime, manga, and visual storytelling, Brandon specializes in character design, traditional illustration, digital art, and sequential storytelling.
Recognizing the challenges of learning manga without accessible mentorship, Brandon developed 402 Manga Studio, a structured educational program offered through 402 Arts Collective. The program helps aspiring artists build their technical abilities, develop their individual artistic voices, and progress from character illustration toward creating original manga and comics.
Through introductory workshops, individualized instruction, skill assessments, and a six-rank progression system, students develop foundational drawing techniques, character proportions, composition, visual storytelling, and comic-page construction.
Brandon's teaching philosophy emphasizes that every artist begins at a different stage and deserves an environment where creativity, experimentation, and personal expression are encouraged. His approach combines technical guidance with individualized feedback, helping students gain confidence while developing practical artistic skills.
Outside the classroom, Brandon develops original comics and characters through Turtle Slap Studios and has participated in regional creative events, including Benson First Fridays, KanpaiCon, Planet Anime KC, and Des Moines Con.
His mission is simple: to provide aspiring manga artists with the guidance, creative community, and opportunities for growth he once wished he had.
WORK SAMPLES
