KINGSTON —Jeffrey Veregge, a graphic artist for Marvel Comics and member of the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, touched back to his roots at Wolfle Elementary School Nov. 20, teaching students about the importance of art, culture, and following your passion

“Being a former Wolfle student myself, this is awesome being back to share with you guys today,” Veregge said. “In fact, my class got to vote on the wolves [as the mascot], but I voted for raccoons … So if I got my way, you would all be the Wolfle Raccoons now.”

As Veregge showed students a slideshow of his work, a picture of him in the fourth grade popped up.

“From the time I was a little kid, like your age now, I loved comic books, super heroes, TV shows, and Native American art.”

Veregge attended the Art Institute of Seattle and began studying under Tsimshian master carver David Boxley. “He was the one who taught me how to draw Coastal Salish art design,” Veregge explained.

For the past 10 years, Veregge has been employed as lead designer/studio manager for a media agency that specializes in non-profits, and also works with Marvel Comics. His art specialty is “Salish Geek.”

“I’m a graphic designer,” he said, “but at one point I got a little bored with my job, and I remember thinking back to art school how art is supposed to be fun. That’s why I chose to do it. So I decided I’m going to have fun with my art. Native art and heroes, that’s what I love. It’s important to see both equally. As long as I have fun, I’ll keep doing that. That’s my passion.”

One student asked, “What’s your favorite character?”

“Batman,” said Veregge.

The young students, who sat listening to Veregge, all had blank pages and boxes of crayons in front of them.

“So you’ll see you have a white piece of paper in front of you,” Veregge explained, “and the great thing is that you can draw a million things, a million things get to be drawn on that piece of paper. That’s why I wanted to be an artist.”

Veregge explained that as a graphic artist, he is usually told some things to draw. He worked with the students to determine what to include in their comic book covers, including a wolf, on a cliff, howling at the moon.

As the students were set to draw, Veregge walked around encouraging and questioning their artistic choices. He finished his presentation choosing a handful of winners who he felt did the assignment most creatively. The winning students got to pick one of Veregge’s comic books for him to sign.

Veregge asked the students to begin to think now about their special talents, and how they could use them in a career when they grew up. “What is it that you can do that no one else can? What is it that you love most? What can give you a value in this world?”

Katrina Waag wrote in a post on social media later that day, “A Big Wolfle Thank You. Jeffrey Veregge, the kids absolutely loved having you at our school today! You are such a talented artist and an all around nice guy. Thank you for sharing your talents with our children.”

Veregge responded, “The pleasure was all mine. [It’s] a dream to be able to go back to your school and share your story.”

Next: Veregge is headed to Silverdale for a meet and greet to give fans the opportunity to pick up Marvel’s new Red Wolf comic book, featuring Veregge’s new work. Fans can also get an autograph from the “Salish Geek” pop artist.

He will visit between the hours of noon and 4 p.m. Dec. 5 at Avalon Comics at Kitsap Mall.

Veregge will also have new prints and T-shirts for sale.

Jeffrey Veregge signs  Byce Sheehy’s cast before the start of his “once a Wolf, always a wolf”  art presentation at Wolfle Elementary School, Nov. 20.

Wolfle fourth grader, Grace Zimin, creates and colors her interpretation of the Wolfle comic book cover –  under direction of Jeffrey Veregge, Nov. 20.