Jeff Stilwell

Background

Stilwell was born in the Midwest and went searching for God at the age of ten on his paper route. While he didn't find God there, his search continued throughout the next decades. His search included attending and studying several different denominations of Christianity, then classical Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. Next he lived in Asia for a number of years to observe those belief systems in action. He claims an influence by the Chan master Huineng, Taoist storyteller Zhuangzi, and Confucian thinker Mengtzu. Returning to the United States, he attended seminary at Seattle University's School of Theology and Ministry, focusing heavily on the writings of thinkers such as Augustine, Anselm, Thomas Aquinas, and Karl Rahner. He earned a Master's in Pastoral Studies but did not pursue ministry because he felt that he "was helping no one." After seminary, he pursued studies in Hinduism, particularly the writings of Adi Shankara and the Bhagavad Gita. He also studied Islam, particularly the thoughts of Sufi poet Rabia Basri.

Comics

Stilwell collaborates with the Pacific Northwest-based Fullness Circles Foundation, which publishes his daily Thrashin' Jack comics on social media.

Foundation Director Manya Vee calls Stilwell's Thrashin' Jack comics "visual parables."

Work with veterans

Stilwell also collaborates with the Fullness Circles Foundation in moderating Healing Circles with wounded and returning veterans. In a Healing Circle, a Stilwell concept, "a veteran learns to be the agent of his or her own healing."

Stilwell moderates the Healing Circles at a number of Seattle area veterans supporting organizations, including "Mark Cooper House in Seattle, the Shoreline Veteran Center, and Supportive Services for Veterans in Lake City."

Stage plays

In the early 2000s Stilwell developed as a dramatist in and around the Seattle theatre scene. He explored 21st century American themes of finding hope amidst loneliness and existential angst, writing works that are mixed parts comedy and tragedy.

In a September 2010 interview, he professed himself "fascinated" with the genre. The Enterprise Newspapers' Stilwell's plays Teacup Tipsy, One Tile Short and Traffic Stop have received positive notice from local media. The Driftwood Players' production of Traffic Stop also took two awards at the Kaleidoscope 2007 competition: Best Actress and Best Overall Production (second runner up).

Stilwell's latest stage work A Dropped Stitch, a dramatic comedy about a woman struggling to free herself to find her inner artist, opened at New Space Theatre September 30, 2010, running for nine performances.

A complete list of his staged works follows...

Stilwell ultimately turned to illustration because "It finally dawned on me one day that I can so say so much more in a series of comics than in one ninety minute play."

Artzo work

Stilwell has organized artistic opportunities for artists, raising money, scheduling and curating exhibitions. He and his wife, Manya, founded and directed the Edmonds Art Walk, one of the largest art walks in the Pacific Northwest. The couple also founded the Edmonds Mural Society, which has mounted seventeen murals celebrating the beauty, history and people of picturesque Edmonds, Washington.

The couple founded a live music scene in Edmonds, called Edmonds Tunes. For much of the first year, Stilwell played the Happy Ham, performing stand up comedy every Friday night. Stilwell also founded Edmonds Story Time, which gives writers the chance to share their new material with a sympathetic audience in local coffee shops.