20078 Advanced Cartooning - HOW COMICS RULE - SVA CLASS
Mondays 6:30 - 9:30, Feb - April 2008
Click here to register
Overview:
The first few weeks we will be presenting the ideas and workings of sequential art by in-class exercises and presentations. We will learn the some basics and hopefully dig into our lives and interests for material.
By week 4 or so, we will begin to develop a large project that we can complete in the duration of the semester. After the first few weeks, class time will (probably) be:
1/4 Critique time
1/4 Presentation, book discussion, etc
1/2 or more Work time and personal meetings
Optional exercises/assignments where applicable/necessary
Class goal is personal improvement, expansion of technical and perception skills. Comprehension and familiarity of larger breadth of work.
Tangible class goal is one large story per person, paced per student's level. Smaller stories are allowed. Instructor will personally advise where needed.
Suggested Readings:
McCloud, Scott; Understanding Comics, Making Comics
Mamet, David; On Directing Film
Eisner, Will; Comics and Sequential Art
Other good books, depending on your particular style, etc.
Janson, Klaus: The DC Guide to Pencilling Comics
Volger, Christopher; The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Storytellers and Screenwriters
Various; How to Draw Manga
Meglin, Nick; The Art of Humorous Illustration
Instructor will bring additional books to class for perusal each week.
e-mail me : hutchowen@gmail.com
Some Resources:
Archive of many amazing stories by amazing artists here
including: Jack Kirby | Harvey Kurtzman | Jaime Hernandez | Samm Schwartz | Peter Arno and more
Scott McCloud UNDERSTANDING COMICS Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 6
Some Examples of Location, Place and Environments
Andy Bugpowder's Early Comics Archive
Printers and printing your own comics
Some pics by Eduard Muybridge here
Tom's 2004 tutorial from notion, inspiration and theft to idea development to final inks and scan. (7 MB PDF)
Week 1 -
Silent stories
Topic : Students will learn to create a simple story using only pictures. What tools, techniques and processes will they learn to use? What are the historical references? A variety of silent comics will be shown.
We will show and discuss the possible connections between random imagery as a basis of developing our visual imagination.
Students will create several wordless comics, including a personal one about themselves, and then one or two from random sources
HOMEWORK- Create 6 4 panel autobiographical strips, all on a constant, theme, image, place or object. For instance: EATING, SIDEWALKS, TRAINS, COUCHES, ETC.
Week 2
Transitions
Topic : Through looking at our last week's work more closely and editing them, we will learn some of the options available as storytellers and strip artists
Group exercise will involve editing, through expansion and reduction, a 4 panel comic strip. Development of separate threads, story ideas and details will be encouraged.
HOMEWORK- EXPAND one of your smaller autobiographical strips into a 20 (ish) panel extravaganza, the way we did in class. OR: Tie two stories together, also like we did in class.
Week 3 -
Page composition
Topic : We'll look at how panels interrelate.
We'll show dozens of exemplary page compositions, from Tezuka to Herriman.
In class we will recompose a page from Tintin and learn about the dynamics of stretching panels, repeating panels, etc.
Week 4
Comic Strip creation workshop
Topic : We'll create characters and develop possible routines and status relationships.
We'll look at historical examples ranging from Mutt and Jeff to the Peanuts and many things in between.
Week 5
Drawing in line
Topic : We'll learn how to draw in line with ink.
We'll look at extreme close-up dozens of exemplary ink drawings and comic and cartoon panels.
In class we will learn more by practicing inking over other drawings.
Week 6
Timing, Space and time on the page
Week 7
Designing in black. Silhouettes, compositions in dark and light.
Week 13
Final critique and blowout.