NEW FOR 2022!

An extensive 10 part series covering everything from basic art lessons, plotting, scripting, penciling, inking, lettering, coloring, perspective, finding work and keeping sane (and healthy) in the freelance lifestyle. Each course is 10 parts and is fully recorded and sent to you as video lessons so you can work on them at your schedule, review them and revisit lessons whenever you need to.

REGISTRATION starts in Spring 2022

MORE INFORMATION:

EACH AND EVERY CLASS in each session is at least 30-45 mins of video which you watch at your own pace. Each session includes an assignment and a time frame for when it should be completed.
There are THREE LEVELS for every class; you can opt for whichever level you prefer in every course.

Level One is completely independent-- you follow along with the class videos and you do your assignments which you are able to post in a student area for critique from fellow students as well as limited input from your instructor. $125
Level Two is more hands on, you'll still watch the videos at your leisure but you will turn assignments in to a professional working instructor who will give you feedback and in-depth critiques of your work. You will be provided with a PDF Workbook outlining the week's lessons. You are still able to post your work in the student area if you so choose. $225
Level Three is completely hands on, you'll get everything in Level Two plus at the end of each 8 part session you'll be scheduled a 30 - 45 minute 1 on 1 session with this instructor to review your personal progress. $325

• COURSES:
  001- Plotting and Scripting The first class outlines how to craft a workable script or plot. Whether you are collaborating or planning on doing it yourself you'll find that the project will die without getting to a finish if you make the mistake of "figuring it out as you go"-- you'll also need at minimum a coherent plot if you want to pitch your idea to a publisher or if you are working with a collaborator. We'll explore various methods of story creation including the "bean" method and the Spiders Web to extend and idea into a full narrative.
  We will also get into ways to properly structure your script or plot, how to tell if something is moving the story or dragging it down and most importantly how to edit yourself.Scripts are limited to one 22 page comic book or the first 22 pages of your longer graphic novel.

• 002- Character Design and World Creation Once you've got your story now you have to build it-- we'll go through ways to make unique and interesting characters and a world that will make sense for them to exist in. This prep work is often skipped by many creatives leading to a DOA project-- it can't be abandoned. We'll explore different art styles and find one that works for your project.

• 003- Thumbnailing and Storytelling Okay you've got a script or a plot, now you have to turn this into pages and pages of panels that tell a sequential story with an emphasis on the right scenes and shots. It's not as easy as it sounds. This course will not only look at great comics it will also look at innovative film techniques which are often translatable into comics and graphic novels. Limited to a 22 page story

• 004- Penciling Once that script is laid out in thumbnail form it's now time to take them to a penciling stage-- working digitally or traditionally we'll translate SIX of those pages into full pencils. We'll go through techniques and tools to make your job easier.

• 005- Inking Once the pencils are finished now it's on to the inking-- more than just tracing, as Ben Affleck found out in CHASING AMY-- inking takes the penciled pages and gives them life, gives them form and gives them texture. Inking establishes mood, light source and helps to distinguish elements in your panels and pages. You'll ink the first THREE pages of your pencils during this session (expect a few do-overs).

• 006- Inking II and Digital Inking Inking is so hard, is such an important part of the process that we break it down into TWO sessions, in this second part we'll get a bit more advanced and we'll explore the benefits to working digitally while we finish the second half of your penciled pages, don't be surprised if there are some do overs here too as we learn to master line weight and form.

• 007- Lettering Good lettering can save bad artwork, and bad lettering can sink an entire project. Often considered an afterthought LETTERING is one of the most important parts of the process because it needs to both stand out and be subliminal at the same time. This will be done digitally but we will look at traditional hand lettering too.

• 008- Coloring When the computer came along it revolutionised comics colouring, it also created a false sense that anybody can color simply because they have access to a computer. Using Photoshop, GIMP or MANGA STUDIO we'll learn first how to COLOR BLOCK and then how to produce finished colours.

• 009- Portfolio Building, Submitting Your Work and Creating an Online Presence You have to get your work out there if you want to get hired, and the internet provides a vast resource of places you can put it. We'll look at building your own website, hosting a blog, using social media and even creating a webstrip preview of your work to help you get eyes on your project.It's not easy-- but it still can be done. Finding work and keeping it coming.

• 010- The History of Comics and Graphic Novels You need to have a thorough understanding of the work of giants who built this art form if you want to be a well balanced creator, and this course will give you that.Self Publishing Vs Working for a PublisherThe grass IS always greener, we'll get into self publishing strategies that don't cause you to lose your shirt, and find ways to get work with publishers and keep it coming.

FAQ’S

Q- Do I have to Sign Up For ALL the classes? A- No, obviously we think you'd be crazy not to-- for example a writer who can't draw will at least gain a detailed understanding of what the artist has to do if they take art classes, and vice versa. Plus you never know what might light a fire under you and find you a new calling. I've known more than one person who started out as "only" a writer who now writes AND draws their own work after taking classes.

Q- When do these classes start? A- We originally expected the first one to be available in May of 2020, but then COVID19 happened and the world screeched to a halt-- start date will be early 2022, the first session is being recorded now.

Q- I miss the live aspect of the weekly classes, will there be any of that? A- We're looking at the possibility of a more social meet up for students, but because each class is done at an individual's own pace this might be tough to do. We may have a weekly or monthly chat session which just allows you to talk progress with other students who chose to attend, we'll see what we can do.

Q- Can I keep the videos for each class? A- Yes you can, they are yours for life. By taking the class you are agreeing that you won't share these videos or upload or duplicate them. Each one is coded with a digital watermark so we'll hunt you down and find you if you do. Trust me I have a very special set of skills to find you.

Q- I've always wanted to take one of your classes but my schedule gets in the way, what should I do? A- This new Masters Class series takes care of that, because you watch the videos at YOUR schedule and then turn in the assignments when you finish them. There is a protocol for how to submit your workbook assignments which is included in your student package.