I have several classes coming up in the Fall for the Worcester Art Museum. Two classes for children and my very first adult education class at the Museum. I will let you know when they are up and running on the WAM website.
The Art of the Cartoon 8-10 years on Saturdays at 10am till 12noon from 10/11/08 till 12/6/08 and Drawing Workshop: Superheroes 8-10 also on Saturdays from 12:30pm till 2:30pm from 10/11/08 till 12/6/08
Introduction to Graphic Novel on Friday nights from 5:30pm till 8pm from 10/3/08 till 11/14/08
What I'm hoping to accomplish in this class is to show the students that you can do so much more with comics than superhero comics. Which I enjoy immensely. But people get into this rut of thinking that comic books HAVE TO BE guys in their skivvies flying around the city and women with... with... huge tracks of land.
But artists like Dave Sims, Daniel Clowes, Art Spiegelman, Terry Moore and Chester Brown did storylines that were outside the realms of the superhero genre. Some of which in the cases of Daniel Clowes and Chester Brown were pretty "down to earth" types of stories.
Basically, my point being, you could create a story based on a night out you had in Worcester. It doesn't have to necessarily go anywhere. And the artwork doesn't have to be super realistic and dynamic to make a great graphic novel. Myself and many of the members of the UCF Group work in styles are outside of the usual comic art aesthetics.
I suppose work from your strengths and use them to tell a story.
A great example of a superhero story that is outside the normal superhero story is Batman: Year One. The artwork is not the usual superhero style artwork. It's very straightforward and simplistic. But yet, I find it completely satisfying and I really enjoy David Mazzucchelli very straightforward, simplistic but yet stylized artwork. The artwork helps you to focus on Frank Miller's writing.
But that's the key. It shows you that the characters don't have to be musclebound or have... um... huge tracks of land. If you have a great story, you accept that the artwork isn't as dynamic (whatever that means) as the usual superhero type artwork.
But bad writing. It doesn't matter how beautiful, dynamic or stylized the artwork is. If the story sucks, the artwork is no better than eating candy all day. Sure if tastes good. But it leaves you somewhat unsatisfied in the end.
Well, that's all on the teaching front.
As for the months moving forward. The Worcester Pub Scrawl will be happening again July 13th at Ralph's Chadwick Diner on 148 Grove Street in Worcester MA from 6:30pm till last call.
Or whenever your fingers fall off. Or you find you find you can no longer draw a straight line.
And in September, I'm already planning on taking part in stART on the Street which will be happening September 21st from 11am till 5pm from the corner of Hyland to the corner of Grove.
After that, I will be taking part in the Boston Comic Con in November at the Back Bay Center and Holiday Art at the Station which will be taking place at Union Station in Worcester MA.
I'll be sure to pass along the times and dates of those events once the information is available.
Well, that's all for now. I hope y'all have a great 4th of Jooly weekend!!
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