Wow. all I can say is, wow. I am so privileged to have been able to attend the Summer Studio Workshop at the Center for Cartoon Studies. Check out the staff of this year’s Workshop: Steve Bissette, Jon Chad, Robyn Chapman, Alec Longstreth, Jason Lutes, Jose Luis Olivares, plus teaching assistant Matt Aucoin and interns Jesse Durona and Caitlin McGurk. (There were others too, please forgive me if I missed your name.) Everyone was helpful and supportive beyond measure. Operations Manager Valerie Fleisher ran a tight ship, and everything started and ran (amazingly for creatives) with precision even the Marines would be proud of.

Here’s just a sample of the topics we covered during the week:

• Graphic Novels: Process, Research, and Prep
• Project Research and Development
• Scanning and clean-up in Photoshop
• Narrative Structure
• Page Mapping
• Pacing and Composition
• Coloring with Photoshop
• Process and Materials
• Inking with Pen, Brush, and Nib
• Mixed Media
• Book Design with InDesign
• Self-Publishing and Promotion
• Book Design and Production
• Screen Printing
• Cartooning as a Career

“What?” you say. “You did all that in one week?” Not only that, but any time not used for a lecture or workshop was spent in the studio, making minicomics or working on longer projects. I am so sad that I didn’t commit to the extra three days in the extended workshop, which covered additional topics. I’m already planning to do this again next year, and I urge anyone interested in cartooning or working in comics to pony up the cash and do the same.

I chose as my project to illustrate a short story by L. Frank Baum, The Enchanted Buffalo. Since I wouldn’t have time to complete all 16 pages, I committed to create four pages plus a screen printed cover from start to completion. I wrapped up this work by Thursday of last week, and decided to finish up with a 12-page mini comic, Weather Man. I wanted to have something to hand out to everyone who was so helpful! I’ll post art from these later in the week.

In my opinion, what’s happening at CCS is on par with say, the Bauhaus or Pushpin Studios. With so many cartoonists working together, inspiring and influencing each other, it won’t be long before the students and associates of CCS will be leading American Comics into a new era. I hope I’m right.

MDR

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