Above: An author/illustrator will work with tweens and teens at the Southborough Library again this summer to help them learn or improve their skills drawing cartoons/graphic novels. (images cropped from flyer and Todd’s promo photo)
Next month, graphic novelist Jonathon Todd is returning to Southborough to work with 8-17 year olds.
This time, the Southborough Library is offering a “buffet” of options to sign up for free Cartooning Camp events and “optional additional coaching”.
Kids can sign up for 1-5 mornings the week of August 4th – 8th, with the option of an extra hour in the afternoon.
The lessons will run from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm on the Library’s upper level. Follow up instruction for those who choose to stay will run until 1:30 pm.
Each day has a specialized focus. Participants can choose whichever days they are interested in.
From the description, it sounds like a great opportunity both for those new to the art form, and those looking to further develop skills they learned in prior workshops Todd ran at the library. (For those who haven’t taken a class before, scroll down to learn more about the artist.)
The free “camps” require pre-registration and have limited space. So, act quickly!
[Note: For information on other summer camp opportunities in Southborough this year, click here.]
Below is the schedule with registration links:
Monday, August 4th: Cartoon Illustration and Caricatures
Participants will learn the basics on how to draw cartoon figures doing almost anything and get practice using a brush, ink and felt-tip pens to create finished cartoon art. We’ll also learn the art of drawing caricatures: exaggerated drawings of people to show likeness. (Click here to register)
Tuesday, August 5th: Gag Cartoons
Learn to develop and draw one-panel cartoons that share a funny thought. These type of cartoons are popular in magazines, such as The New Yorker, and newspaper comics pages, books and calendars. Ask your parents about cartoons, such as The Far Side From, Denis the Menace, Marmaduke and The Family Circus. In addition to drawing the cartoons in ink, we’ll learn how to use ink washes to make shades of gray in black and white cartoons. (Click here to register)
Wednesday, August 6th: Comic Strips
Participants will learn to think up and draw three- and four panel comic-strips, similar to Garfield, Peanuts, and Calvin and Hobbes! We’ll practice short strip as well as longer, Sunday Funnies-style strips with main characters who can star in different situations. (Click here to register)
Thursday, August 7: Personal Comics
Graphic memoirs are huge among middle-grade and tween readers. Jonathan will share his approach to creating autobiographical comics, and patrons will be guided to reflect upon personally meaningful moments in their lives and develop precise ways to express these memories—and their significance—in comics form. He’ll also cover turning skills and information that’s in your head or in text form (from fun recipes to Australian animals) into an engaging comic. (Click here to register)
Friday, August 8: Comic-books & Graphic Novels
Jonathan will explain the elements of a story, panel planning/creating thumbnail sketches, penciling and inking a comic-book or graphic novel, and coach patrons through creating one or two comic-book pages of a story they create. (Click here to register)
For those not familiar with Todd, he is an author/illustrator whose work is inspired by his own childhood experiences. He has experience working with kids (in Southborough and elsewhere) to help them tap into their own experiences and imagination to create cartoons/graphic novels.
To learn about him and his work, check out his blog on tumbler, Cecil’s World.
This event is sponsored by Southborough Community Fund, a fund of the Foundation for MetroWest.
