comicsexperience.com

Monday, December 31, 2012

Classes filling up -- Enrollment Open! -- Intro to Comic Book Writing, Art, Coloring, & Lettering Courses!

Comics Experience has four courses lined up that will help you build your skills and reach your comic book goals in 2013, whether that's breaking in or doing creator-owned work.

But the classes are starting to fill up now, so if you've been dreaming of making comics, don't delay!

The four classes on comic book writing, art, coloring and lettering -- described below -- are open for enrollment right now.

PLEASE NOTE: The Intro classes are required prerequisites for our once-a-year Advanced Classes in writing, art, and coloring. This will be your last chance to take the Intro courses before the Advanced Classes are offered next Summer!

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INTRODUCTION TO COMIC BOOK ART

Introduction to Comic Book Art will be taught by Robert Atkins, a professional comic book artist who has worked on G.I. Joe, Snake Eyes, Amazing Spider-Man, Heroes for Hire, Ultimatum Fantastic Four: Requiem and many others.

In this online course, you’ll learn how to improve your storytelling, what the professional standards are, how to avoid common pitfalls, how to build a great cover, and strategies to break into the business.

You’ll be asked to complete five pages of sequential comics pages under the guidance of your instructor and you’ll get all the behind the scenes tips Robert can pack into six weeks.

You can read what one of Robert's former students had to say about his teaching skills right here. Or check out Robert's art and get a sense of his teaching philosophy in this Guest Blog about the Intro class from August of last year.

Introduction to Comic Book Art with Robert Atkins
Begins February 7, 2013!

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INTRODUCTION TO COMIC BOOK COLORING

Intro to Comic Book Coloring will be taught by Chris Sotomayor (aka Soto), professional colorist on countless Marvel titles (Spider-Man, X-Men, The Avengers, etc.).

In this six-week intensive class for colorists, you'll learn all the necessary tools and tricks for not only coloring with Photoshop, but also how to tell great stories through color. You’ll get access to all the tools of the trade, tips on how to break in, and you’ll be working with Chris on the pages you color for the class.


You can read Soto's own thoughts on the class right here...OR read why the class is even better than marriage right here!

Intro to Comic Book Coloring with Soto
Begins February 4, 2013!

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INTRODUCTION TO COMIC BOOK WRITING

Intro to Comic Book Writing will be taught by former Marvel and IDW Editor and writer, Andy Schmidt.

During his time at Marvel, Andy worked on nearly every major character in the Marvel canon, and edited hit titles such as X-Factor, the Annihilation saga, Alias, and more.

At IDW, he managed major franchises like GI Joe and Transformers. He is also the author of the Eagle Award-winning book, The Insider's Guide to Creating Comics and Graphic Novels, published by Impact Books.

In this six-week course, not only will you learn comic book writing from a pro, but the course will be packed with practical, real-world advice on the industry and "breaking in" to help you pursue your career in comics!

That's why Comics Experience alum, Nick Spencer, tweeted:
"For all aspiring comic pros asking for advice on craft/breaking in, I once again highly recommend Andy Schmidt's @ComicExperience courses."
A few years ago, Nick had to move to New York City to take Comics Experience classes (check out his guest blog here to read that tale). But you don't have to move, now that the courses are online. This one will sell out fast!

Introduction to Comic Book Writing with Andy Schmidt
Begins February 13, 2013!
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COMIC BOOK LETTERING AND PRODUCTION

Comic Book Lettering and Production will be taught by professional letterer Dave Sharpe, who has been in the business for twenty years.

In this seven-week course, Dave will take you through the programs, the thought-process, and the decision-making skills to create comics with slick, professional lettering. As if that wasn’t enough, you’ll also learn the production work associated with publishing comics! Setting up covers with logos, cover elements, integrating the digital lettering files with the digital color files properly, and page set-up along with a healthy dose of trouble-shooting the most common problems.

Dave started out hand lettering in the Marvel Bullpen before moving to digital lettering, taught lettering at the Joe Kubert School in the mid-90s, and developed and led the Marvel in-house lettering department for two years.

Since then, Dave is now lettering regularly for DC, in addition to working with many small publishers as well. He is, without a doubt, one of the most well respected, talented, and professional letterers in the comics business.

To quote Comics Experience founder (and ex-Marvel and IDW Editor) Andy Schmidt, "Dave can teach. I've seen him do it and he taught me much while I worked at Marvel. In the first ten minutes, he taught me enough about lettering that I could talk reasonably intelligently about it with the seasoned Marvel staff. Thank you for that, Dave."

Learning how to letter can save you money on your projects and improve your storytelling. Plus, bad lettering can kill the impression your book makes! Read more about all of that right here.

Comic Book Lettering and Production with Dave Sharpe
Begins February 12, 2013!
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Our courses are offered LIVE, online, and you can attend from wherever you live. You'll be able to see your instructor and his desktop, interact with your classmates, and discuss your classwork in real time. And you'll be able to communicate with your classmates all week long in a special, dedicated online forum for just you and your class.

We hope to see you in our courses or as part of our Creators Workshop community. Sign up now!



If you want to make comics, write or draw comics, or improve as a comics creator, you'll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

Posted by Rob Anderson
rob@ComicsExperience.com
Twitter / Facebook

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

A holiday gift From CBLDF -- produced by Comics Experience creators!

For the holiday season, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF) released a special treat, and it was produced by Comics Experience alums and Creators Workshop members!

"A Comics Carol" is written by Joe Sergi (alum & Workshop member), with art by DaFu Yu (art alum), and lettering/design by E.T. Dollman (Workshop member).

In the minicomic -- available for free on the CBLDF site, Messr. Fredric Wertham is visited by the Ghosts of Comics Past, Comics Present, and Comics Yet to Come!

And you might recognize some of those ghosts...

Read it right here: A Comics Carol or click on the image below to go to the CBLDF site...


Congrats to Joe, DaFu, and E.T. -- and Happy Holidays to all!


If you want to make comics, write or draw comics, or improve as a comics creator, you'll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

Posted by Rob Anderson
rob@ComicsExperience.com
Twitter / Facebook

Thursday, December 20, 2012

CE Instructors Atkins & Soto team up on "Castle"

Back in September, Marvel Entertainment and ABC Studios announced the comic book series, Castle: A Calm Before A Storm, an all-new comic book limited series based on the popular Castle television show.

The first issue of the five-issue miniseries, hits comic shops this week, and it features work by TWO Comics Experience instructors!

CE Art Instructor Robert Atkins handled the pencils on the series, while CE Coloring Instructor Chris Sotomayor was the colorist! The story is written by New York Times best-selling author Peter David.

This is the third Castle graphic novel to be released through a collaborative effort between Marvel, ABC Studios and the producers of the show. Following issues will ship monthly through April 2013.

Both Robert and Soto currently have February courses open for enrollment, but they are filling up! If you'd like to learn from these pros, sign up soon...and check out Castle, too!

Introduction to Comic Book Art with Robert Atkins
Begins February 7, 2013!

Intro to Comic Book Coloring with Soto
Begins February 4, 2013!

Or read more about ALL our upcoming classes (including writing and lettering) right here!



If you want to make comics, write or draw comics, or improve as a comics creator, you'll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

Posted by Rob Anderson
rob@ComicsExperience.com
Twitter / Facebook

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

"Curse of the Thirteenth Baktun" releases just in time for the 12/21/12 apocalypse!

Comics Experience alum and Creators Workshop member, Marta Tanrikulu is ready for the 12/21/12 apocalypse -- with a special short comics story called Curse of the Thirteenth Baktun!

In addition to Marta's writing, the story also features the artwork of CE alum and Workshop member Jorge Donis, and the lettering of long-time Workshop member, E.T. Dollman!

In the story, two local experts in ancient Mayan scripts are pressed into service by an ambitious archaeologist who locates a lost ruin. But what they uncover in the jungle on December 21, 2012, the date when the 13th Maya baktun ends, is a nightmare.



In light of the impending apocalypse, the story has been translated into Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Turkish and Japanese, in addition to the English version.

Before time runs out, you can read the story for only 99-cents at the Red Stylo Media website or at Drive-Thru Comics!

Marta is a writer and contributor to Red Stylo Media's anthology series Poe Twisted and Shakespeare Shaken, and you can check out links to all her work on the ViZYON Entertainment website.

Congrats, Marta, Jorge, and E.T. on the release of the story!



If you want to make comics, write, draw, letter, and color comics, or improve as a comics creator, you'll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

Posted by Rob Anderson
rob@ComicsExperience.com
Twitter / Facebook



Tuesday, December 18, 2012

CE Alum Tim Shields Launches "Comic Rocket Mobile" Campaign on Indiegogo

Comics Experience alum and Creators Workshop member Tim Shields has launched an Indiegogo campaign supporting the launch of a free iPad/iPhone version of his popular webcomics reader Comic Rocket.

Comic Rocket aims to be the ultimate list of comics and serial material on the Web. The site creates a seamless reading experience with webcomic navigation tools, and helps you find new comics with their recommendation system. Comic Rocket lists over 10,000 comics, and new comics are added daily.

They are now looking to create a free mobile application, and the crowd-funding will allow Comic Rocket to hire a mobile developer.

The Comic Rocket iOS app will provide a comics reading experience optimized for iPads and iPhones. It will include all the great features of the current website, like a personal comics reading list and the ability to follow your friends' comic discoveries.

The iOS app will also provide new features like comic update notifications and a user interface streamlined for tablets and phones with swipe and more!

As incentives for your pledge, Comic Rocket is offering digipacks of wallpapers, pin-ups, and other digital art.

For creative types, there are even downloads of popular software from Smith Micro like Anime Studio, Manga Studio, and Poser!

Plus, you can also pledge to receive a one-month membership in our own Comics Experience Creators Workshop.

The Indiegogo campaign has already garnered more than 50 backers toward its overall $5,000 goal.

With about a week left, there's still time to jump on this Indiegogo campaign!

Or check out the video right here:


Best of luck to Tim and Comic Rocket with the campaign!



If you want to make comics, write, draw, letter, and color comics, or improve as a comics creator, you'll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

Posted by Rob Anderson
rob@ComicsExperience.com
Twitter / Facebook

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Dirk Manning joins the Creators Workshop on 12/18/12!

On Tuesday, December 18, 2012 at 9pm Eastern Time, we'll be joined live, online on the Creators Workshop by special guest Dirk Manning!

Dirk is the writer/creator of the Nightmare World trilogy published by Image Comics, Tales of Mr. Rhee, and Love Stories About Death. He'll have has a story in the upcoming Image anthology, Dias De Las Muertas, hitting comic shops soon, with art by Riley Rossmo.

Dirk is the writer of a popular Newsarama column for comic creators. The column, Write or Wrong was recently collected into book form.

For over five years, Dirk Manning’s column has provided aspiring writers with candid advice, anecdotes and inspiration about how to successfully meet artists, create comics, and get them published. Dirk has collected key columns from the series with each installment personally revisited in preparation for the book’s release.

Write or Wrong: A Writer’s Guide to Creating Comics is an invaluable tool for anyone seeking to create comics, improve their knowledge of the industry and the craft, and/or be simultaneously entertained and informed.

Dirk's Nightmare World trilogy began life as a popular horror web comic, which was later collected into three trade paperbacks by Image/Shadowline. The short stories -- done with a variety of talented artists -- delve into a world of ghostly lovers, demonic abductors, vengeful victims, and sexy Cthulhu priestesses. The loosely connected stories weave an epic tale of a world not unlike our own, where nothing is as it seems.

Dirk has also written comic work for Zenescope Comics, Tara Normal, Shakespeare Shaken, and more. In 2011 he was approached by Blackbox TV to write a short film for the franchise, resulting in The Hunger, which is currently available for viewing on YouTube.

We're looking forward to great discussion with Dirk!

There's still time to join us at the Creators Workshop before these two live sessions. We hope to see you there.


If you want to make comics, write or draw comics, or improve as a comics creator, you'll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

Posted by Rob Anderson
rob@ComicsExperience.com
Twitter / Facebook


Wednesday, December 12, 2012

CE Alum brings the smash-mouth urban fantasy in "Gargoyle By Moonlight"

Gargoyle By Moonlight #1, a supernatural adventure, is now available from Moonrise Comics in print and across several digital formats.

And like a growing list of books out there, this comic comes with a Comics Experience tie-in and beginning.

The monster-punching mini graphic novel is the story of Gary Doyle, who after being afflicted with a curse that turns him into a fearsome stone gargoyle every night, finds himself trying to figure out whether he’s a hero or the monster the world sees him as. When a demon begins annihilating his city, Doyle has to decide whether to go full-on monster or step up and save humanity.

You can preview it online right now via a new video trailer or by watching below!

Gargoyle By Moonlight, which was written by CE alum Timothy Bach, began its life in the Creators Workshop.

Brian Atkins (brother of CE art instructor Robert Atkins) is the man behind the dazzling pencil work, while the trailer was put together by CE alum and Workshop member Rich Douek.

A 36-page full-color one-shot (with more stories planned), Gargoyle By Moonlight is available in print ($4.99, available at Indyplanet.com) and digitally at several outlets, including Graphicly, Apple’s iTunes, and Amazon’s Kindle Store ($1.99).

For more information, visit Moonrisecomics.com.

Congrats to Tim on the release of his new book!




If you want to make comics, write or draw comics, or improve as a comics creator, you'll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

Posted by Rob Anderson
rob@ComicsExperience.com
Twitter / Facebook


Tuesday, December 11, 2012

CE alum and artist DaFu Yu exhibits at MOCA; appears in Anthology!

CE Alum and artist DaFu Yu recently drew a story in the Secret Identites, Volume 2: Shattered anthology.

Secret Identities is an Asian American superhero comic anthology done by asian creators, including fellow CE alum and writer Amy Chu.

The book is a follow-up to the earlier groundbreaking anthology using the comic format “to upend, re-envision, re-imagine – to shatter – the distorted and negative images that have shadowed Asian Americans since the earliest days of arrival in this country.”

In addition to DaFu and Amy, the anthology includes the work of: Alice Meichi Li, Eric Kim, GB Tran, Jeremy Arambulo, Jerry Ma, Johann Choi, Kripa Joshi, Louie Chin, Robin Ha, Saumin Patel, Jamie Noguchi, Ming Doyle, Jef Castro, Tak Toyoshima, and Glenn Urieta.

The Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) will also be exhibiting some of DaFu's artwork as part of the Alt.Comics: Asian American Artists Reinvent the Comic Book exhibition, on view from September 27, 2012 through February 24, 2013, featuring art from the anthology.

Alt.Comics showcases the efforts of Asian American artists to establish a new and authentic identity by subverting stereotypes and juxtaposing disparate images. The exhibition focuses on alternative and independent comic spaces, particularly in the hubs of San Francisco and New York, which produced many of the most prominent artists in the independent scene. The exhibition features work by DaFu as well as Gene Luen Yang, Derek Kirk Kim, Thien Pham, Lark Pien, Jason Shiga, GB Tran, Jerry Ma, Larry Hama, Alex Joon Kim, and Christine Norrie.

MOCA is a nonprofit educational and cultural institution that presents the living history, heritage, culture and diverse experiences of Chinese Americans through exhibitions, educational services and public programs.

Congratulations, DaFu, on the anthology and the exhibit!



If you want to make comics, write or draw comics, or improve as a comics creator, you'll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

Posted by Rob Anderson
rob@ComicsExperience.com
Twitter / Facebook

Monday, December 10, 2012

Chris Roberson joins Creators Workshop on 12/11/12!

On December 11, 2012 at 10pm Eastern Time, our live, online guest at the Creators Workshop Book Club will be writer Chris Roberson, discussing Memorial published by IDW.

Chris Roberson's writings include numerous short stories and novels, such as Here, There & Everywhere, as well as the comic book series Memorial, Cinderella: From Fabletown With Love and I, Zombie.

Along with his business partner and spouse Allison Baker, he is the publisher of MonkeyBrain Books, an independent publishing house specializing in genre fiction and nonfiction genre studies.

In 2012, Monkeybrain launched a new creator-owned digital comics line, Monkeybrain Comics, which is distributed by comiXology. MonkeyBrain features the work of many top creators including Kurt Busiek, Colleen Coover, Steve Leiber, Brandon Seifert, and Paul Tobin to name only a few.

Chris has been a finalist for the World Fantasy Award four times, twice a finalist for the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, and four times for the Sidewise Award for Best Alternate History, winning twice.

Memorial, published by IDW, is the story of Em, a young woman who arrives at a hospital with no memory of her past. A year later, she has rebuilt her life, only to find her existence is thrown into turmoil after she inherits a magical shop and is drawn into a supernatural conflict.

ComicBook.com has described the book as "ambitious, brilliant storytelling" and Broken Frontier said "Chris Roberson has built a magical world that can compete with some of the industry's best."

We look forward to our discussion with Chris!

There's still time to join us at the Creators Workshop before this live sessions. We hope to see you there.


If you want to make comics, write or draw comics, or improve as a comics creator, you'll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

Posted by Rob Anderson
rob@ComicsExperience.com
Twitter / Facebook


Sunday, December 9, 2012

iFanboy's "Make Comics" Podcast, Episode #40 on "The Pitch"

A new episode of the iFanboy Make Comics podcast is available!

In Episode #40, Comics Experience founder Andy Schmidt and iFanboy host Josh Flanagan discuss "The Pitch."

As they said over on iFanboy, "In this episode, Josh and Andy talk about what goes into a good pitch for a comic book, whether it be as a writer, or a series to a publisher."

Take note! The Make Comics Podcast has moved to its own feed, which you can subscribe to in iTunes, or here manually.

Check out the new episode, plus all of the previous ones on iTunes, or follow the links right here:

Listen to Episode #40, "The Pitch"

Listen to Episode #39, "Production"

Listen to Episode #38, "Endings"

Listen to Episode #37, "Writing Dialogue"

Listen to Episode #36, "Character Design"

Listen to Episode #35, "Comic Book Art Training and Education"

Listen to Episode #34, "Mailbag"

Listen to Episode #33, "Collaboration"

Listen to Episode #32, "Kickstarter with Tyler James"

Listen to Episode #31, "Breaking In Through the Side Door"

Listen to Episode #30, "Story vs. Page Count"

Listen to Episode #29, "Graphic Designers in Comics"

Listen to Episode #28, "Find Your Voice"

Listen to Episode #27, "Self Review"

Listen to Episode #26, "Act Structure"

Listen to Episode #25, "Photo Comics and More"

Listen to Episode #24, "Running a Convention Table with Mike Dawson"

Listen to Episode #23, "Make Digital Comics"

Listen to Episode #22, "Be the Letterer"

Listen to Episode #21, "Question: From Editor to Writer"

Listen to Episode #20, "Page Turns"

Listen to Episode #19, "Where Should I Live?"

Listen to Episode #18, "Comic Book Coloring with Chris Sotomayor"

Listen to Episode #17, "Art Portfolio with Robert Atkins"

Listen to Episode #16, "Conventions and Critique"

Listen to Episode #15, "Pitching"

Listen to Episode #14, "Making Time for Making Comics"

Listen to Episode #13, "Story"

Listen to Episode #12, "Marketing"

Listen to Episode #11, "Artist Portfolio"

Listen to Episode #10, "Inspiration"

Listen to Episode #9, "Online Networking"

Listen to Episode #8, "Building A Page"

Listen to Episode #7, "Professionialism"

Listen to Episode #6, "The Comic Book Script"

Listen to Episode #5, "Convention Networking"

Listen to Episode #4, "Good Feedback"

Listen to Episode #3, "Long Stories or Short Stories?"

Listen to Episode #2, "Finding Collaborators"

Listen to Episode #1, "Start Writing"


If you want to make comics, write, draw, letter, and color comics, or improve as a comics creator, you'll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

Posted by Rob Anderson
rob@ComicsExperience.com
Twitter / Facebook

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Justin Jordan on Crafting Second Issues

Comics writer Justin Jordan joined the Comics Experience Creators Workshop recently, and discussed his career in comics, including his work on The Legend of Luther Strode, Team 7, Shadowman and other projects.

During the session, a workshop member asked Jordan about the difficulty of crafting an effective second issue in a comics mini-series.

The first issue, Jordan said, contains the inciting incident, introduces the characters and kicks off the plot.

"But issue two, for me, is almost always a transitional issue," Jordan said. "The heroes are starting to react to stuff, but the plot really hasn't started rolling."

Jordan said that when he finishes the draft of a script, it's either 90 percent complete, or he simply starts over from scratch, with very few drafts falling in-between.

"And issue two's are always like pulling teeth," Jordan said, "That was true of Luther Strode, too. It's been consistent in every mini-series I've done in recent years."

Andy Schmidt, moderator of the session and a former Marvel and IDW editor, noted that the serial nature of mainstream comics causes many writers to jam their first issue with plot and character development, in order to attract readers. As a result, many things that would normally fall in issue two are instead front-loaded into the first issue.

"And so two tends to be a little lighter, a little less heavy, a little less action-intense," Schmidt said.

Jordan noted that by issue three, "all the pieces are in motion and you have an inevitable narrative drive. Or at least I do if I'm doing my job right."

Other topics discussed by Jordan included:

* Putting together pitches, and the pitch process for Luther Strode;
* Jordan's process for plotting out issues;
* Parlaying Luther Strode into work-for-hire gigs at DC Comics and Valiant Entertainment;
* Finding and working with artists, early in your career;
* Jordan's daily work-flow, and the number of pages he writes in a typical day;
* Marketing your creator-owned work.

For those interested in seeing more of Jordan's work, The Legend of Luther Strode, a sequel to the hit mini-series The Strange Talent of Luther Strode, hits comic shops in December from Image Comics.

Comics Experience Creators Workshop sessions take place every month, giving members real-world knowledge that will help them succeed in their comics career. Additionally, the monthly Creators Workshop Book Club sessions feature guest writers and artists discussing the craft and art of comics, as well as the business side of things.

There's still plenty of time to sign up before the next session. We hope to see you there.

--Posted by Paul Allor


Sunday, December 2, 2012

CE Alum Amy Chu Launches "Girls' Night Out: Tales of New York" Kickstarter

Comics Experience alum and Creators Workshop member Amy Chu has launched a Kickstarter campaign for her comic project Girls' Night Out: Tales of New York.

Several of the scripts contained in the book were workshopped on the Creators Workshop, and Amy is offering a three-month membership in the Creators Workshop as an incentive!

Girls' Night Out: Tales of New York is a collection of short comics in honor of New York City, with a little something for everyone - action, adventure, drama, humor.

The book will be a 36 page full color, digest size (5" x 8") comic book with five stories written by Amy, and featuring art by CE Art Moderator Gannon Beck, Craig Yeung, Louie Chin, Brian Shearer, and Cabbral.

The Kickstarter has already garnered more than 100 backers toward its overall $4,800 goal.

In addition to the book itself in print and digital form, those pledging can receive other incentives including home-baked cookies, signed, limited edition Painkiller Jane color prints by Jimmy Palmiotti, lettering services from Amy, original art commissions, a script critique by CE staffer and former Marvel Editor Nicole Boose, and much more!

With about two weeks left, there's still plenty of time to jump on this Kickstarter for Girls' Night Out: Tales of New York!

Or check out the video right here:

Best of luck to Amy with the Kickstarter!



If you want to make comics, write, draw, letter, and color comics, or improve as a comics creator, you'll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

Posted by Rob Anderson
rob@ComicsExperience.com
Twitter / Facebook

GUEST BLOG: CE Art Alum Seth Teter on Growing with Comics Experience

Today, we're pleased to present a Guest Blog from CE art alum Seth Teter. Seth shares his thoughts on Comics Experience courses, the Workshop community, and provides a cool example of how the artwork for a story progressed during the course of a class.

I have been taking online classes from Comics Experience for a couple of years now. This past October, I went to the New York Comic Con to meet my instructors and fellow classmates from CE.

I was often asked, "What do you do? Do you want to be a pro? Why do you take these classes? What do you want from all of this?" I sheepishly answered that I am just taking classes at CE to learn. To grow. I have learned so much from CE that I can never put into words how much I love the online world that Andy and company have created for people like me.

The first comic book I ever bought gob smacked me from the second I opened it. My senses were overwhelmed in pulpy goodness. The experience of that comic book was enough to hook me for life. It was New Teen Titans #27. What a life changer!

Like many fanboys I grew up wanting to become a comic creator. Rejections to art schools led me down a different path from my one true love of comic books. I took a stab at acting as I had more natural talent in that direction. For over a decade I did theatre all over the country. I loved it...for a while. It wasn't my one true love. So I tried again to become a comic book creator. I applied to art schools and faced more rejection.

I didn't sit around and cry. I became a teacher. Not an art teacher. I became a special education teacher. Even though it isn't what I thought I would do with my life, I love my current job because I help children with learning disabilities grow into the best possible versions of them they can be. I am happy in my current path. I love my job.

Yet...I still have the urge to create comics.

So where do I set my fanboy passion on fire? Where do I learn from the best of the best? Comics Experience!

I have taken many classes from CE. In each class I have struggled, and in each class I have grown leaps and bounds.

There is so much involved in creating comics. First and foremost it is about storytelling. I see a big difference in how I approach the work and laying out panels from where I was before CE to where I am now. If anything, I think I have become a competent storyteller and I've really learned how to place information to tell a good story.

One experience in CE that really stood out for me was an assignment from Introduction to Comic Book Art with Robert Atkins. I took part in an exercise where I illustrated a one-page story with a writer's script from the Creators Workshop. In the Workshop forums, writers had written one-page scripts in the monthly writing challenge. For my class assignment, I used one of the scripts written by a CE workshop member, Kevin Byrne.

This project was the best experience I could ever ask for, as it really turned into a collaborative process between me, Kevin, members of the CE forums, and several critiques from Robert Atkins and pro-contributor, Sean Chen. I learned more than I ever thought possible. Here is a visual progression of where the project started and how it ended.



My love for CE is boundless. Where else can an artist like me learn and grow in an environment where there is so much support and nurturing? Every instructor, guest lecturer, and fellow classmate has been supportive and encouraging. Because of this amazing learning environment I have been living out a dream come true and learning more than I ever thought possible.

I can't recommend the classes and the workshop enough. CE offers a world of learning, growing, and sharing for anyone and everyone. For fanboys like me, for pros, for anyone. Comics Experience is a wonderful place to grow wherever you are in your comics journey in a creative and collaborative wonderland.

-- Seth Teter




If you want to make comics, write or draw comics, or improve as a comics creator, you'll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

Posted by Rob Anderson
rob@ComicsExperience.com
Twitter / Facebook

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