NYCC 2012 - Comics Experience Report

Another New York Comic Con is complete!

Reports are that more than 115,000 people attended, and the convention is expected to have MORE space next year!

We wanted to send a big THANK YOU to our panelists and to everyone who attended our panels on Pitching for Professionals (with Andy Schmidt, Nick Lowe, Bob Schreck, and Paul Allor) and Surviving Collaboration (with Andy Schmidt, Robert Atkins, Chris Sotomayor, and Paul Allor). We hope you enjoyed them.

We had a bunch of members and instructors exhibiting, and reports were that sales were extremely strong and the networking opportunities were fantastic!

Also, we had another successful Comics Experience Meet-Up at Mulligans on Thursday night this year -- the biggest Meet-Up ever to date, with 30-40 attendees over the course of the night.

Comics Experience alums, Workshop members, and instructors who attended included: Alejandro Arbona, Andy Schmidt, Bill Yurkas, DaFu Yu, Dan Rivera, Dan Rivera, Dave Kawalec, Eric Drumm, Gamal Hennesey, Gannon Beck, George O'Connor, Jenay Gordon, Joe Sergi, Joey Groah, Kevin Byrne, Matt O'Keefe, Nick Dedual, Nicole Boose, Paul Allor, Paul Littell, Rich Douek, Robert Atkins, Scott Dubin, Sean Flahaven, and Seth Teter. It was great seeing everyone there!

We look forward to next year -- and if you have aspirations to create comics or improve your craft, join us, and maybe we'll see YOU there next year!

Comics Experience - C2E2 Report!

The 2012 C2E2 Convention was another great one for Comics Experience staff, alums, and Creators Workshop members!

On Friday, Comics Experience founder Andy Schmidt (former Marvel and IDW Editor) and our art instructor (and pro penciler) Robert Atkins held two art-focused panels: Comic Art and Storytelling and Building Your Art Portfolio.

In the Storytelling panel, the panelists discussed the elements of "Visual Success," from communication and action, to dynamics. There was also conversation about how to "read without words," the concept of active reader participation, and even the topic of photo reference. You can read a more detailed account of this panel on CE alum Joe Sergi's Cup of Geek website.

In the Portfolio panel, Andy and Robert discussed all the ins and outs of building and showing your portfolio -- what to include, what to exclude, and even how to physically present it!

Also, quite a number of Comics Experience alums were in attendance, and several were exhibiting, including Amy Chu (alum & Workshop member) showing off Meridien City (1 and 2 in one volume!) and Girls Night Out. And artist and alum Carl Peterson was another member displaying his artwork in Artists Alley!

Of course, no major convention would be complete without a Comics Experience meet-up, which took place Friday after the panels.

The meet-up was attended by (clockwise, from left): Amy Chu, Jim Murray, Andy Schmidt, Joe Sergi, Brian Gilman, J.D. Oliva, Craig Schmidt, and Carl Peterson, as well as (not pictured here) Robert Atkins and Paul Allor.

We hope to see you at the next convention!

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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

Comics Experience at C2E2!

If you're going to the C2E2 Convention this weekend, make sure to check out the Comics Experience panels, as well as exhibiting instructors, alums and Workshop members!

Here's where you can find everyone:

• Art instructor and pro penciler Robert Atkins will be exhibiting at table N5
  
• Writer Amy Chu (alum & Workshop member) will be at table D6, with copies of her comics Meridien City (1 and 2 in one volume!) and Girls Night Out. That latter volume is edited by CE staffer Paul Allor, who will also be in attendance at the show.
  
• Artist Carl Peterson (alum and Workshop member) will be at table A14.
  
• Writer and IDW Editor Bobby Curnow (alum and pro critiquer on the Workshop) won't be there in person, but you can pick up an ashcan preview of his new Battle Beasts series at Diamond Select Toys, booth 311.

Plus, don't miss our panels hosted by Comics Experience founder, and former Marvel and IDW Editor, Andy Schmidt along with Robert Atkins!

Comics Experience: Comic Art and Storytelling
Friday, April 13, 2012
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM in Room N426b
The greatest Comic book minds of our time divulge the greatest secrets of all time. Join us for the top tips for telling a clear and great story in comics. How, as an artist, do you approach great looking art and telling a story? How's it different from illustration work? What is the process used by most working professionals? These insights are not to be missed.

Comics Experience: Building Your Art Portfolio
Friday, April 13, 2012
3:45 PM - 4:45 PM in Room N426c
The most useful panel you’ll ever attend as an artist. Let’s cut through everything else and get right to getting you work! How to prepare your portfolio: what to include, where to get good scripts to draw from, what NOT to include, and how to handle a portfolio review in a professional manner (in other words, how to turn a negative into a positive!).

We hope to see you there!

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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

iFanboy's "Making Comics" with Andy Schmidt Podcast, Episode #6 posted!

The sixth episode of iFanboy's Making Comics with Andy Schmidt podcast has been released!

In the sixth episode, iFanboy host Josh Flanagan and former Marvel and IDW Editor (and Comics Experience founder) Andy Schmidt discuss "Comic Book Scripts".
As explained over on iFanboy:

"Recently, comics superstar Warren Ellis posted this piece on “What a Comics Script is For,” prompting a discussion between Josh and Andy, on what writers should be thinking about when putting together their script. "

Check out this new episode, plus all of the previous ones on iTunes, or listen to them right here:

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"

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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

iFanboy's "Making Comics" with Andy Schmidt Podcast, Episodes #4 & #5 posted!

The fourth and fifth episodes of iFanboy's Making Comics with Andy Schmidt podcast have been released!

In the fourth episode, iFanboy host Josh Flanagan and former Marvel and IDW Editor (and Comics Experience founder) Andy Schmidt discuss getting "Good Feedback" on your work.
As explained over on iFanboy:

"One of the hardest things about making comics on your own is finding valuable feedback on how you’re doing...We’ll talk about what "good" feedback means, and how to get it."

And in the fifth episode, just released today, Josh and Andy chat about the important topic of "Convention Networking":

"Andy and Josh talk about the best way to take advantage of the many comic book conventions, and how you, as a new comic book creator can take the best advantage of them. Whether you’re trying to meet other creators or collaborators, or talk to editors or publishers, there’s a way to do it, and a way not to. "

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"

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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