Art tips and techniques and some reviews by illustrator Joe Corroney.

Dear Joe,

I really love your Comics 101 articles. I would also love to attend your class at CCAD. Unfortunately, that is impossible due to the fact that I live in NY, work full-time, have a family, etc. Is there any possibility that you might consider starting an online class? I bet there are a lot of people that would be interested. I know I would be!

Thanks for all the great advice!
Keith

Dear Joe,

I happened across your web page today and thought I would ask if you knew of amy courses or programs for a gifted 13 year old this Summer or if you ever teach any art courses for that age group. My son has been identified as a gifted art student at Blendon Middle School here in Westerville and we'd like to nurture that ability this Summer if possible. Any help you might give us would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Rob

Hello,

My name is Dan and I have a soon to be 14 year old son named Andy. He has always liked to draw, and has found that up to now, his middle school art classes spent way too little time on just drawing. He will be taking a drawing class this Fall in high school.

We were looking for an interesting class for him to take this Summer, and I came across your site. It sounds very interesting, and I think that he would think so as well.

I will be calling the CCAD about admissions etc., but I had a few questions about the course. This 101 course seems like an introduction class, yet the site mentions the IL201 and IL202 courses as prerequisites. Did I read this right? Are there prerequisites for the 101 course? Could a 14 yr. old attend the course? Where and when are the classes?

I appreciate any answers you can provide!

Thank you,
Dan

The Comic Book Illustration Course is a class that contains principles and concepts that can be applied to comic-book drawing, cartooning, animation, and pictorial illustration.

This course helps students understand the freelance professional illustration field, particularly the pencil drawing stage of the comic book industry, and how to apply their talents in an effective and competitive manner.

The student should be able to have success in their employment endeavors by putting what they've learned and understood to practical use. The goal is not simply making a lot of nice drawings but to understand that if those who have the desire and passion to really excel professionally in comics or other illustration fields, it takes a combination of elements. These elements include a positive and confident attitude, timeliness, sharp presentations, research information, and communication skills.

At the conclusion of this course the student should be able to...

1. Tell a dramatic story visually (via mood, expression, and character).
2. Master perspective drawing and figure drawing in a rather cinematic approach.
3. Turn good ideas into great illustrations and take the next step in their career development with confidence.

Materials needed for this class are...

An Ad Art pad, a range of H to 2B pencils, mechanical pencil, non-photo blue pencils, plastic and kneaded erasers, india ink, crow quill pen nibs (#101,#102, and extra fine bowl point tips) and pen nib holders, a good range of Windsor Newton brushes (series 00 and up) for inking purposes, Pro White (acrylics artist opaque white-out), two to three values of gray markers for layouts, black markers, masking tape, ruler (at least 18 inches), sketch book, 11 x 17 Bristol board plate or vellum finish (Blue Line Pro Strathmore comic book board available in the CCAD supply store) and specified photographic reference.

Recommended reading and books for this course are...

Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud
Dynamic Figure Drawing, Dynamic Anatomy, Dynamic Light and Shade, Dynamic Wrinkles and Drapery, all books by Burne Hogarth
Constructive Anatomy by George B. Bridgman
The Art of Comic Book Inking by Gary Martin with Steve Rude
How To Draw Comics the Marvel Way by Stan Lee and John Buscema
Perspective Drawing Workbook (available from CCAD supply store)

Students are graded on their layouts, final comic book page illustrations, in-class work, class preparation, and attendance.