Category Archives: Workshops

HOW TO DRAW THE FIGURE FROM YOUR HEAD and HOW TO WRITE COMICS part 1!

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The NEW classes are on the schedule!

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HOW TO DRAW THE FIGURE FROM YOUR HEAD

A knowledge of human anatomy is one of those skill sets that seems frustratingly complicated to learn.  But it’s not, we promise.  Here at the bootcamp, you get step by step instructions on how to build a figure from the skeleton up, with muscles, joints, posture, and body language all explained with simple geometric shapes in a way that anyone can understand, whether you’re a beginner or an artist who’s been at it for a while.   Our method of construction makes drawing sophisticated figures in motion seem like a magic trick!    CLICK HERE to sign up for classes starting FEB 23!

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WRITING FOR COMICS part 1

Writing is often an “invisible” skill.  It’s easy to tell when you can or can’t draw, yet difficult to know when you can or cannot write.  But plotting, dialogue, character development, story arcs, five act structures and scene work are all simple to do when you simply know what you’re doing.  Come learn the skills from a multiple award winning writer with more than thirty years in the biz of making stories and getting paid for it.  And don’t worry if you’re interested in more than comics.  Our classes appeal to novelists, screenwriters, playwrights and poets.  Writing is writing, and here’s where you’ll learn to do it like a professional.   CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR CLASSES starting FEB 24!

 

 

 

 

September Scheduling

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Hey Bootcampers! At this point, HOW TO WRITE COMICS Part One** is full, and we have one space left for HOW TO MAKE COMICS. We are keeping a wait list for both classes though, if you’re still interested.

**However…if we get enough names on a wait list for HOW TO WRITE COMICS, Ty will teach the class on a second day–Wednesdays 7 – 10pm September 9 – October 21 2015. If you are interested, please email us at comicbookbootcamp@gmail.com and let us know as soon as possible.

Information for both classes is HERE.

Keiren

July Classes

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UPDATED:  The Cover Design class is rescheduled to start a week later, Tuesday July 22 and run for three weeks, ending August 5, 2014. At this point, we’ve had only a few inquiries about the Portfolio Review class. We’ll wait another week to see if anyone is interested and decide if it will run.

JUST got around to consulting with Ty to plan out July classes…he’s been busybusybusy with conventions (Moncton and Denver), fundraising (Tackle Cancer for Ryan) and Batman 66 Meets The Green Hornet.

Last year, many students told us they weren’t interested in taking classes in August. To that end, we’re not scheduling any full seven week workshops. Ty will be doing his Cover Design workshop (brand new last year), and will plan to schedule at least one Portfolio Review workshop (based on interest). He had hoped to put together a new Environments class but is too busy with his own comics workload at this time; potentially, it will be ready for late fall.

Read the course descriptions and email us at comicbookbootcamp@gmail.com if you’re interested; space in the class is limited. Let us know if you would like to take the Portfolio Review class and which Thursday will work for you.

And if you have any suggestions for potential classes, feel free to drop us an email… (at this time, we’re not planning to run any classes with digital components, such as colouring or lettering).

Keiren

May – July Workshops

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The next classes will still be seven weeks but are starting later in the month than usual which means we will go until the first week of July. Ty has a busy month in May with various commitments and it was necessary to have a late start rather than postpone for several weeks in the middle of a session.

WRITING FOR COMICS (AND OTHER THINGS) PART TWO will start on Tuesday May 27 and run on Tuesdays until the end of June. Because of the July 1 holiday, the final class is scheduled for the following THURSDAY July 3.

The art class this session is PENCILING THE PAGE:  The language of storytelling with pictures. I was just at a party this past weekend, attended by a lot of editors who were asking about comic books and graphic novels. Comics creators Ronn Sutton, Janet Hetherington and I were trying to explain the importance of storytelling and layouts. The quick explanation we agreed on was that storytelling/layouts is the cinematography of comic books. This class will teach you everything Ty Templeton knows about just that.

Click HERE for descriptions and details for each course. Classes will fill quickly, let us know as soon as possible if you would like to join us.

AND…

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we are often asked if Ty will ever teach any of his classes anywhere but in Toronto and the answer has always been “sorry no”…until now! We will be going to Moncton NB in May to attend the East Coast Comic Expo. The week before, Wednesday May 14 to Friday May 16, 10-4pm, Ty will be teaching a special version of PENCILING THE PAGE:  The language of storytelling with pictures. The class will take place at McKenzie College, which is co-sponsoring it with the East Coast Comic Expo. If you are on the east coast and are able to attend a class in Moncton, please click HERE for further information, and to register.

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Keiren

JANUARY – FEBRUARY 2014 CLASSES

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After doing a quick unscientific survey of his Penciling the Page students, Ty has decided to run INKING FOR COMICS in the new year. For new students or those who want to brush up on their comic-making skills, he will also be teaching COMIC BOOK BOOTCAMP PART ONE.

Take a quick look at all the information about these two workshops (including, time, dates, location, etc.) and let us know as soon as possible if you would like to join these classes. If you wish to register, or ask any questions, email us at comicbookbootcamp@gmail.com.

KEIREN

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November-December Classes

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Been studying the calendar with Ty, planning out the next set of classes. At the moment, we’re scheduling WRITING FOR COMICS (and graphic novels, and webcomics, and short films, and short stories and…) PART TWO for Tuesdays (November 5 – December 17), and PENCILING THE PAGE for Wednesdays (November 6 – December 18). (Click for all the details)

We’re discussing adding other classes by other teachers; as soon as we finalise those plans, we’ll post the information. These are the only classes Ty Templeton will be teaching during this time period.

Ty wants to point out that PENCILING THE PAGE is much more than just drawing and, in fact, “drawing skills are helpful but not necessary”. This class is good for both writers and artists–it’s about telling the story through the pictures, leading the eye across the page, reinforcing the words themselves.

“After seven weeks, the students will understand the rules of panel to panel flow, information streams, page design, close-ups, establishing shots and action panels (and when to use them), character turnarounds, story bibles and so much more! From knife fights aboard an exploding helicopter to romantic conversations over the breakfast table, a step-by-step approach to the how and why of page composition is explored in depth.”

Check outthe class descriptions and email us at

comicbookbootcamp@gmail.com.

You can also email us if you’d like to be added to our email list to be notified of future classes.

Keiren

Summer Classes

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We’ve been taking a look at the calendar, planning out the next session of classes. We’ve decided not to run any full seven-week classes; some of the feedback we’ve had from students (current and potential) is that comic fans are saving their dollars for FanExpo. But, there are a lot who are hoping to be at FanExpo and other summer conventions with their own books to sell, or with portfolios to show editors. To that end, we’ve decided to tailor our summer offerings to helping students with those needs.

PORTFOLIO HOW-TO AND REVIEW
How to put together the best possible portfolio to show an editor

DATE:  Thursday 7-10 pm. July 4 2013

MATERIALS:  Students should bring the art they are planning to show an editor; drawings, pinups, sequential pages. They don’t have to be in a “proper” portfolio book for this class (but do plan to buy one).

PRICE:    $30

Payment accepted by cash, cheque or PayPal (There will be a fee for NSF cheques).

REGISTRATION/INQUIRES:  email comicbookbootcamp@gmail.com or call us at 905-822-2961 to book a space, and to make payment arrangements. Please note that spaces are limited for each class; registration is on a first-come first-reserved basis.

First up, a PORTFOLIO HOW-TO AND REVIEW workshop. This will be one three-hour session. Ty will spend the first half-hour or so, explaining what skills and examples editors look for in a portfolio, how your portfolio should be put together and arranged, and what pages you should have in it to best show off your abilities to any potential client.

Immediately following, Ty will spend time reviewing each student’s portfolio/art samples, giving highly specific critiques and notes for the work in front of him.

Students are welcome to leave after their own review but are advised that it’s in their best interest to stay and watch everyone go through the process.  Much will be learned with every example.

Because of the time involved in that process, the class will be limited to ten students. If more than ten students are interested in this class, we will add on additional workshops in subsequent weeks.

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COVER DESIGN, COMPOSITION and EXECUTION

PREREQUISITE:  none, although knowledge/experience of drawing is helpful.

DATE:  Tuesdays 7-10pm July 2 – July 16, 2013

MATERIALS:  paper for drawing (loose sheets or sketchbooks), pencils, erasers, pencil sharpener, paper and pens for taking notes

PRICE:  $125

Payment accepted by cash, cheque or PayPal (There will be a fee for NSF cheques).

REGISTRATION/INQUIRES:  email comicbookbootcamp@gmail.com or call us at 905-822-2961 to book a space, and to make payment arrangements. Please note that spaces are limited for each class; registration is on a first-come first-reserved basis.

A cover is not simply a drawing, it’s a conversation with your potential reader.  It’s one-part advertising, one-part introduction, and a whole mess of parts involving content, composition, style, and the needs of the readers and retailers.

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Arguably, the cover is the single most important element of a comic book business, and is often the most overlooked.  This new course is a greatly expanded version of the 90 minute cover lecture Ty has given in his Bootcamp Level 1, class, including elements and lessons never taught at the Bootcamp before!!

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As always, classes are first-come first served…so email us asap to reserve a space.

comicbookbootcamp@gmail.com

The next set of classes will be…

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starting up in May. To avoid Monday holidays (Victoria Day, this time out), we will be running classes Tuesdays to Thursdays.

Thursday May 1 will be the first meeting for HOLMES INCORPORATED #4. Interested students can email comicbookbootcamp@gmail.com–only students who have taken classes with Ty will be considered.

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Starting Tuesday May 14, Ty will be teaching PENCILING THE PAGE. Previously called LAYOUT FOR COMICS, this class “is the fundamental how-to course for creating comic art – from blank paper to finished page, through thumbnail sketches, layouts and pencils, this is everything you need to know about how stories are told visually, and how to make great pages come to life.”

WRITING FOR COMICS PART TWO will take place on Thursdays, starting May 16. Only students who have previously taken PART ONE (in any session) will be registered for this workshop.

Check the information under UPCOMING CLASSES for all the details on WRITING FOR COMICS PART TWO, and PENCILING THE PAGE. Check HOLMES INC. #4 for more information on the upcoming course.

Keiren

New Classes! March-April 2013

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This week is Class #3 for the current session of workshops, so it’s time to plan the next set. After some planning sessions, here’s what Ty has decided on for his own classes (we’re still planning out classes to be taught by other teachers, including some aimed at kids and teenagers–keep an eye on the site for those):

WRITING FOR COMICS (PART ONE)

Wednesdays 7-10pm, March 13-April 24 2013

FEES:  $300 (for students who have taken this class before, and would like to repeat it, the price is $250)     Payment accepted by cash, cheque or PayPal (There will be a fee for NSF cheques).

REGISTRATION/INQUIRES:  email comicbookbootcamp@gmail.com to book a space, and to make payment arrangements. Please note that spaces are limited for each class; registration is on a first-come first-reserved basis.

Plot, tale, character, dialogue, set pieces, scenes  and act structure —we cover it all.  Seven intensive workshops, will teach you the basic language of fiction, with an emphasis on comic and graphic novels as a script form.  This is a writing class like no other writing class you`ve ever had.

Students are expected to create stories, plots, pitches and scenes in the workshops.  Bring a pencil (with a healthy eraser) and a willingness to dig in and write, write, write!

Most of my industry awards were for my many years writing for Batman.  As a result, this course is my favourite to teach, and a favourite with students.  This class generally fills very quickly–so reserve a spot as soon as possible..

(This course is followed by  Writing for Comics Part Two, which focuses on world building, continuing series, genre, comedy, tragedy, and a study of classical story forms.)

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Drawing the Human Figure From Your Head

Mondays 7-10pm, March 11 – April 22 2013

FEES:  $300 (for students who have taken this class before, and would like to repeat it, the price is $250)     Payment accepted by cash, cheque or PayPal (There will be a fee for NSF cheques).

REGISTRATION/INQUIRES:  email comicbookbootcamp@gmail.com to book a space, and to make payment arrangements. Please note that spaces are limited for each class; registration is on a first-come first-reserved basis.

Visualizing the human form in three-dimensional space is one of the basic skills needed to make comics, and our bootcamp class makes this often difficult skill surprisingly easy, with a unique geometric approach to skeletal and muscular systems.  In seven weeks, you’ll understand the movement  of the elbows, shoulders, hips, knees and hands, basic human proportions, the muscle system, and balance (yes, in just seven weeks!) without needing a model to see it in your head.   Previous drawing experience is not required, we can teach this method to anyone willing to learn.

Bring lots of paper and pencils, this is a class for drawing, not for listening to lectures.

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COMIC BOOK BOOTCAMP PART TWO

Tuesdays 7-10pm, March 12-April 23 2013

FEES:  $300 (for students who have taken this class before, and would like to repeat it, the price is $250)     Payment accepted by cash, cheque or PayPal (There will be a fee for NSF cheques).

REGISTRATION/INQUIRES:  email comicbookbootcamp@gmail.com to book a space, and to make payment arrangements. Please note that spaces are limited for each class; registration is on a first-come first-reserved basis.

For students who have completed COMIC BOOK BOOTCAMP PART ONE, the layout/scripting/anatomy lessons continue, with a new emphasis on dialogue, character, pencilling and inking the final page, facial features, cover design, body language, expressions and “acting” with a pencil.  Students will write and draw their own short comic story by the end of the seven week course.

Bring paper or a sketchbook, pencils and erasers for drawing lessons; a notebook or laptop or whatever you need to write down lessons.

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PLEASE NOTE:

Ty will do his best to help students catch up on any lessons missed if they miss a class; a makeup class won’t be the full three hours (as in-class instruction includes class participation, exercises, etc.) but will include all knowledge passed on.

SPECIAL!!!! ***ONE DAY WORKSHOP!!!!

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This illustration was completely coloured with markers!

RENDERING WITH MARKERS

Saturday December 15 1-4pm

$65 (includes the cost of THREE Copics markers, and illustrations printed on art board)

email us at comicbookbootcamp@gmail.com and save yourself a spot in this class!

No materials required–all will be provided by the instructor.

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A member of Comic Book Embassy, animator/illustrator/webcomic artist Megan Kearney  will be running a one-day workshop on RENDERING WITH MARKERS. Megan has run similar workshops before, and has a lot of experience working with different brands and kinds of colouring markers in her work.

If you want to learn to colour pinups, comics, webcomics, manga, any kind of illustration–this is the class for you! Learn how markers can give you a variety of looks, and a depth and richness of colour you thought you could only do with paints or digital colouring.

The class will run Saturday December 15 1-4pm at our school. No matter what your level of drawing ability, you will be able to take this workshop and learn to colour! Megan will provide each student with illustrations (printed on art paper) to work from, and each student will receive THREE Copics markers, included in the price, to take home at the end of the workshop. She will also have a supply of other markers so that you have a variety of colours to work with for the class.

Meg will teach you how to colour, to shade, how to layer with the markers, how to build up colours, and how to mix to make new colours. This isn’t just basic colouring–she’ll show you how you can use Copics to mimic the look and effect of watercolours. You will be amazed at what you will be able to do by the end of the three hours!

Class size is limited, so please sign up as soon as possible–and make sure you specify which class you would like. Pre-registration is necessary so that Megan is able to provide supplies to each student.

RENDERING WITH MARKERS

Instructor:  Megan Kearney

Saturday December 15 1-4pm

$65 (includes the cost of THREE Copics markers, and illustrations printed on art board)

email us at comicbookbootcamp@gmail.com and save yourself a spot in this class!

No materials required–all will be provided by the instructor.

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Art and colours by Megan Hendriks

Keiren