The course is designed to introduce all the basic aspects of successful drawing—rendering simple shapes, understanding light and shadow, creating volume and measuring proportion—building on each step exponentially before finally introducing the human figure to the proceedings. Exercises that stress constraining value and tonal control will further refine the student’s basic knowledge until they can confidently produce solid imagery, enabling them to concentrate more on the fluid expression of their marks on paper instead of the simple reportage of their subject, whether it be drawing from life or their own imaginations.

Class Description: Whether drawing comics, creating an illustration or making storyboards for film, television, animation or video games, the driving force behind these different media is storytelling. How we utilize storytelling in each of these forms is both very similar and different. In this class we will discuss the different approaches to storytelling depending upon the medium through class exercises and analysis of the different genres. The goal of this class is students coming away with a finished concept for a story and an a piece executed in either a comic, illustration, or storyboard format.

Animation has the ability to encompass all aspects of art, ranging from simple sketches to grand cinematic experiences. Whatever your interest, it is key to explore how tradition and technology overlap to shape your ideas and find your personal style. Students will experiment with writing, designing, and drawing narrative or non-narrative animation concepts while exploring visual storytelling with an emphasis on digital media.