The Random Unlock!

One of the commonly-asked questions we get when people discover our online art center is: "Will you be holding open office hours?" That is to say, a block of time where we (Rob and Jerzy) would make ourselves available to answer any questions or offer any input on your creative projects.

We thought about it a bit, and finally landed on why the heck not?

So in the final weeks leading up to the big 30 Classes in 30 Days event, we're adding a new feature. With every new student registration we're going to unlock 1 Open Office Hours session randomly assigned to Thursdays and Fridays during the month of November, and even December 1st and 2nd!

These sessions will be available to all 30 Classes participants, regardless of Bronze, Silver, or Gold registration status.

Register for 30 Classes in 30 Days to unlock an Open Office Hours session today!

LIA Cast 07 - Time! Time!

It's time to talk about time! Estimating time needed for projects, tool tips to help manage one's creative schedule, and evaluating which project to take on next based on the time you have and the time you need are all on the docket in another marathon-length episode of the Lean Into Art Cast!

Links mentioned in this episode:

• David Seah's Emergent Task Planner
• Sunni Brown's Doodlers Unite! TED Talk
• 37 Signals' Basecamp
• Nozbe
• Wunderlist
• Toodledo
• Marked
• nvALT
• Fabulous Secrets episodes Four and Five
• Rob's Art Geek Zoo Polytechnicast

Follow us on Twitter!
Subscribe through iTunes
RSS

LIA Cast 07 - Time! Time!

Polytechnicast - High Adventure Crossover with Kevin Cross

In this episode I’m joined by illustrator, musician, and teaching artist Kevin Cross. We discuss various aspects of making art for the all ages market.

We ponder what styles and stories tend to reach all ages markets and which presents multiple challenges as a creator. Also: how to face the doubt that some parents have when some things seem on-the-surface not as kid friendly while those same factors (like monsters, vampires, or talking fish) are genuinely appealing to the intended kids audience. Pushing buttons takes risks, how do you keep the exciting fun and fantasy in your all ages story without alienating the parents which are also your clients?

Part 1 of our talk is in this episode of the Polytechnicast. Part 2 is (or soon will be) available at High Adventures In Illustration!

• Kevin Cross Illustration
• Kevin Cross on Twitter
• Kevin’s Countdown to Halloween
• Childrens Book Market Thoughts by Morrie Sendak (creator of Where the Wild Things Are)
• TV Tropes Rebellious Spirit
• Nihao Kai Lan (educational cartoon targeting a young audience)
• Wendy and Marvin from the Superfriends (A surprise I learned while assembling show notes: evidently they’ve re-appeared as caretakers in Teen Titans?!)
• Classic series pushing the envelope of “safe”: Jonny Quest
• Kate Shields Stenzinger (childhood development specialist)
• Spongebob Squarepants: successful at serving all ages humor
• List of Sesame Street Monsters

Follow Rob on Twitter or his blog at Interactive-Storyteller.com

Polytechnicast_-_High_Adventure_Crossover_with_Kevin_Cross.mp3 Listen on Posterous

Sequences and Mashups!

We're finalizing our list of workshops for the big 30 Classes in 30 Days event, and we've got two more to announce!

In Sequences and Consequences, you'll learn how the tone and plot of your comics story can change through a simple rearrangement of elements! In this interactive workshop you will create a comic on a series of 3x5” index cards. You will then change the sequence of panels to create a new way of looking at the story, or discover an entirely new narrative.

In Headline Mashup! you'll find out how ideas are easy to come by–the hard part is turning them into a story! In this hands-on interactive workshop you will be presented with three random headlines from the newspaper, and select three random objects. You will then be challenged to combine these elements into an eight-page mini-comic! A fun improvisational storytelling workshop where you’ll be surprised with what you create.

We've updated the 30 Classes in 30 Days event page with a new linear calendar of workshops so you can easily see all of the terrific events lined up for this November.

More reasons to sign up! The Gold Level breaks down to only $10 per workshop.

LIA Cast 06 - Pacing Anecdotes

This episode is dedicated to all of you brave cartoonists who are participating in this year's 24 Hour Comics Day. We (Rob and Jerzy) have prepared a discussion that will fill nearly 1/12th of the time you'll be spending on your story, and it so happens that the topic is entirely devoted to building a story!

We start out talking about social streams as a layer of content that supplements one's artistic endeavor. Is using a persona online disingenuous? Can a creator employ multiple personas for multiple audiences and still be genuine?

We then spiral off into talking about strategies for building a story, including:

• Thinking of it as an anecdote
• Outlining it into a series of points to be made, connected by the questions Why and How
• Allowing one's self to be surprised by what can come out of relaxing and letting it happen on the page

We close with some talk on pacing and rhythm, using music as an analogy for visual storytelling.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• 24 Hour Comics Day
• The Art Geek Zoo 24-Hour Comic
• Boulder & Fleet: Adventurers for Hire
• 30 Classes in 30 Days
• Jerzy's Comics Are Great! talk at Ignite Great Lakes

Follow us on Twitter!
Subscribe through iTunes
RSS

LIA Cast 06 - Pacing Anecdotes