Tuesday, 17 February 2015

When Looking For Comic Art Classes Pennsylvania Can Help

By Katina Brady


Characters from the comics have seemingly taken over much of our mainstream culture, creating new interest in the business of paneled storytelling. As a result, young artists and many older fans are now seeking to become professionals. Many dream of creating the next popular character that will rise to the top of the industry. When these artists look for the best comic art classes Pennsylvania is often among their top choices.

In the early days of the industry, aspiring artists had only a couple of pathways to achieving their goals in comics. They could hone their skills alone, studying from books created by the masters of the craft, or they could basically become understudies to the professionals who were actively working in the comics field. That choice was the same one available to most artists for centuries.

Several decades ago, artists like the renowned Joe Kubert decided that they could offer aspiring illustrators the benefit of their insight in a formalized setting. They created schools that soon produced a new crop of artists whose graduation filled the comics industry with dynamic storytellers. Schools, workshops, and other venues soon sprang up in Pennsylvania and other areas.

At the various workshops and schools, aspiring artists are taught the basic elements of comics work, as well as more advanced story creation methods and production skills. Instructors strive to educate every new artist in every area needed to create comics ready for publication. That, of course, requires a diverse course of study covering many different skill sets.

These skills include many that would be found in more traditional artist schools. There is a strong emphasis on learning anatomy, a course of study that is of particular importance for storytellers who most commonly work with human or humanoid characters. Students are taught the fundamentals of human proportion, as well as the exaggerated heroic proportions used in most comics.

Study of various mediums, techniques, and artist tools is also required. Some courses teach mediums like watercolor, and some of the many graphics software programs used for comics production. Almost all schools instruct students in the techniques for pencil drawings, as well as how to use pens and brushes to create India ink finished drawings using line thickness and shadow to create the ambiance and effect that can mean the difference between mediocre and superior artwork.

And then there is the true heart of this education: sequential storytelling. Most people don't just pick up a pencil and start drawing pictures to tell complex stories. Most have to be taught how to translate a scripted story into a paneled narrative, the proper pace for telling the story, how to vary perspective in scenes, and the way to develop dynamic panels on a consistent basis.

As Hollywood continues to produce one blockbuster after another based on the most popular of these comics, the need for talented artists will only continue to grow. For aspiring students who desire to learn this craft, an area school that teaches the fundamentals of producing comics can be the perfect way to achieve that goal.




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