The Art of Visual Memory

Professor Woolley | BAM 70500-02 | FALL23

Category: Classes (Page 4 of 4)

WEEK 3 | SEP 12

September 12, 2023 / / 0 Comments

Topic: The Comic Strip: Multi-Panel Storytelling

Objectives

  • To understand the concept of multi-panel storytelling.
  • To consider the concepts of time and action in sequential art.
  • To consider the ways words and images interact in comics.
  • To familiarize students with the typical workflow of working professional comic-book artists.
  • To familiarize students with materials and to introduce inking techniques.

Activities

Warm Up Drawing SELF PORTRAIT 4min

Adrian Tomine cartoonist profile

Student Lead Reading Response 20 min

CRITIQUE: 1-panel comic

LECTURE: Visual Metaphor

DISCUSSION: Chapters 3 & 4 of Understanding Comics

LECTURE: TIME as it relates to comics:

  • Gutter, Sequence, and & Closure

DRAWING ACTIVITY: Action in Comcis & TIME LORD!

LECTURE: Traditional Comics Workflow

LECTURE & DEMO: Supplies & Processes

CRITIQUE: Workshop final project ideas

Review Assignments and Expectations for Next Week’s Class



Due Next Week

  • In Sketchbook (aim for 5) DAILY DIARY PAGES
  • Begin Homework 2 4-Panel Comics (aim for 2-3 ideas)
  • FINAL PROJECT: CHOOSE 1 scene from your final project outline. By next week’s class, break this scene down to its individual beats.
  • List or sketch these beats. Don’t worry about layout, quality of drawing, or style.

READ: Jessica Abel Chapters 1, 2 & 3 Drawing Words and Writing Pictures

*READ: Lighter than my Shadow – Katie Green, ONI press*

*Please note the order on the reading list has changed, with the purpose of inspiring students who are working with abstract concepts in their narratives.

Project-3-MultiPanelCOMIC-1Download

Week 2 | SEP 05

September 5, 2023 / / 0 Comments

Topic: WORDS + IMAGE = MEANING

Activities

Warm Up Drawing 5 min

Student Lead Reading Response 20 min

REVIEW CRITIQUE GUIDE:

  • Clarity
  • Story Structure
  • Reading Order
  • Rhythm
  • Writing
  • Uniqueness
  • Craft

SHARE: Homework 1 – Self Portraits 20 min

DISCUSS: Our First Character – an exploration of self / personal voice. 

REVIEW: Lynda Barry’s Diary Format.

LECTURE: THE LANGUAGE an Over View of Comics Grammar:

  • Reading Order
  • Panel
  • Gutter
  • Tier
  • Flow and Eye Track
  • Beats and Timing
  • Point Of View
  • Shot Choice
  • Pagination/ Page Turn

LECTURE: WORDS + IMAGE = MEANING, SHOW OR TELL!

DISCUSSION: What are some of the ways words and images interact in comics? Where do we see writing in comics? How might the meaning of a drawing change when combined with different words?

IN CLASS ACTIVITIES: New Yorker Captions

LECTURE: The 1 Panel COMIC

IN-CLASS ACTIVITY: Ivan Brunetti meets – Overheard in NY!

SHARE: 2-3 Final Project Ideas 30 min

Due Next Week

Homework:

  • In Sketchbook (aim for 5) DAILY DIARY PAGES
  • Complete 1-Panel Comics (aim for 3-5) based on your diary observations.
    • Use the Language of comics purposefully. Consider how text and image interplay. Consider how a scene reads from differing points of view and uses text in different ways. What happens when information is conveyed through dialogue? Through captions? Through background text embedded in illustrations?
    • Bring your 1-panel comics to a level you consider FINISHED – They can be simple, or more detailed; Stylized or more realistic. Try using ink to finalize and tighten the rough pencil lines.
    • FULL DESCRIPTION BELOW
  • Workshop your 2-3 FINAL PROJECT IDEAS. By next week’s class, you should close in on one you would like to pursue and have a rough outline.

READ: Jessica Abel – What is a Graphic Novel (Print me and hang me up!)

READ: Jessica Abel Chapters 1 & 2 Drawing Words and Writing Pictures

READ: Chapters 3 & 4 Understanding Comics

READ: The Realist – Asaf Hanuka

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: DISCORD ONBOARDING (over zoom)

**DISCUSSION ON DISCORD**

1.-Panel-COMICDownload

Week 1 | AUG 29

August 27, 2023 / / 0 Comments

Class Info: Tuesday 6:30-8:30

CUNY Graduate Center room 6417

To-Do Before Class:

Topic: INTRODUCTIONS & FINDING YOUR VOICE 

Activities 

ICE BREAKER ACTIVITY: Ivan Brunetti Cartooning Style 

*NO SOUL FITS INSIDE A STICK FIGURE!*

ACTIVITY: Lynda Barry 3 min Self Portraits in Brunetti Style. 

DISCUSS: What’s Your Why? Class Introductions.

Who am I?

Philosophy:

Comics are language. Every language can be learned.  You’ll find this course is front-loaded with language acquisition tools and idea generation tools.   My goal is to get you ready to share your personal narratives in sequential art format as quickly as possible.

DISCUSS: What is Sequential Art? (a.k.a Comics) Class Relationship with Comics

Broad Overview of Genres and Styles – Biography and Memoir in Sequential Art.

Comics are a language with a distinct Grammar Set.  It’s made up of Sequential Reading (left -right up down), of grammatical parts which are composed of BOTH words and images.

(Realistic drawing is NOT a requirement.) 

ABOUT THIS COURSE:

Review academic policies, syllabus, calendar, and async resources

Craft, Community, and Culture!

  • Course Structure
  • Reading VS. Making
  • Reading List
  • Critique and Discussion: Class Discord
  • In-class activities (Like the one we just did!)
  • FINAL PROJECT
  • Grading Policy: EFFORT, TIME, CARE, GROWTH, STORY, CRAFT, CLARITY (not rendering.)

DISCUSS: Do we need to DRAW to make comics? NO! (…but it helps.)

Value of a sketchbook. Why work and write by hand?

Optional DRAWING ASSIGNMENT. (Since this is not a drawing class!)

DISCUSS: Our First Character – an exploration of self / personal voice.  What is VOICE in Comics? What you choose to say and how you choose to say it!

DISCUSS: Value of Daily Diary for Life Writing

INTRODUCE: Lynda Barry’s Diary Format – Share Mine – Create Template

ACTIVITY: Meet the Artist / Comics Selfie / Share Mine

(Begin in class if time allows)

Consider the different ways text and image interact on a page.  Consider your personal visual style or play with styles you find interesting and experiment!

Create a “meet the artist” page in your sketchbook with a comic version of yourself as a method of exploring your voice.  Challenge yourself to try multiple ways of using words + images together. 

Infographics, cross sections, embedded text (in the background or on an item?), maps, dialogue, signage, sound effects, and captions, are all options. 

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: DISCORD ONBOARDING

Due Next Week

Homework:

  • In Sketchbook (aim for 5) DAILY DIARY PAGES
  • Complete your Meet the Artist / Artist Selfie   *KEEP IT SIMPLE*
  • 2-3 FINAL PROJECT IDEAS

READ: Lynda Barry Making Comics Excerpt

READ: Chapters 1 & 2 Understanding Comics

READ: Inventing Comics by Dylan Horrocks

READ: Dear Sophie, Love Sophie – By Sophie Lucido Johnson

**DISCUSSION ON DISCORD**

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