<< SET UP | ACTIVITIES | 1-Day | Multi-Day Residency
FEATURES of SCHOOL/LIBRARY/MUSEUM RESIDENCIES:
- Participants draw & share original artwork, learning from each other and from student-centered responsive demonstrations by Marek.
- Marek emphasizes creative production as a way to explore, reflect upon, & synthesize topics of study.
- Projects often make specific CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS (e.g.: history / science / language arts / &c.)
- Assessment & documentation assistance available.
Comics Workshop Activities
Here’s what we do during workshops & residencies..
PRE-VISIT PREP:
BEFORE your Comics Workshop:
Links & resources to help you get the most out of our sessions!
Tools & Materials
You can make comics with a few basic tools found in many classrooms & offices…
SAMPLE DAY 1:
- Meeting & greeting participants…
- Everybody does some cartooning.
- Everybody finds an idea for a project.
INTRO ASSEMBLY:
Marek introduces his work + key concepts + the residency schedule.
Possible WORKSHOP TOPICS:
- Finding ideas by doodling
- F.A.S.T. = Basic storytelling tools
- P*I.E. = Tools + creative process
- Conferencing = Reader feedback!
- Setting Up = Starting pages, making books, &c.
- Developing story ideas
- Comics Formats = Structured spaces that channel creativity!
SAMPLE DAY 2:
- Classroom visits while students work.
- Discussions & demos based on student art samples, observations, & questions.
- Further readings & special topics as desired.
Possible WORKSHOP TOPICS:
- Editing & improving our comics (proofreading, conferencing, fixing, &c.)
- Research methods & project management for comics projects in specific curricular subjects
- Best practices for creating readable, eye-catching, interesting comics.
- Project management = Keeping track of (& completing) longer projects!
- Demo projects from Marek’s work & others
SAMPLE DAY 3:
- As DAY 2 (above), plus…
- Publishing & sharing student artwork
- Q&A from published cartoonists (a.k.a. students!)
Possible WORKSHOP TOPICS:
- Best practices for creating readable, eye-catching, interesting comics.
- Sharing & publishing multiple pages of comics in various formats (mini-comics, anthologies, graphic novels, &c.)
- Publishing = Cranking out quality mini-comics on deadline (emphasizing teamwork & craftsmanship)!
- Distribution = Getting your comics out to family, friends, & new readers.
- “Shop Talk” = careers & creative indie business models.
- Other topics (according to interests & time!)
CLOSING ASSEMBLY:
Marek reads aloud from participants’ artwork, shares new work, draws w/ audience participation, signs books, &c.
Other CULMINATING EVENTS:
- Culminating “Publishing Party”
Artists collaborate to fold+staple+cut enough copies of their original mini-comics to share with the entire group. - ** Culminating “COMICS CONVENTION” **
= Artists present their work at a dedicated event (30-45 minutes) where fellow students (and/or teachers, families, friends, community members, etc.) can obtain free autographed copies of the mini-comics produced during the workshop. - Public display space
(bulletin board, wall space, etc.) where students can share their pages
SAMPLE RESIDENCY ARCHIVES:
Collections of materials from some recent (virtual) school visits:
www.MarekBennett.com 