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.
Decades ago, there were essentially two ways to get into the industry. The first was to spend many years studying the greats of the day and mastering the craft at home. The second involved getting a job working as an understudy to an active professional artist. Basically, the choices for aspiring artists were little unchanged from what they had been for all artists throughout history.
With the increase in the medium's popularity, a new generation of artists felt compelled to teach their craft to the next generation of artists. Joe Kubert, a great comics artist in his own right, was among the first to open such a school. As other artists watched that school's graduates emerge to take the industry by storm, other schools began offering similar courses of study in places like Pennsylvania.
These schools and workshops offer students an opportunity to learn everything from the basics to advanced storytelling and production techniques. The goal of the school setting is to provide each new student with everything he or she needs to produce comics that meet or exceed industry standards. To accomplish that, there are a variety of different skill sets that are addressed in the courses.
As might be expected, some of these courses are similar to those found in other art schools. Since comics are most commonly focused on human characters, anatomy is among the most critical skills taught to new students. In these classes, the student is familiarized with the actual proportions of the human frame, while also learning to create the more stylized and heroic anatomy seen in 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.
The fact is that Hollywood seems ready to make even more blockbuster films with themes and characters from the comics. That will only serve to inspire even more artists to take up the mantle and try to break into this industry. Serious students can get the help they need at any of the fine sequential art schools in the area.
Decades ago, there were essentially two ways to get into the industry. The first was to spend many years studying the greats of the day and mastering the craft at home. The second involved getting a job working as an understudy to an active professional artist. Basically, the choices for aspiring artists were little unchanged from what they had been for all artists throughout history.
With the increase in the medium's popularity, a new generation of artists felt compelled to teach their craft to the next generation of artists. Joe Kubert, a great comics artist in his own right, was among the first to open such a school. As other artists watched that school's graduates emerge to take the industry by storm, other schools began offering similar courses of study in places like Pennsylvania.
These schools and workshops offer students an opportunity to learn everything from the basics to advanced storytelling and production techniques. The goal of the school setting is to provide each new student with everything he or she needs to produce comics that meet or exceed industry standards. To accomplish that, there are a variety of different skill sets that are addressed in the courses.
As might be expected, some of these courses are similar to those found in other art schools. Since comics are most commonly focused on human characters, anatomy is among the most critical skills taught to new students. In these classes, the student is familiarized with the actual proportions of the human frame, while also learning to create the more stylized and heroic anatomy seen in 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.
The fact is that Hollywood seems ready to make even more blockbuster films with themes and characters from the comics. That will only serve to inspire even more artists to take up the mantle and try to break into this industry. Serious students can get the help they need at any of the fine sequential art schools in the area.
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