Summer Cartooning Classes for Kids and Parents

Cartoon Art Museum Classes  

Wednesday, July 3, 2013, 11am-1pm – Parent/Child

Class: Superheroes and Supervillains

Wednesday, July 3, 2013, 2-4pm – Parent/Child

Class: Crazy Cut-out Animation

Wednesday, August 7, 2013, 11am-1pm –

Parent/Child Class: Magical Adventures

Wednesday, August 7, 2013, 2-4pm – Parent/Child

Class: Mini-Comic Making
 
Celebrate the summer with fun classes that will have adults and kids teaming up to create their own cartoons at the Cartoon Art Museum!  The cost of materials and Cartoon Art Museum admission is included in the tuition fee.

Tuition for these classes can be paid through Guestlist.  Space is limited, and advance reservations are recommended:  http://guestlistapp.com/events/133932
 
PARENT and CHILD CARTOONING WORKSHOPS

Wednesday July 3, 2013 – Parent/Child Class: Superheroes and Supervillains

Ages: Parents/Guardians and Children (7 to 12 years old) recommended
Time: 11am to 1pm
Cost: $10 per person (all children must be accompanied by an adult, ideally no more than two children per parent)

Reserve your space: http://guestli.st/155586
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! In this Adult/Kid combo class we will create our own Hero and Villain characters while learning some of the basics of cartooning.

Wednesday July 3rd, 2013 – Parent/Child Class: Crazy Cut-out animation

Ages: Parents/Guardians and Children (7 to 12 years old) recommended
Time: 2pm to 4pm
Cost: $10 per person (all children must be accompanied by an adult, ideally no more than two children per parent)

Reserve your space: http://guestli.st/155595
Get hands-on experience with animation in this class for Parents and Kids featuring stop-animation with paper cut-outs. Participants will break into small groups and be able to create a few simple ‘crazy’ moments under the camera. The final results will be posted on the Cartoon Art Museum’s website the following week.

Wednesday August 7th, 2013 – Parent/Child Class: Magical Adventures

Ages: Parents/Guardians and Children (7 to 12 years old) recommended
Time: 11am – 1pm
Cost: $10 per person (all children must be accompanied by an adult, ideally no more than two children per parent)

Reserve your space: http://guestli.st/165864
Create your own world of wizards, monsters, elves and brave heroes! Adults and Kids team up to create their own fantasy characters in this fun interactive cartooning class.
 
Wednesday August 7th, 2013 – Parent/Child Class: Mini-Comic Making

Ages: Parents/Guardians and Children (7 to 12 years old) recommended
Time: 2pm to 4pm
Cost: $10 per person (all children must be accompanied by an adult, ideally no more than two children per parent)

Reserve your space: http://guestli.st/165855
This Parent/Child class teaches how to write and draw a simple comic book story and then to assemble it into a book you can take home with you.


All classes are taught by longtime CAM instructor Brian Kolm of Atomic Bear Press http://www.atomicbearpress.com



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Cartoon Art Museum • 655 Mission Street • San Francisco, CA 94105 • 415-CAR-TOON • www.cartoonart.org
Hours:  Tues. – Sun. 11:00 – 5:00, Closed Monday
General Admission: $7.00 • Student/Senior: $5.00 • Children 6-12: $3.00 • Members & Children under 6: FreeThe Cartoon Art Museum is a tax-exempt, non-profit, educational organization dedicated to the collection,
preservation, study and exhibition of original cartoon art in all forms.
 

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Inspiring Creativity

The Landfillharmonic Orchestra
 
Writing Prompts:
1.  Listen to classical music.  What does it inspire you to write or draw?  Let the sound lead your imagination away!
2.  Choose recycling material.  What art can you create?
3.  Write a poem, song or short story based on something re-created from another object. 
4.  See if music playing while you make your art helps your originality.  Some authors choose one piece of music or one composer to listen to for each project.  Then when they hear that particular song, their brain immediately begins work in that world.  Choose music for the art you are working on now.   
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The other day we attended an art exhibit from the Dutch masters.  Knowing very little about art history, we soon tagged along with a tour in session to discover the story behind the story.  It turns out one painter, Meindert Hobbema, couldn’t paint people.  In one of his lovely woodland landscapes, there were several farmers and local villagers in the scene.  So what did he do?  He contracted out.  Paid them a fee and that was the end of their services.  No credit at all. 

Reminds me of the world of ghost writing in publishing, or work-for-hire.  One example in children’s books is The Babysitter’s Club.  Although Ann Martin began the series, soon she went off and wrote her own books and other writers penned them.  They did get some credit, however.  Just check the dedication page.  That’s the author. 

Art is also similar to literature in how we read a painting.  On first glance of one shown at the museum, we saw a family seated around a table celebrating a baby’s christening with wine.  One man was lighting a very long pipe.  But to hear the story behind the story, we discover that this pious occasion wouldn’t have been a time for such inebriation. The pipe symbolized something else entirely. The adults in the picture looked like they were having way too much fun.  The woman’s clothing dipped lower than it should have, and her seating position invited more than friendliness.  Who knew?  Today we wouldn’t think twice about it.   In the corner a parrot perched.  It wasn’t merely the family pet, but a symbol.  The artist was saying the children in the picture would learn from the adults’ wild ways, or parrot by example.

Writing Prompts:

  1. Pick up a book you love and parrot or model what you admire about this writer. 
  2. Make a goal of an artist date for yourself once a month.  Or once a week if you can.  See a play or attend a writer or artist event.  Keep a journal of details that impresses you. 
  3. Choose a painting from a book, online or from an exhibit.  Without knowing anything about it, write a short story or poem to go with the art work.  
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This morning I learned a young acquaintance of ours ended his life this week.  Stunned, I stood in silence, images of the man and our dealings with him reeling through my thoughts like a movie.

Cheerful.  Giving.  Resourceful.   Three descriptions that come to mind when I think of him. 

As my neighbor  and I walked our morning trail, she said, “Don’t people realize the blues pass?”

“But depression isn’t just feeling down,” I said.  “It’s more all-encompassing.  I know because my uncle suffered it all of his life.”

Memories of his battle  floated to the present.  I knew he took pills which gave him side effects that weren’t pleasant.  So he got off the pills and would be all right for a while until he slid into the depths of misery again.

“And what about his mother?  Didn’t he think of her?  She had to find him,” said my neighbor of the young man’s suicide.

I nodded.  “But he wasn’t thinking about her, he was so inside his own pain and grief.” 

It’s another one of those what if stories.  What if you could have stopped him in time?  What if you hadn’t left? 

Modern medicine has come so far . . .  and yet it hasn’t. 

Writing Prompts:

1.  Writing can be cathartic.  Is there a memory you have been suppressing?  Writing about an emotional pain may bring relief.  Try it and see if it can help you.

2.  Write a poem, song, essay or story in honor of someone you know who has faced a battle – – either emotional or physical.  What do you admire about this person?  Why?

3.  Create a piece of art expressing a mood you are in right now.  You choose the form and style.

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Stumped in your creativity? It’s a GOOD THING!

Jonah Lehrer says in his book, Imagine, “Every creative journey begins with a problem. It starts with a feeling with frustration, the dull ache of not being able to find the answer. We have worked hard, but we’ve hit the wall. We have no idea what to do next.”

It’s comforting to know that a block within our writing is not only normal, but leads us to inspiration.

According to Lehrer, “The act of being stumped – – – is an essential part of the creative process. Before we can find the answer – before we probably even know the question – – – we must be immersed in disappointment, convinced that a solution is beyond our reach. We need to have wrestled with the problem and lost.”

So if you are muddling through your mushy middle or plodding through a particularly picky plot point, don’t worry, just wonder. Lehrer points out that the best creativity happens not when we are trying too hard, but when we aren’t. Daydreaming, sleeping, and NOT thinking about it actually is part of creativity too.

Now I’m going to relax, daydream and eat chocolate.  After all, it’s writing, right?

Writing Prompts:

1. Read Imagine, by Jonah Lehrer and come up with out-of-the-box ways to create your art.

2. Write without sitting in front of your computer and minus a writing instrument in your hand.

3. Draw an object or a person you’ve seen every day. Lehrer points out that drawing is a different kind of thinking. We observe more acutely when we must recreate it.

4. Now write about what you’ve drawn.

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Art Contest: Design Medallions for the Caldecott Tunnel

Get busy, students!  The deadline is May 7 but there aren’t many entries yet!

All students grades K – 12 in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties are eligible to enter.  For design specifics and mailing details see their website:

http://caldecott-tunnel.org/images/stories/medallions/entry_forms_packet.pdf

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Mount Diablo Peace Center’s 2012 Art and Writing Contest

The 15th annual Contra Costa Middle and High School Art and Writing Challenge has been announced through Mount Diablo’s Peace Center.  The Topic:

The Occupy Movement is raising concerns about social inequality in our country.  From your perspective, are there improvements you would make and inequalities you would end within your school, community, and/or nation that would help you, your family, or others?  Describe. 

Interested students whose teachers are not participating may call the office at 925-935-7850 to receive an application.  Cash awards will be offered!

Students may address this issue through art, essay, or creative writing.  Selections will be announced in April, and awardees, their teachers, and families will be feted in May with a celebratory dinner, during which students will present their work. 

Many thanks to the George Miller Youth Fund and Ludell Deutscher for their generous donation to this project.  Anyone else who wishes to donate should please contact the office.

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Celebrate Haiti Poster Project!

Visit Clinton Bush Celebrate Haiti Poster Project

Remember.  Celebrate.  Haiti.

Get vibrant.  Get history.  Get creative.  Get fun! http://cbhf.3cdn.net/faa26abbe7a714edda_ukm6bpwdw.pdf

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Creativity Vs. Negativity

Congratulations to 12-year-old Grant Mower, who is the youngest creative fashion designer I’ve ever seen.  He hopes First Lady Michelle Obama will choose to wear his design of a dress for her. 

Grant has had to undergo bullying from his fellow classmates for creating his art.  Fortunately, he’s got a great mother, who supports his passion.   If your art gives you pleasure why should you let conformers get you down?  He hasn’t, and he’s to be commended for his spirit!

Although I don’t think I’ve heard of a case where a writer was bullied for his writing, I know many who have given up due to rejection or harsh critiques.  

Is writing a love-of-your-life?  Are you happiest when you are writing?  When you have written?  If you are, then stick with it!  It’s one of those wonderful arts you can do any time or place, with just a pen and paper as long as you’ve got the desire. 

Like Sid Fleischman used to say, “Nothing’s wasted but the paper.”  Now with all of the recycling we have, that isn’t even true any more!

Bravo for Grant, and all of the Grants out there!  I suspect those bullies don’t have true passions of their own, nor good parenting behind them to make them feel good about themselves. 

Prompts:

1.  Write about a time you were bullied or criticized.  How did you react?  Include your thoughts, feelings and the dialogue that occurred. 

2.  Create a scene or short story where a bully is a character.  Make sure your bully is not one-dimensional.  Why is she or he acting that way? 

3.  Try a genre of art that isn’t your usual form.  If you usually write fiction, try nonfiction.  If you usually paint, try photography. Experimenting might lead you to develop more sources for your original art as well as developing a new one. 

4.  Watch the video below of Grant and his designs.  Design an outfit for yourself or another famous person.  Next, describe it with words. 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/21/grant-mower-michele-obama_n_906151.html?icid=main%7Chtmlws-main-n%7Cdl7%7Csec1_lnk3%7C219702

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San Francisco’s Cartoon Museum Presents Cartoon Workshops!

2011 Cartoon Boot Camp

It’s time for the sixth annual Summer Cartooning Classes! Learn how to story board, how animation and stop motion is created and create your own cartoon characters, super heroes and more!

Taught by cartoonist Brian Kolm.

Ages: Intermediate level artists from 10-14 years old.

Time: All sessions run Monday through Friday from 2:00PM to 4:00 PM

Manga Mania – Cartooning class Saturday, June 11th and Friday, July 15th, 2011 Cartooning classes with Karen Luk.

 Karen Luk, professional illustrator and comic artist, will reveal the secrets behind manga faces, body language and basic character design. Basic drawing skills are helpful, but not required.

Come & level up your manga drawing skills! 8-12 year olds 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM For beginners & curious 

King of RPGs Launch Party! Saturday, June 4, 2011, 5:30-7:30pm

Free and open to the public

PARTY WITH KING OF RPGS AT THE CARTOON ART MUSEUM!

Announcing Volume 2 of the New York Times Bestselling Graphic Novel Series from Del Rey

 Join the author and artist of King of RPGs, the bestselling Del Rey graphic novel series, at the Cartoon Art Museum 

 Green Lantern Exhibition Preview: The Green Tie Event

Thursday, June 9, 2011, 7:00-9:00pm Green Tie Tickets

Just in time for Green Lantern’s theatrical debut, the Cartoon Art Museum is presenting the first museum exhibition celebrating 70 years of DC Comics’ emerald knight! Over 60 pieces of original artwork will be on display, including works by Gil Kane, Neal Adams, Joe Staton, Mike Mignola . . .

For more information on these events, visit www.cartoonart.com

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Art Contest for Kids – – Honor Your Dad for Father’s Day!

If you are ages 4 – 15, draw and color a portrait of your dad and submit it for possible publication at the Contra Costa Times.  Include your full name and age, your father’s full name and your city of residence.  Also complete the following sentence:  “My dad is . . . “(Please write no more than one sentence.)

Email submissions as JPEG files (at least 400 KB in size) to [email protected]

They will publish a few of their favorite portraits in TimeOut before Father’s Day and include those and others in an online slide-show on their websites.

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