Ever wonder how really good books suck a reader in and hold their attention page after page? It's not the characters, nor the plot of the book. It is the way in which the author writes that separates their story from the pack. Award-winning author Maxwell Alexander Drake helps you gain insight into how to put your story together in a compelling way that will have your readers turning page after page to see what happens next.
Thursday July 18, 2013 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Room 2
With so many terms and styles, diving into the mechanics of the craft of writing can be scary. And point of view (POV) can be one of the toughest to tackle. Yet, if used correctly, POV is a wonderful and powerful tool that is the backbone of your story. Award-winning author Maxwell Alexander Drake helps break this piece of the writing puzzle down into something you can use to enhance your writing style.
Thursday July 18, 2013 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Room 2
UPDATED: Fri, Jul 05, 03:02PM Motion Books are digital comics come to life with movement and sound. Learn how these are made with the top creators in the field from Madefire and deviantART and discover how you can participate as an artist and as a seller on your own. Featuring Ben Wolstenholme, Liam Sharp and Dave Gibbons from Madefire, Angelo Sotira, deviantART’s co-founder and CEO, and Ron Martino from deviantART along with other special guests.
Thursday July 18, 2013 12:15pm - 1:15pm PDT
Room 2
Learn how to digitally ink and take all your black-and-white artwork to the next level. Comics artist Brian Haberlin will delve into Photoshop's treasure trove of features old and new-as well as features in other programs-that not only enhance comic applications but make possible countless creative pen and ink opportunities rarely seen before. If you're serious about your black-and-white artwork, this session is a must.
Subtle guerilla art tactics provide a way of sharing your vision with the world. They can be used for a variety of reasons: to make a political or personal statement, to share your ideas, or just for fun. Artist Lori Gordon will address what it means to make art when you don't necessarily consider yourself an artist, and what it means to make art without an interest in the outcome. Participants will be invited to make their own project.
The Shiflett Brothers walk you through their process for creating figurative sculptures for the comic book and fantasy statue industry. They will discuss armature building, bulking out the form, detailing, and finishing. The Shiflett Brothers are twenty-year veterans of the comic book statue industry.
Siike Donnelly and Matt Hawkins - along with guest panelists Olivia Peterson, Jon Schnepp, and Joshua Levy - give you a look into the process of running and promoting a Kickstarter campaign. Learn how to reach your audience directly and put your dream project into the hands of many. Discover the ups, downs, and rewards of believing in your work.
Stories are about conflict. And there is no purer form of conflict than a good ole fisticuffs-style brawl. (Or sword fight, laser battle, western shootout, and even two chicks pulling out each other's hair.) Yet, how to put that much action down on paper and not only make it believable, but enjoyable and exciting to read? Award-winning author Maxwell Alexander Drake brings you deep inside the violence, breaking it down piece by piece and giving you some tricks you can use to create more realistic and exciting fights.
Understanding when and how to use physical conflict in your story is all well and good. But, how do you write it? How do authors paint such a vivid, action- packed fight scene that readers can "see" in their mind using only the written word? Award-winning author Maxwell Alexander Drake peels back the mystery and looks at using words to craft action that your readers will not simply read, but experience.
UPDATED: Fri, Jul 05, 03:09PM Fan Art can be more than a hobby, pastime or training exercise. Learn how fan art can turn you into a contributor to the business world of comics and pop culture in this follow-up to last year’s highly popular Fan Art Law panel. Featuring Joshua Wattles, advisor in chief to deviantART and professor of copyright at USC, Brian Kesinger, renowned animator and author of Walking Your Octopus, Guy Brand and James Kim from Mighty Fine Inc., Bob Self, owner/publisher Baby Tattoo Books, Kay Purcell, also from deviantART and a Fandom expert, and Stanley Lau (artgerm), creative director and co-founder of Imaginary Friends Studios that produces artworks for the likes of Capcom, DC Comics, Square Enix and other giants in the entertainment and gaming industry.
This lecture will provide clear technical insight into making figures and figurative decisions for the comic artist, storyboard artist, illustrator, or concept artist, offering guides to posing characters and creating believable actions, gestures, and expressions. Ron Lemen will cover several approaches to designing the character or facial expression that will facilitate a strong armature for any style of finish. This lecture is for everyone from the enthusiast to the working professional.
The ins and outs of rendering female superhero comic characters using Copic brand markers (also applicable to PrismaColors) are demonstrated by artist Mark Brooks. Mark will provide all attendees with a copy of an inked face and detailed instructions on grayscaling, shadows, and blending. Bring your markers! Also, there will be a Q&A covering any questions regarding art and business of comics. At the end of the session, Mark will raffle off his original inked and Copic-rendered artwork.
Learn what it takes to present a proper pitch to a client or company. In this panel you will learn about presentation, body language, elevator pitches, standing out, interview skills and how to make an opportunity when there isn't one. Back by popular demand, this is the perfect panel for those who are looking to make a name for themselves or trying to get their ideas in front of their company of choice.
Are you an aspiring artist trying to make a career in the arts? Learn the "Tricks of the Trade" from professional artists working in the entertainment industry. Discussions will include advice on how to get started and maintain a career, as well as tips in the art of self-promotion. Panelists include Randy Martinez (illustrator, Lucasfilm, Marvel, Topps Trading Cards), Vince Hernandez (editor, writer, art director at Aspen Comics), Alexis Cruz (actor, director, producer), Ashley Eckstein (actress, entrepreneur), Bonnie Burton (author, host of Geek DIY, crafter), J. C. Riefenberg (filmmaker), Jennifer Landa (actress, vlogger, crafter), Tone Rodriguez (artist, art director), Elisa Teague (editor-in-chief at Cupcake Quarterly, creative director for Gamesmith), and Michelle Smart (artist management and art publishing, Marvel Fine Art). Moderated by Denise Vasquez (actress, artist, designer, writer, musician, manager, promotions specialist, founder of WO+MEN 4 A CAUSE).
Tom King, the author of a A Once Crowded Sky offers a step-by-step, practical approach to creating a superhero novel. Topics will include world building, character development, voice, POV, plot construction, experimentation, writing habits, revision, and publication. The class is intended to provide specific methods that work in putting comic book supermen into prose.
Saturday July 20, 2013 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Room 2
Artist Allison Sohn will take a drawing from penciled line-art through to completed colors using Copic Markers. She'll answer questions and share tips and tricks with panel attendees.
Saturday July 20, 2013 11:00am - 12:15pm PDT
Room 2
Learn about building audience as you create for your original stories, OC’s, and creative projects. Led by Ron Martino (techgnotic on deviantART) with Yuumei, author of Fish Eye Placebo and Knite, Dave Elliott, editor/producer/author of Weirding Willows, Brian Kesinger, renowned animator and author of Walking Your Octopus, and Hal Hefner, illustrator/author of Gates and managing director of Transmedia L.A.
Saturday July 20, 2013 12:15pm - 1:15pm PDT
Room 2
Learn how to take your idea and make a graphic novel using Brian Haberlin's graphic novels Shifter and Anomaly as test cases. Subjects discussed include idea to script, page format, panel layout, art style, distribution, printing, and much more.
Participants will assist in the scripting and layout of a six-page Donald Duck story using the same methods used by Patrick and Shelly Block for their freelance Duck Tales. Patrick will rough draw the story from scratch in front of the panel to show the procedures used in the creation of a short comic narrative.
Nationally renowned artist and owner of Watts Atelier of the Arts Jeffrey R. Watts demonstrates an alla prima oil portrait painting from a live model. Jeff will also introduce an exciting new opportunity to train in the Watts Method online.
When designing your comic page, should you use a grid with six-panels or nine? Should you use a grid at all? With input from the audience, Durwin Talon and Guin Thompson will demonstrate how changing the number of panels per page and the flow of information from panel to panel impacts the reader.
Brian Haberlin will demonstrate advanced 3D and computer graphics comic art techniques that will speed up and improve your story telling. He will show you how to use a wide range of programs, from Zbrush to Poser to Sketchup. Learn all the tricks no other pro will show you!
Join DC Entertainment co-publisher, Jim Lee (Superman Unchained, Justice League, Batman: Hush) as he talks about his 25+ years in the comics industry and sketches your favorite characters live on the big screen in this engaging panel. This is a great opportunity to watch the creative process first-hand and learn the tips of the trade that bring DC Entertainment's characters to life.
