Comic Strip Cartooning Workshop for Kids at Lyttelton Library

I ran the second of my cartooning workshops for kids at the Lyttelton library last week. This one was about comic panels and strips. One of the exercises was to fit as many characters as possible into a panel. I made the rash decision to offer a signed copy of Fab Club to whoever could fit the most in,  though this did result in some creative panels.

Some of the work the children did is below (my favourite is the plastic bag character) - thank you to Lindsey Melchers for taking the pictures (and helping out with the workshop).

(Note that the kids don't get to use rulers!)

It's a Good Day to Be Inside the Studio

Our conservatory is currently serving as my studio. It is a good place to watch the weather come in over the harbour, especially when it is blowing a cold southerly like today. Billie has one of his beds in here and likes to keep me company until it is time to light the log burner in the lounge.

I love listening to podcasts when I ink. Playing in the background is my current favourite, Fortunately..with Fi and Jane (thanks to my unrelated friend Jane who recommended it to me).

Cartooning Workshop for Older Kids

I ran a second cartooning workshop in Lyttelton this week. This time it was at the recreation centre, where there is a youth club. The age range of the kids skewed older and it was interesting how that (and having other kids and activities around) changed the group dynamic.

We started with about a dozen kids, but as they became more and more distracted the numbers dropped off. After an hour, there were four kids and they were all the younger ones. They were the only ones able to focus and produce a comic strip at the end of the workshop. I wonder if I would have stuck out a cartooning class at the age of 14. I think so.

Cartooning Workshop in Lyttelton Library for 7-12 Year Olds

I ran my first cartooning workshop in Lyttelton today (the last ones I did were in Spain). It was focussed on character design and the kids were super to work with. They were engaged, paid attention and developed some really great characters.

Lindsey the librarian was an enthusiastic supporter of the workshop

Working on character design using old school picture reference - books!

Some of the children already had their own styles

Hopefully, there will be more workshops to come, but for now I'm relieved to get back to work. Running workshops is a lot more demanding than cartooning!