...Mirror - Mirror - Face On...

Preparing ahead, I'd photographed Tony, Les and Fred last week 

with the intention of holding a portrait workshop. 

I mentioned that I had been in the restaurant business and felt 
obliged to bring in some snacks i.e. Jam Tarts and Viennese Whirls. 
Oh yeah - I also discovered how to use the CD-radio-casette 
player last week so brought in some 80s music. 

I figure if they not too keen on the drawing, maybe I can 
keep them coming back for more with Jaffa Cakes, 
Choc Chip Cookies and the Human League.
 

 Let's face it (no pun intended), faces - and hands - can be very

difficult to draw. There's so much going on. While attending an Ouse Life 

life drawing class I found this poster all about portraiture.  This was 

really handy for me, because I wasn't quite sure how to approach 

drawing a face, let alone teach you how. 

 While I was redesigning the poster instructions, I learned a lot 

myself about drawing the face, and put the knowledge to good use at 

the following life class. I realised I had been 'winging it' and hoping for 

the best. Now, being more informed I was able to draw the face 

- which I invariably left till last - with added confidence.

I brought in black and white photos of Fred, Tony and Les to assist 

them with their work, and brought mirrors along just in case John 

and Alan came along. Which is just as well, 

and Tony brought along Katie.

Very well done to all  - Alan, Fred, John, Les, Tony 

and Katie - who said she couldn't draw at all - and surprised 

us all (herself included) with an excellent self portrait.

The class showed a broad spectrum of abilities and style, 

and all drawings were very well executed and full of character

And there's more...

Since I had set up an easel and brought 

in a photo of myself - here's mine...

And yes - no superheroes, no supervillains. No comic book covers. 

  Next week folks, next week! 

Be here - for sure - for... 

  - Design a Superhero! -  

...Heroes and Villains...(Logo and Cover Studies)...

So you've got your hero and you've got your villain. Like any good recipe, you have put your ingredients together - time for a cover!

BLIND NINJA and LORD of LIGHTNING duke it out!

Using a couple of the characters we created over the first two sessions I sketch up a classic Carmine Infantino style cover layout - one character coming in from the left and the other from the right! As we progress through the cover drawing  I notice I'm getting less comments and interaction from the guys. I turn to see them all head down working on their drawings. My work here is done...

Cover layout 1 - after Carmine Infantino.  

Cover layout 2 - after Gil Kane.

Using a couple of cover layouts the students either used their existing characters to feature on the cover, or created new characters altogether - why not if you've got a spare five minutes!

Cole decided to create a new character - 'Virus!'

Jack's high contrast silhouette - is he hero or villain?!!

The DARK SHADOW squares off against his opponent!

Cole and Fin carrying out Logo Studies...

James - creating...

James presenting Bloodstar and Swordsman!!

James's manga style characters fight it out - and logos too!

NEXT TIME - MODULE 2 - 'DRAW YOUR OWN COMIC!'

...and two weeks worth of 'Bite-Size History of Comics!...

- THE ATOMIC AGE -

- THE SILVER AGE -

That's all folks - See you in Module 2!