SEMINAR SCENARIO 2010
Hello, everyone! I’m writing this from my Glass House Graphics/Studio Sakka Graphics offices in Manila, Philippines. As I look around, I see Anthony Tan frantically drawing and coloring “sketch cards” for Rittenhouse Archives. Tina Francisco is belting out beautiful storyboards for an animated feature. Jinky Coronado is drawing a project called Dangerous Secrets. Mel Joy San Juan is developing a new art style for an upcoming book. J.M. Aledeguar is creating tones for Wolverine Manga for Del Rey. Noel Rodriguez is penciling a three-page sample for a series he’s hoping to get. Our new co-manager Weng is toning a rush-job project for St. Martins Press. Legendary Filipino artist Jun Lofamia was here an hour ago, dropping off inks for a special project. And long-time GHG Asia manager Michelle Principe` is doubtlessly calling me names in Tagalog as I shamelessly commandeer her iMac to write this.
As I post this first blog for the year, I’m preparing the CREATING COMICS, MANGA & GRAPHIC NOVELS SEMINAR 2010, which will be held Saturday and Sunday, January 30 and 31, at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in Manila, Philippines. (For tickets or other info, please contact Maryel Roman at 0917 894 7575 or Email her konseptoevents@gmail.com.)
I’m getting quite a few Emails and phone calls here to the Manila GHG office, asking about what the Seminar will cover. Answer: A little bit of everything, but it’s NOT a “how to draw” Seminar. It’s not designed for kids just learning. It’s for professional artists and professional-level artists (cartoonists, animators, painters, local comics artists) who want to expand their talents, with or without Glass House Graphics’s actual guidance as an agency. The important thing is bringing more great talent to the comic book field.
I’m working on the presentation right now, actually. Aside from a few tidbits about the history of comics that brought us to this point, I’ll be talking a LOT about these two subjects: STORYTELLING and COMMUNICATION. You can’t be a professional comics artist without these two things at the forefront. Pretty pictures and appealing styles all by themselves won’t get most people very far. It’s all about telling the story in pictures clearly, emotionally, dynamically. The communication is necessary if you expect to keep working and get paid. Simple as that.
I’ll also be showing-and-telling about sellable styles, about writing, character design, penciling, inking, lettering, coloring, painting, and the latest good things about such programs as Google Sketchup and Manga Studio. Of course, I’ll delve a whole bunch into working with editors, preparing a professional portfolio, tools and tips and tricks, and a whole lot more. And yes, we’ll even have some sketch sessions, including a cosplay model or two.
My special guest artists will include BONG (Deadpool) DAZO, WILSON (Wolverine Manga) TORTOSA, JINKY (Avalon High) CORONADO, and ANTHONY (Bratz) TAN, along with tonal artist J.M. ALDEGUAR, Marvel colorists JAY DAVID RAMOS and RUBEN DE VELA, inker DAN BORGONOS, digital artist JEZREEL ROJALES, and others! (A one-man show, I’m not.)
If everything works out with the respective Consulates, my manager from India (Santosh Rath), and artists from my office in Indonesia will be flying in for the event, as well.
Our guest artists will give autographs. We’ll cater lunch and snacks both days for everybody attending. We’ll be reviewing portfolios both days, too.
One of the sidebar questions we’re receiving involves our Agency. “What does an Agent do?” is the prevailing question. And a fair one, too. Let’s tackle that one in my next posting.
