Live-Drawing Cam

Continually improving the School Assembly experience

I continually strive to develop and improve my school assemblies, so recently acquired myself a document camera useful for streaming the live-drawing component of my presentation up onto the big screen for any students sitting at the back of the auditorium. Annnnd, I recently realized I need to be very aware of the placement of my body when I’m making technical adjustments. Lesson learned.

Here’s me appropriately positioned to draw the cartooning demonstration.

Full-Grade Cartooning Workshops

I have two plans for this Summer, 1) buckle down and make a lot of progress on my new middle-grade graphic novel, and 2) update my Cartooning Lessons website with information on how to book comics-making workshops suitable for an entire grade.

I conducted a few full-grade workshops this past year, something I wasn’t sure was going to be possible, but found that the format was extremely successful. This is a highly engaging activity for students where I walk them through a series of hands-on drawing and cartooning activities found in an exclusive workbook that I have designed. At the end of the session they have their own comic-book filled with their drawings and short stories. I’ll be posting information on pricing and format over the Summer, but if this sounds like something you might be interested in for a full-grade next year, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly.

APLI Professional Development Program

A fantastic program I got to be a part of this Spring was the Arts Professional Learning Institute workshop series, facilitated by Young Audiences. Myself and an incredible cohort of amazing teaching artists and public school art teachers were grouped together to participate in a series of professional development workshops. These activities were designed to help artists like myself be more inclusive in our presentations, to take more care to consider the different perspectives and needs of the students we may be fortunate enough to work with. The series culminated in a mini-residency at a public school. I myself spent three great days at the Performing Arts High School in Paterson, working with the students to tell personal stories using the language of cartooning, as well as showing them how to self-publish their own easy to share ‘zines. Thank-you to Young Audiences for the amazing opportunity.

A candid snapshot taken during the residency, where I am explaining to the students how in the 1990’s, gym teachers were allowed to make fun of you for sucking at sports.

7/7 Arts & Leisure Cartoon

Just a note to be on the lookout for the July 7th edition of the Sunday New York Times, as I will have a full-page cartoon about the television series Freaks & Geeks running in it. I will of course publish that here as well, and if you aren’t able to get a copy of the newspapers, perhaps consider becoming a member of my $5 Monthly ‘Zine Club, as it will be a piece that I package up and mail to subscribers later in the Summer.

Thanks as always for reading along!
Mike