So both kids and Yeti the cat seem to like Origami

During the cartooning class at ARTScool (7 to 10 years old) and the first trend class at Jo-Ann (6 to 11 years old: 3 girls and 1 boy), took a few minutes to share some gliders and other fun origami creations with the students. Since the kids really enjoyed making toy planes and boats, I am reviewing other simple models for possible inclusion in upcoming lesson breaks.
This Kirigami model of a fantasy temple backdrop was quite simple to make and decorate.
Hmm, I don't think this looks like me. Why don't we do some origami now?
Yeti really likes playing with paper, so it was no wonder that he wouldn't take his eyes off the different origami models we tested over the weekend.
I just saw it jump!
Not getting away this time.

Practicing the leaping frog origami model. The smaller frog actually jump higher. Even picked up a bone folder for creating smooth folds easily when working with thicker papers.
Origami Frog Fleet and bone folder. Getting the rhythm for folding assorted origami models in upcoming summer art classes. Really need to find my old origami books or visit the local library to broaden my folding paper repertoire.Found another mini origami book that featured a jumping Frog model that actually has 4 legs.

ARTSCool Manga Cartooning Class PhotoJournal - Day 5

The week really flew by, and today we had our last session for the first Manga Cartooning class of ARTScool 2010. Good thing we conducted the class feedback survey yesterday, for 3 students were not able to attend today's lesson. Students' ages ranged from 7 to 10 years old, and their comments were quite positive:
"I liked that we had a good teacher, and [he] taught me many things"
"I loved it! It was so awesome! I can't think of anything else to make it better"
"I like the teacher, he's nice and funny"
"I like the origami, and the drawing. Maybe charcoal for shading"
"Drawing, playing, and art"
It was nice to confirm that all the students enjoyed the class and most reported picking up some sketching tips to continue on their own artistic paths. From their comments, decided to provide a variety of art materials options for creating their exhibition pieces: big paper sheets, charcoal and graphite sticks, oil pastels, soft pastels, watercolor pencils, watercolor crayons, wax crayons, and markers.
Demo drawn with Crayola twistable crayons.
Sample of a Kirigami pop-up fantasy temple background made with a 11" X 14" smooth bristol sheet and decorated with a Sakura Pigma Sensei 06 pen.
Sample demo drawings drawn with Derwent charcoal and graphite sticks.
Sample demo drawing of a bumble bee drawn with Faber Castell soft pastels.
Sky Rider dragon drawn with wax crayons and painted with watersoluble aquarelle sticks washes.
"Green Man" Yoda piece drawn with Faber Castell aquarelle sticks.
Dragon drawn with soft pastels.
Work in progress of student's cartoon character. Since the origami gliders and pop-up card activities were pretty well-received, I have decided to also include them on the session coming up in July in addition to the classic core dragon drawings, ninja cartoons, and Kaiju monsters-robot design activities. Of course depending on the particular interests of the students, we might also spend a good deal of time drawing unicorns, mermaids, and butterfly fairies that many girls tend to favor.Take away tips from this class:
1. Continue to work on your sketchbooks and try different sketching tools.
2. Keep drawing and practicing every day even if it's only for five minutes.
3. Working on 2 ½ X 3 ½ inches sketch trading cards is a good choice when short on time.
4. Keep designing your own pop-up cards for special occasions.
5. Draw from observing the world around you and from your imagination.
6. It is ok to trace to practice some mark making and learn new shapes,but don't rely on this too much.

ARTSCool Manga Cartooning Class PhotoJournal - Day 4

On the 4th day of the cartooning course at The von Liebig Art Center, the student decorated their origami gliders right before taking a break at the park playground.
The students also took out their decorated origami gliders to the playground to test their flight capabilities.In addition to assisting students, distributing and collecting supplies, our helpful interns also judged the mini art contests held during class to focus the artistic efforts of the students.
First mini contest of this ARTScool class: Manga Sketch Cards design with the set of puzzle sushi erasers used as prize.
Pop-up card featuring student as "Cat Girl" and her two sidekicks and flying pet cat.

ARTSCool Manga Cartooning Class PhotoJournal - Days 2 & 3

Students workstations and work samples during days 2 & 3 of the ARTScool cartooning class.



Students' dragon drawings.
Using random stickers for a background design exercise.

A couple of completed pop-up cards.

ARTSCool Manga Cartooning Class PhotoJournal - Day 1

Starting a photo record of the first day of the ARTSCool Manga Cartooning class at The von Liebig Art Center.Warm up pencil doodle of wooden manikin. Most of the students in this class are 10 years old, and the youngest is 7 years old.
Drawings done from observing one of the Bakugan Dragon models used in class.

Sketch using the sample cartoon guidelines provided in class.
Drawing a red, blue, and white cartoon character inspired by 4th of July.
Drawing of the dragon manikin and fantasy medieval setting.
Self-portrait.
Tracing a and coloring with Crayola markers.

Another Manga Cartoon Sketching Demo at the Jo-Ann Store and First Trend Class announcement

Thanks for stopping by. Just spent the last few hours at the Jo-Ann store conducting a sketching demo as a preview of my Manga Cartoon Sketching trend class. The first 2-hour trend class is now scheduled for Saturday, May 26th from 10:00 am to noon. You will need something to draw with and some paper (Ideally the Sakura Pigma Sensei drawing set and a sketchbook with 50 lb/74 gsm paper). For other art materials suggestions you could check the previous post. If you would like to check out some Manga or Anime titles at your local library or bookstore before attending the class, I would recommend the works of Hayao Miyazaki ("Ponyo", "My Neighbor Totoro", "Howl's Moving Castle", "Spirited Away", "Princess Mononoke", "Nausica Valley of the Wind", and "Castle in the Sky" - you might want to check the movie ratings and reviews in Amazon to find the best fit for your child's age and level of interest) and Osamu Tezuka (creator of Astroboy).
Several kids took home a few mini comics to color at home and a few custom manga trading cards as souvenirs of this demo along with their speed sketches (which I define as a quick drawing done in 2-3 minutes). A few had to be particularly rushed, for their parties were waiting the next movie showing (the Regal Hollywood 20 movie theater is just around the corner from the store).
Sketched probably dozens of cartoon portraits during this demo. Lots of ninjas, few dragons, a couple of knights, several mermaids, bunch of butterfly/angel fairies, girl riding a brachiosaurus, and a toddler driving a mini car. The example above was the only instance where 2 sitters fitted in a single 8.5" X 11" sheet of card stock, and that was only because one agreed to play "Sebastian" for the mermaid model. We plan to hold future trend classes during weekdays, Saturdays 10:00 am-12:00 pm, and Sundays 1 pm-4:00pm.

Another Jo-ann Open House for Kids Summer Art Camp completed and next demo announcement

For those of you that can not make my ARTScool classes this summer: I am adapting my Manga Cartooning 8-lesson plan used for the Miracle Plus after school program to a trend class at Jo-Ann's. Thus on the course of several 2-hour sessions we'll discuss the cultural context in which Japanese comics are created, popular themes and styles seen in Shonen (comics for boys) and Shojo (comics for girls) titles, and work on basic sketching skills with an eye for developing each kid's manga cartooning style. Sample activities include: robot sketching as an early approach for drawing the human figure, designing original Kaiju (strange beast) to foster imagination, designing sets of manga artist trading cards (ATC), writing and illustrating a 6-page mini comic with its front and back covers, creating simple pop-up cards and dioramas as a means for pre-visualizing a story setting, trying different art supplies for illustrating and coloring covers and promotional materials than tend to be done in color while the stories themselves are traditionally rendered in black and white given their usual tight production schedules.
For those interested in this Manga Cartooning trend class, you will just need some paper and drawing tools to get started. I would recommend a 9" X 12" Canson XL Recycled Sketchbook that with its generous count of thin and light weight 50 lb (74 gsm) paper works fairly well for tracing exercises and general sketching. Just remember to use a piece of card stock as a shitajiki (or pencil board) under your working sheet to protect the other sheets beneath it. The Sakura Pigma Sensei drawing set would be my top pick for a starter sketching kit since it includes 4 pigmented pens with different nib sizes, a nice 0.7 mm mechanical pencil, and a efficient soft eraser. There are many coloring tool options to consider: washable markers, colored pencil, watercolor pencils, watercolor crayons, and watercolor pans. The 24-color Sakura Koi Watercolor Field Sketch Kit with its convenient waterbrush would make for a pretty versatile and convenient choice (select a sturdier paper support that can handle light washes like the 9" x 12" Canson XL Mixed Media pad or even some bristol paper). To sign up for the trend class or find out more come to my next demo on June 19th 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Jo-Ann Store Open House, Promenade At Naples Center, 6428 Hollywood Blvd, Naples, FL 34109-2013, phone (239) 594-0389.