Join us for a summer of fun for the whole family! Looking for creative ways to keep your kids inspired this summer? Join teaching artists Jerzy Drozd, Ruth McNally Barshaw, and Rafael Rosado in our Summer Workshop Series — a hands-on, imagination-filled adventure for families with kids ages 6 and up!
Each workshop dives into the world of cartoons and comics with fun, interactive workshops led by renowned cartoonists. From drawing your own characters to exploring the stories behind your favorite comic strips, there’s something for every young creator (and grown-up, too!). All children must be accompanied by an adult
Registration is encouraged, and supplies are provided.
Location: Will Eisner Seminar Room 205, Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum

Minicomics Challenge with Jerzy Drozd
June 28 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Send your original character on their epic journey in a minicomic! Cartoonist Jerzy Drozd (The Inscrutable Doctor Baer and the Case of the Two-Faced Statue) will share the secrets of finding your original characters’ voices, expressing the drama between them, and creating a believable world. Learn how professional cartoonists sort through creative chaos and finish their stories. In the end, you’ll have your first chapter of that graphic novel series you’ve been waiting to make.
Jerzy Drozd is the author of the middle-grade graphic novel, The Inscrutable Doctor Baer and the Case of the Two-Faced Statue. He co-authored the graphic novel Science Comics: Rockets with his wife Anne. He leads cartooning workshops for children and teens in libraries and schools, as well as for teachers who want to bring comics to the classroom. Jerzy lives in Columbus, Ohio with his wife and four cats. You can find out more about his comics and workshops at doctorbaer.com
What’s YOUR Story? Let’s Tell it in Cartoons with Ruth McNally Barshaw
July 12 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
In this playful, hands-on workshop, you’ll dream up and illustrate two mini storybooks. We’ll end the first tale on a cliffhanger… so you can finish it at home! You’ll leave with supplies, new storytelling skills, and plenty of creative momentum.
Author-illustrator-cartoonist Ruth McNally Barshaw wrote and illustrated the six Ellie McDoodle Diaries, illustrated four books, and wrote four short stories for 10 year olds. She and author-husband Charlie travel widely teaching writing workshops. See her work at http://ruthexpress.com
Design Your Own Characters: A Comics & Character Creation Workshop with Rafael Rosado
August 2 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
This hands-on workshop guides you through every step of character creation. Whether you’re dreaming up a hero or a villain by the end, you’ll have the skills to bring fully realized characters from your imagination to the page!
Born in Puerto Rico and based in Columbus, Ohio, Rafael Rosado is a seasoned writer, director and storyboard artist for the animation industry. Highly diverse, he has storyboarded on action, comedy and pre-school shows, shows as diverse as Scooby Doo, Transformers, The Batman, Looney Tunes and Curious George. He’s the co-creator and Illustrator of the graphic novels Giants Beware!, Dragons Beware!, and Monsters Beware!, published by First Second Books. His work is featured in the latest edition of the Comics Squad anthology, published by Random House books, and the Latinographix Collection, from OSU Press.

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