The Comics Experience Blog

Episode #90 of the Comics Experience “Make Comics” Podcast Posted!

Posted on by Nicole Boose

CE_podcast_logoA new episode of the Comics Experience Make Comics podcast has been posted! Each episode provides ~15 minutes of advice on all aspects of creating comics and breaking in to the industry.

Join Comics Experience founder and former Marvel and IDW Editor Andy Schmidt and his co-host Joey Groah as they discuss making comics!

Subscribe to our podcast via iTunes! Or check out the latest episode below or on our Podcast page!

Episode #90, “Team Workflow”
Andy and Joey talk about basic workflow and team management for creators.

List of All Episodes

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If you want to make comics, write, draw, letter, and color comics, or improve as a comics creator, you’ll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

Posted by Nicole Boose
nicole@ComicsExperience.com
Twitter

CE Cited As A Reason Comics Got Better In 2015!

Posted on by Nicole Boose

Comics Experience logoComics Experience has received a mention in the recent Paste Magazine article, “8 Reasons Why 2015 Is Already A Better Year for Comics Than 2014”!

The feature celebrates innovations in the comics industry so far this year. A segment by writer Steve Foxe focuses on achievements from publishers large and small, and discusses breakout initiatives from companies other than the Big Two — Marvel and DC. In one example, Foxe writes:

IDW, which became a household name thanks to 30 Days of Night before mastering licensed publishing, has partnered with Comics Experience to publish creator-owned books from new talent.

We’re excited to see our publishing initiative included in the story, alongside other important industry developments like increased diversity, growth of independent publishers, a reinvigorated Marvel Universe, and others!

Our publishing initiative cited in the story began in summer 2014, uniting Comics Experience with IDW Publishing. Our alliance creates a pathway for members of the CE Creators Workshop to submit their creator-owned comic projects for publication.

The first series to emerge from this initiative is Creature Cops, in comic stores now, while the second, Drones, will hit shelves in April 2015. More details are available on our Publishing page!

Thanks to Paste for counting us among the important industry developments of 2015. We strive to make valuable contributions to the comics community, and we’re pleased to earn their recognition!

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If you want to make comics, write, draw, letter, and color comics, or improve as a comics creator, you’ll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

Posted by Nicole Boose
nicole@ComicsExperience.com
Twitter

CE Founder Andy Schmidt Co-Writes “Guardians Team-Up”!

Posted on by Nicole Boose

GuardiansTeamUp5covAndy Schmidt, CE founder and instructor, has co-written an issue of Guardians Team-Up! Issue #5 will be on sale beginning May 6, 2015 – and can be pre-ordered now – at your local comic retailer! Solicitation info is available here.

Schmidt and co-writer Andy Lanning have concocted a tale starring fan favorite Rocket Raccoon, who teams up with the Pet Avengers to prevent the Pets of Evil Masters from attaining world domination! The two Andys’ irreverent adventure features art by Gustavo Duarte, and a cover by Humberto Ramos.

Aside from running Comics Experience and teaching many of its courses, Andy Schmidt is an accomplished writer and editor with a long list of industry credits. He has written comics, video games and prose for clients including Marvel, IDW, Activision, Disney and more!

Andy is excited to have worked on this issue, saying:

“It’s been a while since I was really hands-on with any of the Marvel Cosmic universe since I worked on the original Annihilation. And this issue is a really fun way to come back home! My thanks to Marvel editors Mike Marts and Katie Kubert, and to Andy Lanning for inviting me back to home.”

To guarantee your copy of Guardians Team-Up #5 and help support the book, order in advance from your local shop, using Diamond Item Code MAR150745!

The issue will be available at comic retailers everywhere on May 6!

Congrats to Andy and the rest of the creative team!

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If you want to make comics, write, draw, letter, and color comics, or improve as a comics creator, you’ll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

Posted by Nicole Boose
nicole@ComicsExperience.com
Twitter

Introduction to Comic Book Inking & Rendering Starts Soon – Limited Seats Remain!

Posted on by Nicole Boose

atkins-bio1Comics Experience is excited to launch our new Introduction to Comic Book Inking & Rendering course, beginning April 2, 2015! Limited seats remain in this 7-week session, taught by artist/instructor Robert Atkins.

Inking is one of our most-requested course topics, and this has been a long time in the making! Robert has carefully crafted the curriculum to introduce students to the principles and practices of inking penciled comic book art, and rendering textures for line art reproduction.

Introduction to Comic Book Inking & Rendering is the first of two courses that Robert will begin in April. The second, Introduction to Figure Drawing & Anatomy, starts on April 8. Both courses are open to anyone – there are no prerequisites!

AtkinsInks_NightcrawlerRobert is a veteran artist and instructor, whose talent for guiding and inspiring his students has earned rave reviews from CE alums. His Inking and Figure Drawing courses both offer technical, creative and professional guidance to help you develop your skills in a friendly, supportive atmosphere.

As a student in Robert’s course, you’ll receive personalized instruction, professional advice, and the opportunity to interact one-on-one with your instructor and classmates. You’ll also receive access to an online forum, where you and your classmates can interact and compare notes, works in progress, and tips at any time during the course duration.

All class sessions are held live online, in an interactive classroom where you’ll see Robert and his screen. Sessions are recorded for later viewing, so you’ll never need to miss a class!

Robert is excited to finally present a course on inking, saying, “Simply put, if you know how to ink professionally it gives you more career opportunities in the field of comic book illustration.”

To sign up now or learn more about Introduction to Comic Book Inking & Rendering, visit our course site here!

Registration and info on Introduction to Figure Drawing & Anatomy are available here!

We look forward to starting Robert’s classes in April 2015!

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If you want to make comics, write, draw, letter, and color comics, or improve as a comics creator, you’ll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

Posted by Nicole Boose
nicole@ComicsExperience.com
Twitter

Comics Experience in the New York Times!

Posted on by Nicole Boose

NYxx_v2Comics Experience and its founder Andy Schmidt feature prominently in the March 20, 2015 New York Times article “More Options for Comics Artists”! (Print edition title: “You Too Can Learn to Draw, Online.”)

The story focuses on the changing landscape of the comics industry, and how education for comic artists and writers is growing along with it. Writer George Gene Gustines details the ways in which education for comic creators has evolved from the Tippy the Turtle “Draw Me” ads of the 1970s into the range of programming that exists today, citing Comics Experience as a prime example.

CE’s writing and art courses receive a mention, and Joe Sergi’s “Comic Book Law for Creators” course is named as one way that CE addresses creators’ business interests as well as their creative goals.

The Times article also discusses:

Andy was pleasantly surprised to be contacted for the feature, saying, “I was floored to get a call from George Gustines about a New York Times article. That’s the Holy Grail of news! And I’m so proud of the work our students and workshop members have done, that this write up is really a testament to the power of the instructors and the students and members themselves.”

The story “More Options for Comics Artists” is available to read NOW in the New York Times online and print editions. The print version appears in the paper’s March 20, 2015 Continuing Education supplement, and includes a full-color image of the Creature Cops #1 cover! Pick it up, or link to the online edition here!

Many thanks to the Times and to George Gene Gustines for this opportunity to share our mission with a wider audience!

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If you want to make comics, write, draw, letter, and color comics, or improve as a comics creator, you’ll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

Posted by Nicole Boose
nicole@ComicsExperience.com
Twitter

Episode #89 of the Comics Experience “Make Comics” Podcast Posted!

Posted on by Nicole Boose

CE_podcast_logoA new episode of the Comics Experience Make Comics podcast has been posted! Each episode provides ~15 minutes of advice on all aspects of creating comics and breaking in to the industry.

Join Comics Experience founder and former Marvel and IDW Editor Andy Schmidt and his co-host Joey Groah as they discuss making comics!

Subscribe to our podcast via iTunes! Or check out the latest episode below or on our Podcast page!

Episode #89, “How to Spend Your Time at a Convention”
How to spend time at a convention – planning the con, going to the con, and after the con.

List of All Episodes

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If you want to make comics, write, draw, letter, and color comics, or improve as a comics creator, you’ll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

Posted by Nicole Boose
nicole@ComicsExperience.com
Twitter