Frank Santoro: May 2009

Saturday JUNE 13th noon to six
COMICSCLASS2700
with FRANK SANTORO
"DISCOVER THE HIDDEN TEMPO OF COMICS"

Hey Everybody. Your friendly neighborhood loudmouth here, Frank Santoro. I'm doing a workshop class in New York City at the infamous Westbeth artists' co-op on June 13th. Be there or be square. It's gonna be an intense, small class of six people. Not for beginners. Come ready to draw.

The focus will be on the student's contour line drawing and composition. This class will explore the process of improvisation within a rigorously structured page design. Meaning students will learn how to find a framework of harmonic points on the comics page. These points act like a "tuning fork" and provide page proportions which allow the drawings to unfold in sequence while firmly remaining "in key".

Seriously. See, the problem I see with most comics is that often there is a real lack of a consistent narrative pace. Comics can be structured like songs and utilize tempo, rhythm, harmonies and melodies to change the pace of a story. It's this invisible structure that will be explored, diagrammed and discussed.

And as for the drawing end of it, we will be drawing in a contour line style. No shading, just lines. And no color. Students will be making a manuscript, a "print dummy" of sorts for making their own 16 page zine. Each student will be "improvising" upon a pre-existing story structure designed by myself. Straight ahead, no-frills drawing and composition, transitions and sequencing will be the order of the day. I will be working with each student one on one to really explain how structure and improvisation can unlock one's narrative vision.

Email me: capneasyATgmailDOTcom if you're interested and I'll fill you in on the details. It's 40 bux. Noon to six with a lunch break. June 13th. Saturday. Space is limited to six people. Thanks.
[UPDATE]THE CLASS IS FULL . I'm making a wait list and hopefully will be doing this again sometime soon. So email me if you're interested and I'll let you know what's up.