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How to Draw Cartoons, Comics, and Character Design With Pro Comic Artists

Improve your drawing and cartooning skills and grow in confidence as young cartoonists in our weekly art class taught by pros. Learn essential techniques for drawing. Perfect for fans of manga, anime, cartoons, graphic novels, and comics.
Curious Together Arts and Humanities
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:
(565)
Popular
Class

What's included

1 live meeting
55 mins in-class hours per week

Class Experience

👀👀💰💰TRY YOUR FIRST WEEK FREE WITH CODE TOGETHERMAGGIE30💰💰👀👀

Do you want your child to improve their art skills and be able to draw their favorite cartoon characters?

Even more importantly, be able to design their own?

To be equipped with the essential cartooning skills in a class taught by a professional working comic artist?

Do you want them filled with creative confidence, filling their sketchbook with their own original characters that looks just as good as the ones they see in the movies and videogames?

If so, then have them come draw with us and the other young artists at Curious Together.

We teach a variety of drawing fundamentals and techniques with a focus on creating cartoon characters, and even comics. While I introduce students to different content and techniques each class, the majority of the focus is on character design.

Students learn drawing skills in order to create awesome, new, original characters. Students have plenty of freedom to adapt my teaching to their own style and create their own unique art.

I constantly take student input on what to draw next, or how we want to modify a character. This helps students feel ownership of the class and their drawings, while developing their styles. 

I start class off with a brief round of introductions and allow some time for the students to share any art they've been working on. Then I do a live demo of the character or scene we'll be drawing for the day while I teach them the techniques for the day. I stop intermittently to offer constructive feedback, or to answer questions.I always keep it positive and instill confidence in student's abilities. (That's how I best learned!) 

Every lesson teaches a brand new skill so you can drop in whenever you want. Students who stay awhile will see the most growth.

I’ll be mostly working in pencil and pen, but sometimes I’ll add color with markers or colored pencils. Sometimes we'll make time in class to color, but students can always add color in their own time.

Only very basic drawing experience is required. However, if students have not progressed beyond drawing only stick figures, they may find this class too difficult. They can certainly try it out though!

This class is continuous and does not necessarily follow a start and end topic rhythm. New learners are welcome to join at any point. Many learners join and stay for 20, 30, 40 weeks or more! Lessons are always evolving with the class, and rather than specific lessons delivered the same way again, the lessons are adapted to create an experience of growth for as long as a learner should stay - even a full year or more! 
Here are examples of lesson topics that you may find in this class:

Backgrounds, perspective, and environments
Figure Drawing
Building characters from basic shapes
Showing personality through basic shapes
Experimenting with proportions
Drawing with lines - weight and texture 
Drawing people
Drawing advanced stick figures to convey motion
Creating 3D figures
Drawing eyes and mouths
Shading and highlights
Drawing noses and ears
Drawing hair
Drawing hands, feet, and shoes
Drawing animals - Part 1
Drawing animals - Part 2
Drawing silly monsters
Shading and highlights
Telling stories and creating scenes
Drawing in perspective
Comic storytelling - Part 1: Panels
Comic storytelling - Part 2: Speech bubbles and special effects

(Please note that classes are often adjusted to cater to the needs and interests of enrolled learners, so feel free to message us for any updates or clarifications)

Classes are taught by Comics Professionals Kevin Catalan, Mike Jasorka, RJ Sterling, or Kaitlyn Sydelle.

💥 KEVIN CATALAN, PROFESSIONAL COMIC BOOK ARTIST: Kevin Anthony Catalan is a freelance Comic Cartoonist with two published comic books, Space Knights and Tales of Space Knights, and is featured as a cover artist and guest artist for various other comics.  Kevin was taught how to draw at a very young age by his father, an animator that worked at Disney and Warner Brothers, and was introduced to comics at age 9, instantly falling in love with the medium. Kevin graduated with a B.A. from San Francisco State University, majoring in Studio Arts with a focus on oil painting, and took various comic book classes. While in the University, Kevin tutored his fellow classmates in various subjects including Astronomy, Painting, and Comics Making. Kevin self published his epic action-packed comic book “Space Knights” a month after his college graduation in 2020, which has now been picked up by an independent Publisher. With all of this success as a comic book artist, teaching has been the most gratifying thing that has come out of his art career. Teaching is about growth on both sides. Kevin’s approach is to start a dialogue with his students, being able to ask questions and let them form their own way of tackling problems. There are no solid rules to art making, but they are lots of guides. So Kevin will help his students find their own individuality by showing them his methods but encouraging them to find their own unique interests and style. Outside of drawing comics, Kevin loves to play video games, watch movies, use his telescope to stargaze and exercise. 

🗯️ MIKE JASORKA, PROFESSIONAL CARTOONIST AND COMIC ARTIST: Mike Jasorka grew up in a small rural town in New Jersey and graduated in 2007 from Rowan University with a studio art degree in illustration before making a move to his dream city of Los Angeles. There, he spent his time juggling his joy for self-publishing and creating his own comic books, providing storyboards for the advertising/film/music industry and teaching sequential art (comics) at Venice Arts - a non-profit multi-media arts organization. At Venice Arts, Mike has taught over 500 youth how to write and draw comics by applying the methods and foundations he uses in creating his own comics as well as the opportunities he has had professionally. Mike's teaching philosophy revolves around approaching creativity with a patience to grow - as every project brings new growth through challenge and requires great patience in order to passionately complete them. Most of Mike's time today is spent creating his next comic works, hanging out with his fiancée and friends, writing songs on the guitar and playing drums when he can.

💪 KAITLYN SYDELLE, ANIME COMIC ARTIST: With a B.F.A. in Graphic Design with an emphasis in Illustration from CSU Fresno, I am an experienced, award winning comic artist with several self-published titles. I have been professionally teaching comics and anime themed classes to artists of all ages since 2013, from 1-on-1 elementary sessions to college-level classrooms. I’m very passionate about everyone experiencing the confident joy of putting your ideas onto paper, and feeling your world come to life. I believe there is no such thing as a “bad” art style, and that anyone can draw given the chance. In my classes, I help guide students to develop the styles they would enjoy practicing, honing their own signature style, or having space to try a new technique! Some of my favorite hobbies outside of art are studying foreign languages and martial arts to keep my brain and body active. 

💪 RJ STERLING, ILLUSTRATOR AND EDUCATOR
RJ Sterling is a certified visual arts educator and freelance illustrator who has self published 8 comics and completed a variety of artwork for clients from  comics and character designs to portraits, tattoo designs and logos. RJ Sterling discovered his passion for drawing when he first opened the pages of Marvel and DC Comics. RJ learned to draw by studying the visual styles he saw in his favorite comic books. His favorite characters to draw are Spiderman and Batman. To develop his technical skills, RJ pursued illustration and comic design at the Maryland Institute College of Art. He received his BFA in Illustration and a year later his MFA in Art Education. As a teacher, RJ finds joy in aiding the discovery of art-making and visual thinking with his students. Students learn not only how to draw in his classes, but also how to creatively problem-solve, communicate, and think. As an illustrator, RJ loves working with people to bring their wildest ideas to life. In the time RJ is not drawing or teaching, he is playing his Playstation 5, reading books or enjoying time with his wife Annie.

****Looking for more?****

-Check out my comics workshop and stretch your creativity! https://tinyurl.com/grissomdcomicsworkshop

-Learn to draw monsters here: https://tinyurl.com/grissomdmonsters

-If you're looking for something faster paced and more advanced, try this: https://tinyurl.com/advancedcartooning
Learning Goals
Students will learn a variety of tips and techniques for drawing in general and also techniques specific to cartoons, character design, and comics.
learning goal

Other Details

Supply List
-pencil and eraser
-black pen or marker
-paper
-coloring utensils (crayons, markers, or colored pencils)
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined December, 2020
4.9
565reviews
Popular
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Massachusetts Teaching Certificate in Social Studies/History
Chris Hurley
Maryland Teaching Certificate
RJ Sterling
Washington Teaching Certificate in Special Education
Derrick Heisey
North Carolina Teaching Certificate in English/Language Arts
Daniel Grissom, M.A.
Master's Degree from University of Massachusetts
Chris Hurley
Master's Degree in English from University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Joanna Gallagher
Master's Degree in Education from Maryland Institute Collage of Art
RJ Sterling
Master's Degree in Education from Teachers College at Columbia University
Daniel Grissom, M.A.
Bachelor's Degree in History from Westfield State College
Chris Hurley
Bachelor's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from Rochester Institute of Technology
Maggie Wehler
Bachelor's Degree in Art and Design from Rowan University
Mike Jasorka, Comics Pro
Bachelor's Degree in History from Bryan College
Joanna Gallagher
Bachelor's Degree in English from Bryan College
Joanna Gallagher
Bachelor's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from San Francisco State University
Kevin Anthony Catalan
Bachelor's Degree in English Language and Literature from The University of New Mexico
Derrick Heisey
Bachelor's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from California State University, Fresno
Kaitlyn Sydelle, Anime Comic Artist
Bachelor's Degree in Fine/Studio Arts from UW-Whitewater
Jes Sudbrink
Bachelor's Degree from North Carolina State University
Daniel Grissom, M.A.
Bachelor's Degree in Foreign Language from North Carolina State University
Daniel Grissom, M.A.
Do you want to raise happy, curious, and creative kids?

Do you want their imagination nurtured, their critical thinking sharpened, and their skills developed? We love Art, Literacy, and Big Ideas, and we inspire children to fall in love with these disciplines too.

We at Curious Together help students develop their skills and grow their creative and academic confidence so that they grow to pursue a life of curiosity, creativity, and passion. 



Our program is built on the 3 pillars of success: Developing Skills, Building Confidence, and Fostering Independence. Curious Together incorporates each of these pillars into our classes using tried and true methods that are scientifically proven to increase student engagement and promote rapid growth in students of all ability levels.

All of our teachers are highly credentialed with years of professional teaching experience and real-world experience with the subjects they love and teach, as well as a long track record of success in their discipline. 

We teach specific skills that students can master so that they know what success feels like early on. This instills confidence and lights the fire for greater curiosity. We encourage students in their current passions and introduce them to new ones. We help them pursue their own interests and talents. Our classes are a bridge between the student and a world of ideas, content, and improved skills.

🔦 ABOUT OUR TEACHERS 🔦

⭐ DANIEL GRISSOM, Founder of Curious Together: 
With fifteen years of experience teaching in schools around the world, Daniel knows what it takes to nurture a child's imagination, talents, and unique, creative voice. In 2021, he left the brick and mortar classroom to make more room for the things he loves most--art, family, and teaching children in ways unbounded by traditional schooling. And in 2022, he founded Curious Together and his online cartooning program Kids Cartoon Academy. He has a Master’s Degree in English Education from Teachers College, Columbia University (NYC) and knows what it takes to cultivate a child’s imagination and develop their skills. He has taught over 2000 students in his online classes within the last two years. He uses scientifically proven methods to create a fun and engaging classroom that invites students to deep learning and transformative results. When he's not teaching, you'll find him drawing (of course), reading, watching sports, smoking barbecue, traveling, running his online art store, or being silly with his wife and two daughters.

📓 DERRICK HEISEY, Writer and Teacher: Since 2015, Derrick has taught every grade level from Kindergarten to 12th. He is a licensed Special Education teacher with a degree in English Creative Writing from the University of New Mexico and a minor in Philosophy. He's published short stories and poetry, and produces a podcast where he reads his original fiction. According to him, mastering the written word is one of the most empowering journeys a person can pursue, and nothing brings him as much joy as sharing that passion with students. Everyone has something important to say; they just need to find the right words, and Derrick can’t wait to help his students discover their voices. When he isn’t teaching, you can find him in his garden inspecting tomatoes, scribbling in a notebook, or reading a book with his dachshund Charlie Marlow curled up on his lap.

🧙 KYLE BICE, ILLUSTRATOR AND PAINTER: Kyle Bice is an artist and educator with a decade of freelance art experience, including fantasy illustrations for Legendary Games, FortifyStr.com, and many private commissions of portraiture and fine art. His love for fantasy and sci-fi stories inspired him to attend the Savannah College of Art and Design for a BFA in Sequential Art (drawing comics and storyboards) where he discovered a love for traditional fine art, leading him to an MFA in Painting, also from SCAD. Kyle loves teaching because he gets to see students unlock their potential creativity as they learn that art is like any other skill in life- if they practice, anyone can make something great! Kyle’s teaching philosophy is centered around creating a space for students to feel respected and safe in, where they can explore their passions in a warm, accepting environment. In his off time you’ll find Kyle playing fantasy games like D&D and Magic the Gathering, letting his greyhound run at the park, and of course, painting.

📚 JOANNA GALLAGHER, Literacy Expert: Joanna Gallagher firmly believes that, with the right tools and foundational skills, essay writing doesn’t have to be scary–it can even be fun! With a bachelor’s degree in both English and History and a master’s degree in English Literary Studies, she has long been passionate about the importance of interdisciplinary study and the value of the humanities in the “real world” beyond the classroom. She has over 7 years experience providing writing support and instruction across a wide scope of ages, abilities, and environments–everything from working with college students in a Writing Center, to teaching 9th grade English in a traditional classroom, to tutoring homeschoolers in composition and grammar. She cares deeply about creating spaces and structures that encourage and empower students to grow in confidence as readers, clarity as communicators, and–most importantly–curiosity as thinkers and lifelong learners. Outside of teaching, she enjoys reading and writing for fun (yes, really),gardening, photography, traveling, and being outdoors as much as possible with her husband and two energetic toddlers.

🤔 CHRIS HURLEY, Philosopher Teacher: Chris is a teacher, daydreamer and philosopher (so are you!). He holds Bachelor degrees in Philosophy and History, as well as a Master's of Linguistics. He loves Philosophy because it nudges us to look up at the night sky or to ponder the social ramifications of AI or to view what we encounter in our lives from another’s eyes. In Chris’ classes, you are not students and teachers so much as detectives on a team hunting after clues. You will look at the ordinary and spectacular, as well as your own experiences and those of others. After twenty years of teaching, Chris still enjoys nothing more than exploring the world with my classes and he’s thrilled that you might join him on the journey. Personally, he’s a movie nut, a terrible tennis player, and will devour pizza of any kind (even anchovies!). He looks forward to meeting each of you, to hearing your thoughts and ideas, and helping you understand that by not knowing, we give ourselves the greatest gift of all, that of discovery.

💥 KEVIN CATALAN, PROFESSIONAL COMIC BOOK ARTIST: Kevin Anthony Catalan is a freelance Comic Cartoonist with two published comic books, Space Knights and Tales of Space Knights, and is featured as a cover artist and guest artist for various other comics.  Kevin was taught how to draw at a very young age by his father, an animator that worked at Disney and Warner Brothers, and was introduced to comics at age 9, instantly falling in love with the medium. Kevin graduated with a B.A. from San Francisco State University, majoring in Studio Arts with a focus on oil painting, and took various comic book classes. While in the University, Kevin tutored his fellow classmates in various subjects including Astronomy, Painting, and Comics Making. Kevin self published his epic action-packed comic book “Space Knights” a month after his college graduation in 2020, which has now been picked up by an independent Publisher. With all of this success as a comic book artist, teaching has been the most gratifying thing that has come out of his art career. Teaching is about growth on both sides. Kevin’s approach is to start a dialogue with his students, being able to ask questions and let them form their own way of tackling problems. There are no solid rules to art making, but they are lots of guides. So Kevin will help his students find their own individuality by showing them his methods but encouraging them to find their own unique interests and style. Outside of drawing comics, Kevin loves to play video games, watch movies, use his telescope to stargaze and exercise. 


🗯️ MIKE JASORKA, PROFESSIONAL CARTOONIST AND COMIC ARTIST: Mike Jasorka grew up in a small rural town in New Jersey and graduated in 2007 from Rowan University with a studio art degree in illustration before making a move to his dream city of Los Angeles. There, he spent his time juggling his joy for self-publishing and creating his own comic books, providing storyboards for the advertising/film/music industry and teaching sequential art (comics) at Venice Arts - a non-profit multi-media arts organization. At Venice Arts, Mike has taught over 500 youth how to write and draw comics by applying the methods and foundations he uses in creating his own comics as well as the opportunities he has had professionally. Mike's teaching philosophy revolves around approaching creativity with a patience to grow - as every project brings new growth through challenge and requires great patience in order to passionately complete them. Most of Mike's time today is spent creating his next comic works, hanging out with his fiancée and friends, writing songs on the guitar and playing drums when he can.

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Live Group Class
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$27

weekly
1x per week
55 min

Completed by 935 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 7-12
1-5 learners per class

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