Clattertron

[dc]I[/dc] always want to get better when it comes to drawing and making comics. This time around, I signed up for a cartooning workshop class at Lansing Community College with renowned Lansing artist Dennis Preston.

Preston is known around town for his exaggerated caricatures and cartoons, and I couldn’t wait to take his class. I’m not taking the class for a grade, or as part of a degree. This is a no credit/continuing education thing for me (but not the rest of the class, I believe). Preston also teaches the Humorous Illustration class at LCC (which I didn’t know about until last night), and I might consider taking in the future.¹

Back to School

The class met for the first time last Thursday, and it felt great to go somewhere and only focus on drawing for almost a couple of hours. I didn’t take my Surface Pro 3, but rather a new sketchbook along with some trusty pencils and pens.

I’m sure I’ll pick up some new techniques, but I’m happy for the excuse to get out of the house and focus on drawing once a week.²

Heads Up

Like most introductions to cartooning, the first class focused on drawing cartoon heads—specifically head shapes. Preston gave us several examples (square, diamond, triangle, ‘peanut,’ and so on) and went to work drawing his own.

We spent the first class drawing different head shapes and filling them in with features. It is fun to focus on simple things, and not worry about a bigger picture. I played around with a bunch of shapes and filled up a couple of pages in my sketchbook.

Loosen Up

Preston taught us a handy method to loosen up both our hands and our creativity. He told us to scribble a random shape or line, and try to make it into a drawing—any kind of drawing. I used to do stuff like this, but not as much lately. Another reason this class was a good idea.

It’s easy to get bogged down with ‘what’s my next comic going to be?’ or ‘I need to update this and that on my website’ or ‘am I ready for my next convention?’ or other non-drawing stuff. Not in the class, though. I’m there to just draw.

Future Lessons

The cartooning workshop is eight sessions, and there’s plenty to learn over the next seven weeks. Preston said he will bring in modeling clay soon so we can make heads, and practicing drawing them from different angles. Fun! We’re also going to learn about shading techniques—an area I really need to improve upon—and caricatures (exaggerating features) to name just a few.

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¹ It’s a more in-depth class, with graded projects and such. The class I’m in is a ‘workshop’ and features a more casual approach than a traditional class.

² There’s also the Lansing Drink and Draw group which meets at The Avenue Cafe each Wednesday at 8 PM, organized by Jason Strutz. Come on by. I try to make it when I can—which will happen more now that Winter is over.