This years Comic Con International has a lot going for it for artists. There are many panels that are geared to making you a better artist and help into getting into the business. Check out this top picks of panels for the aspiring comic book artist. For a full list of events, go to the Comic-Con website. The Comics Reporter has a nice breakdown of just the comics related events as well. What follows are the events, with the text from the CCI website, with commentary by me.
1. Impact University: How to Write and Draw Comics and Graphic Novels
Friday 12:00-1:30 Room 30CDE"Some of the biggest names in comics will teach you what it takes to make it in comics and graphic novels. This year's star-studded faculty panel includes Peter David (She-Hulk, X-Factor), Orson Scott Card (Ender's Game, Wyrms), David Petersen (Mouse Guard), Tom Nguyen (Batman, Justice League Elite) and Comics Buyer's Guide senior editor Maggie Thompson. Find out the best way to submit your work, learn the dos and don'ts of the business, and participate in a Q&A session."
Commentary: Once you have some art skills, what next? Find out from these professionals.
2. The Hero Initiative: I'm Supposed to Retire on This?!
Saturday 6:00-7:00 Room 30CDE"When you're a professional in comics, you are in charge of your own destiny, including paying your taxes and funding your retirement. But how are you supposed to save any money when Uncle Sam takes it all? And if you do have any money left over, where do you put it -- IRAs, SEPs, savings accounts or bank CDs, what's the difference? Harlan Wenig (independent financial advisor) and Joe Davidson (registered tax preparer) explore the financial aspects of being a comic book professional."
Commentary: If you want to be a fulltime comic book artist, then it is imperative to go to this workshop. Your future is in your hands and as a freelancer, you have to look out for yourself.
3. DC Talent Search Orientation
Thursday 10:30-11:30 Room 4Friday 10:30-11:30 Room 4
Saturday 10:30-11:30 Room 4
"Learn what DC Comics looks for in artists and find out how to improve your chances at becoming a working professional. Remember, diversity is the key with DC: DC Universe, Vertigo, WildStorm, Mad Magazine, Minx, and more! This informative orientation session will explain how DC's Talent Search works. If you want to have your work reviewed, attendance at this orientation session is mandatory, keep in mind that not all attendees are guaranteed a review."
Commentary: Key word – MANDATORY! If you don't go, you can't show.
4. Drawing Style and Storytelling
Thursday 12:30-2:00 Room 30CDE"In a classroom-style workshop, Darwyn Cooke (The Spirit), Brian Wood (DMZ), Cameron Stewart (The Other Side), Carla Speed McNeil (Finder), and Colleen Coover (Banana Sunday) -- and maybe another special guest -- discuss design, look-and-feel, and how they develop the visual style of specific projects. Moderated by Douglas Wolk (Reading Comics)."
Commentary: This is some big name talent here. A young artist could learn a lot from these guys.
5. New Voices in Graphic Novels
Saturday 4:30-5:30 Room 4"The medium is exploding with new opportunities and new creative talent. Six graphic novel creators who have published their first books in the past year -- Miriam Katin (We Are On Our Own), Leland Myrick (Missouri Boy), George O'Connor (Journey into Mohawk Country), David Peterson (Mouse Guard), Christian Slade (Korgi), and Jamie Tanner (The Aviary) -- talk about their inspirations and about the place their books have in the changing graphic novel market. Moderated by Calvin Reid (Publisher's Weekly)."
Commentary: Seeing how other people have gone about creating their comics can only inspire you to do your own. Learn from their mistakes.
6. Center for Cartoon Studies: How to Dramatically Improve Your Comics
Friday 4:30-5:30 Room 24A"Whether you are applying for a job at Marvel, are seeking a Xeric Grant to self-publish, submitting work to Drawn and Quarterly, or applying to the Center for Cartoon Studies, Tom Devlin and James Sturm from The Center for Cartoon Studies will give you ten simple ways to drastically, dramatically, and definitively improve your comics. They will offer one-on-one portfolio reviews for the final 30 minutes. Don't miss this rare opportunity!"
Commentary: A lesson in improving your art with portfolio reviews? Get these guys to look over your submissions before you submit it to the big leaguers.
7. Cover Story: Art of the Cover
Sunday 1:30-3:00 Room 1AB "They lied. You really can tell a book by its cover, and Mark Evanier is going to talk to some of the best cover artists in the comics biz about it. Join Mark along with fellow Comic-Con special guests Adam Hughes (Catwoman, Wonder Woman), Joseph Michael Linsner (Dawn), Joe Jusko (Tomb Raider, Marvel Masterpieces), Rowena (renowned fantasy cover illustrator), Matt Wagner (Grendel, Batman), J. H. Williams (Promethea), and others as they tell their own cover stories."Commentary: Some artist make a living just doing covers. The cover is such a central part of a comic and these people will surely give you some insight as to how to tackle your own. A gold mine waiting to be harvested.
8. Comic Book Law School 101: Let's Start at the Beginning
Friday 10:30-12:00 Room 30CDE"A very good place to start learning how to protect your intellectual property rights, that is. Learn the basics of copyright and trademark law in this popular interactive lecture series brought to you by noted attorney Michael Lovitz, author of the The Trademark and Copyright Book comic book (soon to be an expanded graphic novel). This first workshop will cover the basics of protection and ownership of ideas, characters, and their names from the point of creation forward. Attendees will participate in an interactive discussion about basic rights provided under U.S. copyright..."
Commentary: Protecting your intellectual rights is paramount these days. If you don't, you might regret it in the future.
9. The Comic Art Prof Show: How to Create Successful Comics Page Layouts
Friday 1:30-2:30 Room 30CDEYoung comics artists focus on learning to draw. Great comic artists master the page. Good page design brings clarity, rhythm, accent, and life to your comics. Starting with the basics, such as balloons placement and panel shapes, and stepping up to more advanced layout concepts, such as pacing and style, The Comic Art Prof (aka Christian Hill, professor of illustration and sequential art at Calstate Fullerton) will show you the processes professionals use in mainstream and alternative comics, manga, and Eurocomics to lay out impeccable and unforgettable pages.
Commentary: Page layouts is key in telling good comic stories. You can be a good artist, but if you don't lay a page out well, you won't get that gig.
10. Lessons from Masters in Visual Storytelling
Friday 4:00-5:00 Room 30CDE"Marshall Vandruff will show how such masters of comic art as Winsor McCay (Little Nemo in Slumberland) and Harvey Kurtzman (MAD) brought images and story structure together that form a foundation for all visual storytelling, including children's books, animation, and film. This session is part of the Crash-Course in Sequential Art being offered next weekend at The Art Institute of California, San Diego."
Commentary: Learn from the masters and you will go far.
