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Manga

ONILINE / IN-STUDIO

MANGA (10-16 yrs)

2 hours weekly,

online: $150 monthly

in-studio:  $170 monthly


Students use their own tablets or laptops. Sibling 15% off)

If you find yourself doodling characters and comics on your off time, and if you like visual novels and animated series, this is the place for you! Join in on a cozy group-oriented setting with themed design challenges and an interactive environment. The class consists of a basic overview lecture of various topics - composition, color choice, panelling & storytelling, and anatomy practice - as well as additional one-on-one tips and critiques on the current works-in-progress.

Basics of Anatomy -- CONSTRUCTION AND CIRCLES

Will be a with-the-class demo as well as examples, possibly bring books + printouts for students

Male and female? Is the basics.

Different bodytypes and varying proportion

REALLY… BASIC… MUSCLE STUFF…. Super basic, holds head in hands...

Silhouette - analyzing what we like about existing characters, and creating diversity in designs

Powerpoint with a few popular examples.

Use of symbolism? Cite examples -- excellent sources in animated features is Hosoda Mamoru and

Satoshi Kon. Create a ‘symbolic element’ for character.

Character Perspective, revisit proportions.

Environment Perspective

Composition first: perspective, if needed.

Trying to emulate: a crowded classroom, a subway, a market square, etc.

Just be able to actually make an environment layout

Following class: LIGHTING

Lighting

Bring examples of work

Bounce light, mood and tone.

Draw same environment at day, dusk, and night

PROPS : Modes of transportation : Cars, bikes, carriages, spaceships, etc.

VALUE as a design tool.

Medium 1: inks? >>include inkwash, may need thicker paper + use of brushes.

The use of Color in design and in composition.

Use only ONE color in work, for showing something extremely important, the rest is B+W

How color affects mood and tone.

Panelling

Go over panelling basics.

How to’s with speech bubbles, breaking up phrasing.

Composition.

Film language with different framing heights.

Projects / Ideas

Creating a character

Creating a world

Prompt! “Create a design based on the word:”

Character Turnaround - in preparation for!

Everyone draws each other’s characters.

Analysis of characters: flaws and quirks, and cliches.

Create a one-page excerpt of a comic.

Student requests?


Location
Day & Time
Register
Class Teacher
Room
Mountain View
Sunday 1:30 - 3:30 PM
Online
Friday 5:00 - 7:00 PM
Online
Monday 3:45 - 5:45 PM
San Francisco
Wednesday 6:00 - 8:00 PM
1603
San Francisco
Sunday 3:45 - 5:45 PM
1603
San Jose
Wednesday 4:30 - 6:30 PM
2
San Jose
Sunday 1:30 - 3:30 PM
1
San Rafael
Sunday 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Materials we provide for in-studio classes,

and recommend for the online lessons:

Paint:
- set of acrylic paint (at least these colors - black, white. red. blue. yellow, green. brown, orange, purple). Recommended brand - Basics by Liquitex 
- watercolor paint, preferably in dry pans form. Recommended brand - Artist’s Loft by Michaels
Set of soft pastels. Recommended brand - Artist’s Loft by Michaels 

Drawing Medium:
- regular HB pencil
- eraser
- optional: set of graphite pencils of different softness (2H, H, B, 2B, 4B etc)
- colored pencils. Recommended brand - Prismacolor 
- optional: markers. Recommended brand - Copics 
- liners or sharpie pens. 

Tools:
- brushes - flat and round (pointy). Use separate brushes for acrylic and watercolor paint.
- wooden clay sculpting tools
- paper plates for mixing paint
- water bucket or cup
- scissors 
- glue stick

Clay:
- Air-dry clay - white. Recommended brand - Crayola 
- Oven baked clay - white. Recommended brand - Sculpey 
- Modeling clay - multiple colors. Recommended brand - Claytoon 

Surfaces:
- painting boards or mixed media paper, 8’’x10'’ or bigger - good for acrylic paint, coloring pencils, markers and graphite pencils.
- canvases, 8’’x10’’ or bigger - for acrylic paint only
- watercolor paper, 8’’x10’’ or bigger - for watercolor paint
- sketchbook or loose sketch paper (printing paper is ok) - any size
- construction paper (multiple colors), 11’’x14’’ or bigger

My daughter takes online Manga classes with John DePianto and her skills have exponentially grown. John is patient and very professional with his style of teaching and encouragement. I highly recommend this program.


Michelle Prescott

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