CONTENT | Toonschool

ToonSchool’s Drawing Program is based on an Annual Syllabus that covers -amongst so many things- the Fundamentals of Human and Animal Anatomy, Bodies in Motion, Colour Theory, the Art of Inking, Perspective Drawing, Environments, Character Design, Bringing Inanimate Objects to Life, Robots, Superheroes, Fantasy Beings and Creatures, Comic Book Layout, and other Subjects associated with Comic Art and the Art of Drawing.

Each Online Session consists of the following three Segments:

We Start off with Project of the Week that usually includes Background Information related to the chosen Topic, Visual and Reference Material, Drawing Approach Tips, Tricks and Artist Hacks, Gallery of Artists, and -most importantly- an Industry-related Drawing Prompt to challenge Skill, Humour and Imagination.

Projects are prepared and presented to aid both the Beginner and the non-Beginner, and with the intent of developing and supporting the individual’s own personal Drawing style.

This is followed by a short Segment on Comic Art Theory which consists of either Cartoon History or Cartoonology.

In Cartoon History we currently have three Active History Timelines going, i.e. the History of Cartoons, the History of Superheroes and the History of South African Cartoons.

Cartoonology may include my own Research on Comic Art entitled, Well Placed Lines. Using Cartoon Lines that Matter and Say What..? The Comic Art of Depicting Sound; Cartoon Symbology and Terminology; Industry-Related Topics, or anything else I may come across that proves Interesting enough to share with the Group.

This Segment sometimes falls away if the Main Project takes up too much of the Session Time, e.g. during the Annual Christmas Sessions when the Content may involve the Reading of a Story.

The Session wraps up with a How-to-Draw Exercise that takes the form of good Old-fashioned, Hands-on, I-Draw-You-Follow, Step-by-Step, Breaking-it-Down-into-Basic-Geometric-Shapes, Fundamental Drawing Exercise. The How-to-Draws may also include various Drawing and Inking Techniques.

After the Session has finished, those who are interested can hang around for a Short Show & Tell where ToonSchoolers get to share the work they’ve Produced during the week.

ToonSchool is and will always be a Judgement-free Zone where everyone is encouraged to explore and interpret each Drawing Prompt as they wish and to go wherever their vivid Imaginations may lead them.

May the Creative Force be with you!