Blog Post
Take Part in Art -- Art that Tells a Story
by MariaK
People have been using pictures to tell stories since…well, forever! Cave paintings, illuminated manuscripts, and the Bayeux Tapestry are all ancestors of modern picture books and graphic novels. To explore the relationship between art and storytelling, you could always come visit the Youth Art Table downtown, or enjoy our abundant and awesome resources at home.
Some excellent artists – modern and historical – have focused on using art to tell stories. To learn more about these artists try reading:
Brueghel: A Gift for Telling Stories – about the life of Dutch artist Pieter Brueghel.
En mi Familia and Family Pictures by Mexican-American artist Carmen Lomas Garza.
Pretty much anything about Norman Rockwell.
To explore how artists tell stories using pictures, try these books.
Telling Stories in Art by Joy Richardson provides examples readers can use to create their own story in art!
Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud describes how graphic novelists use pictures to tell their stories, and Drawing Words and Writing Pictures by Jessica Abel guides readers in creating their own graphic novels!
Read a wordless picture book to see how amazing a story without words can be.
If you have children ages 4-7, you can also attend one of the University of Michigan Museum of Art’s Storytime in the Museum programs starting January 8. University of Michigan students read stories related to the art on display at the museum to bring art to life!
Finally, to see how art can tell different stories to different people try Twice Told -- a collection of short stories based on paintings. The twist? Each painting inspires two stories by different authors. See how different stories based on the same picture can be! What story would you tell?
Blog Post
Comic Artists Forum: Make a Mini-Comic with Matt Feazell
by K.C.
At the next Forum create your own 8-page mini-comic with the guidance of freelance cartoonist Matt Feazell. His comics and spot illustrations have appeared in Disney Adventures and Nickleodeon Magazine and his regular weekly series, The Amazing Cynicalman runs every week in the Hamtramck Review newspaper. He's currently writing and directing a live-action Cynicalman movie.
Afterwards take time to chat and share your work with fellow cartoonists or draw while listening to other cartoonists as they discuss techniques. Basic drawing supplies will be available.
Comic Artists Forum -- Sunday, January 9 -- 1:00-3:00 PM -- Downtown Library -- Grades 6-Adult
Blog Post
Author Birthdays: Pohl, Schulz, Robinson
by marshd
November 26th marks the birthday of authors Frederik Pohl, Charles Schulz, and Marilynne Robinson.
Frederik Pohl is a 90-year-old American science fiction writer and National Book Award, Hugo Award, and Nebula Award winner. His book Jem won the National Book Award in 1980, Man Plus and Gateway both won the Nebula Award in 1976 and 1977 respectively, and Gateway also won the Hugo Award in 1978.
Pohl has written 7 series and at least 30 other novels, over 20 collections, as well as an autobiography and some non-fiction works. One of the stand-alone novels is The Coming of the Quantum Cats, which includes Nancy Reagan as President of the United States and an escapee Stalin who found his refuge in America. His latest work, the finishing of a novel started by Arthur C. Clarke, is called The Last Theorem.
Charles Schulz was an American cartoonist, best known for the comic strip and cartoon Peanuts and its characters, though his first cartoon was actually one called Li'l Folks. His honors are probably a bit more prestigious than most authors': the Congressional Gold Medal, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and even being the Grand Marshal of the Rose Parade.
Schulz has one " autobiography", and had many biographies written about him, including Sparky: The Life And Art Of Charles Schulz and Schulz And Peanuts: A Biography.
Marilynne Robinson is a five-time award-winning American writer. Housekeeping won the Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award; Gilead won the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Critics Circle Award, and the Ambassador Book Award; and Home, a companion to Gilead, won the Orange Prize for Fiction.
Robinson's newest book is a non-fiction work entitled Absence Of Mind: The Dispelling Of Inwardness From The Modern Myth Of The Self. The book consists of lectures given at Yale University about science, religion, and consciousness.
Blog Post
Comic Artists Forum features Star Wars artist Katie Cook
by K.C.
The Forum moves Downtown in December. Join us in the Multipurpose Room for a presentation by Katie Cook who does licensed work for Star Wars products, webcomics for The Clone Wars, The Lord of the Rings, DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Heroes and Fraggle Rock. She’s also the creator of the webcomic Gronk: A Monster’s Story.
Afterwards take time to chat and share your work with fellow cartoonists or draw while listening to other cartoonists as they discuss techniques. Basic drawing supplies will be available.
Comic Artists Forum | Sunday, December 5 | 1:00-3:00 PM | Downtown | Grade 6 – Adult
Blog Post
Norwegian cartoonist Kim Holm Discusses Comics Publishing in the New Media Century
by anned
Join us Monday, November 22 from 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm at the Malletts Creek Branch for a fresh view on the debate over the future of copyright during this interactive discussion with Norwegian cartoonist Kim Holm. Does copyright law ensure innovation and personal creativity, or does it steal from the public domain? While digital piracy is claimed to be an inevitability by some and a threat to capitalism by others, Kim has embraced the distribution methods used by pirates to broaden his audience. He has explored publishing models that altogether eschew the use of copyright, releasing his work into the public domain as a digital edition while simultaneously selling print editions on his website. During this presentation Kim will raise some provocative counter-arguments to commonly-held beliefs about current copyright law, exploring some of the ways it may be improved, if not discarded altogether.
Blog Post
Comic in a Box: Make an Accordion Mini-Comic
by K.C.
Make an accordion mini-comic and a box that fits it perfectly. Cartoonists Anne and Jerzy Drozd will guide you through the process of making a "done in one" improvisational short comics story. Learn how to make an Accordion Mini-Comic with a strip of paper folded upon itself; draw your story, and fold it into a comic. Then with provided materials you will create a box for your comic. Voila! You have the perfect gift for friends or family.
Comic in a Box | Saturday, December 4 | 1:00-3:00 PM | Malletts Creek | Grades 6 - Adult
Blog Post
Meet Children's author & illustrator, Mark Crilley!
by erin
For many children meeting the author of a favorite book can be a life-changing experience! Mark Crilley, the author of the recent comic book release, Brody's Ghost Vol. 1, will be doing a special visit at the Ann Arbor District Library on Sunday November, 21 from 2:00-3:30 PM at the Downtown Library.
Mark Crilley was raised in Detroit and attended Kalamazoo College where he met children's book writer/illustrator (and 2001 Caldecott award winner) David Small. David’s example inspired Mark to pursue writing and illustrating professionally. Mark’s first series of books featured, “ Akiko” The first in the series, " Akiko on the Planet Smoo", was published in 2000; the tenth, " Akiko and the Missing Misp", hit stores in 2008. Mark also wrote the Billy Clikk books and the four-volume manga series " Miki Falls.” Miki Falls has been optioned for film development by Paramount Pictures and Brad Pitt's Plan B production company. Volume two of his newest series, Brody’s Ghost, will be released in January of 2011.
Join us for a high-energy, educational, hilarious and interactive afternoon. From telling stories and drawing characters attendees will be inspired by Mark’s creativity, talent and enthusiasm! The Vault of Midnight will be selling Mark’s books and Mark will sign these (and any personal copies that fans bring with) after his talk.
Blog Post
Happy Birthday Masashi Kishimoto!
by darla
Today, November 8, is the 36th birthday of Japanese Manga artist Masashi Kishimoto, creator of the hugely popular Naruto series. Naruto, for those not familiar with this collection, is the ongoing story of teen ninja Naruto Uzumaki and his adventures. For those not acquainted with the cultural phenomenon of manga, check out materials like Manga! Manga! : The World of Japanese Comics or go straight to a prime source like the magazine Shonen Jump: The World's Most Popular Manga.
Blog Post
November Comic Artists Forum
by K.C.
Looking for fresh ideas for your next comic or graphic novel creation? Do you enjoy drawing while listening to other cartoonists discuss their favorite drawing techniques or the latest trend in comics? Join this monthly forum. Bring your favorite drawing tools and enjoy a few hours of drawing, learning and sharing.
Guest artist this month will be Jim Ottaviani who is the author of many graphic novels about scientists ranging from physicists to paleontologists to behaviorists. His most recent is T-Minus, a book about the science and engineering of the space race. Other cool science graphic novels by Jim in the AADL collection include:
Bone Sharps, Cowboys, and Thunder Lizards
Dignifying Science: Stories About Women Scientists
Fallout: J. Robert Oppenheimer, Leo Szilard, and the Political Science of the Atomic Bomb
Suspended in Language: Niels Bohr’s Life, Discoveries, and the Century He Shaped
Two-Fisted Science: Stories About Scientists.
Comic Artists Forum | Sunday, November 7 | 1:00-3:00 PM | Malletts Creek | Grade 6-Adult
Blog Post
What's a Zine? Find out October 10!
by K.C.
Zines are small, self-published booklets which are usually printed with a photocopier or home printer. They include comics, poetry, travel essays, how to’s – anything you want to express – and can even be used in the classroom to jazz up writing assignments. Though zines are generally low tech you can use the web to learn more about them at sites like We Make Zines: a place for zinesters, writers, and readers.
Zine enthusiast and creator Brian Steinberg will talk about making a diary comic zine, give a hands-on demo. And then create a zine of your own. All materials provided.
What Do You Mean, What’s a Zine? | Sunday, October 10 | 1-2:30 PM | Malletts Creek | Grade 6-Adult