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Actually…no! Even when the courses I’m teaching have a technical flavour to them, my approach to teaching is very often NOT instructional. I am interested in offering opportunities for you to creatively problem-solve, and if I told you what to do, what would be the fun in that?
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Absolutely NOT. I love having a diversity of backgrounds, skill levels, comfort levels, and creativity in the (Zoom) room at all times. We have so much to offer each other!
Learning is not a linear path for anyone. You can learn from anyone, anywhere, at any time, without even trying. And they can learn from you! If you show up ready to explore and participate, everyone will be better for it.
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Sure! You don’t have to be a professional, or “serious” about comics to enjoy my classes.
In fact, if you are trying to become a comics artist, you might find my approach very indirect. I like to bring fun & exploration to the topics I teach, which is extremely important in the longevity of your career. Comics can be fun & breezy, but if you have a major project in mind, the way you engage with your work needs to be sustainable — and to me, that means enjoyable, satisfying, curious, & fun!
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Yes! Classes are recorded and will be available online for subscribers only.
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Think of it like a yoga class, or a meditation group, but for your drawing & creativity. It’s a personal practice, in a shared online space, with guidance.
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Each Drawing Health session involves:
+ a theme to work with
+ a guided somatic meditation
+ time to draw
+ sharing & support
I always say at the start of class that everything I present to you is an invitation, not a requirement. You’re encouraged to listen to your impulses, and follow your gut.
If you want to listen to the session while doing the dishes, or lie down the whole time, or draw while I talk, or be on camera and participating in discussion - it’s all up to you.
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Everything we do in Drawing Health is coming from my own need to repair the relationship between my health and my creativity. In my short life, I’ve had so many health issues that seemed at odds with my creative practice. I don’t want my body to be battling my self-expression, so I made Drawing Health to practice a kinder way.
In Drawing Health sessions, I am utilizing skills I learned over many years from studying and practicing yoga, meditation, Craniosacral Therapy, herbalism, Continuum Movement, and Emotionally Integrated Voice. Using compassionate self-investigation, following my emotional landscape to new creative paths and locations, I am making my art from a place of self-attunement. I dunno if that’s a proper thing, but it describes what I’m getting at, so I hope that makes sense to you!
Either way, I generate these practices according to my own needs each week, and then offer you space to come along, join in, and ultimately practice listening to yourself with care.
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Yes, but you can’t watch them. I record the classes for my own teaching records, not for distribution.
Drawing Health is a trust-based space that encourages vulnerability and keeing that private is important to the community we’re holding together.
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This mentorship program is for people who are actively working on a long form comics project. You might find yourself in a grey area, like maybe you have a project that you’ve abandoned but want to return to.
The best way to tell if this is a good fit for you is to book a 15-minute consultation with me, so that we can chat about what you want to do, and how the group works.
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We meet twice a month for 2 hours over Zoom: one meeting for PROGRESS, and one for PROGRESS.
In each meeting, I’ll host a warm up activity, and then start working with each person individually on their project. Challenges this month, goals for next month, ways to appreciate our unique working patterns, and new areas to explore. Everyone will have a chance to hear the entire group’s feedback on their work. Everyone will hear the individual work I do with everyone else, and we will all benefit from the variety of experiences and creative problem-solving!
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I am more than happy to work with your needs and preferences within the group structure. If you want to only speak and not receive feedback, we can do that. If you want to only hear my feedback and nothing from the other participants, no problem. If you only want to hear appreciative comments, to help boost your confidence - you got it!
Each group is small enough that I can dedicate specific attention to shaping the space with all of our needs in mind.
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Yes, and they’re made available to the group all year.
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The Slow Burn Comics Mentorship takes new participants every year, in January. We commit to being with each other for the whole year, and the rate is $115/month. Additioal one-on-one meeing are available to all participants, and unlimited access to all my classes is included in the fee.
See my page, Fees and Opportunities, if you need a different fee for any reason at all. Everything is flexible.
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Comics Editing is the process of reviewing an artist’s work with an eye towards the craft of it, looking at what’s supporting the artist’s vision, what’s deviating from it, and what might help the artist realize their vision more effectively.
There are many ways this takes place, from light copy-editing and continuity review to substantive editing of the story itself. The artist leads the way by bringing their desires about the editing process to the table, and the editor uses their skill to meet those needs and support the artist to move forward with their work.
*In the mainstream comics industry, editors play a very different role that belongs to the structure of comics publishing companies. What I describe above is the purpose of a more individual or freelance editing relationship.
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You’re ready exactly as you are, at any given moment. There is no criteria for being ready to be edited by me. A lot of my work is helping people see themselves as capable, accepting and working with their challenges, and sometimes that kind of support is needed even to START.
I like to say that the best time to reach out for support is when you want it.
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The way I like to edit with artists is low-pressure, high-impact sessions at the moment an artist needs support. This is how it goes:
you send me your materials — notes, drawings, pencils, finished pages — whatever you want me to see
within 7 days, we get together over Zoom to discuss your materials, your goals, and what you’re struggling with
after our conversation, I type up 1-2 pages of notes that reflect our conversation and provide you with 1 - 3 actionable steps to take from where you are now
I like this structure because it meets you exactly where you are, and looks no further than the steps right in front of you. To me, the artistic process is one of discovery, and laying out plans can lead to disappointment or frustration. I want to leave you room to try something, and then find out where it brings you, making your next step from that place.
Art needs to be sustainable, and following plans is often a real challenge. Keeping the pressure low, and the enjoyment & curiosity high, you can go anywhere and before you know it, you’ve accomplished so much! You may even surprise yourself.
Do you have a question?
