Visual Storytelling - comics evening course - Autumn 2015

The Visual Storytelling night classes are happening again for Autumn 2015.

Two locations this time - Dublin and Galway - both 8 weeks x 2 hour classes:

Galway at the Galway Arts Centre and beginning on Tuesday 15th September from 7-9pm and continuing each following Tuesday night.

UPDATE 22nd September: Dublin session is postponed this term - email me at philip dot barrett at gmail dot com (dot = .   at = @) to receive information about future classes.

Students will learn the basics of comic storytelling and each create their own multi-page, black and white story for inclusion in a class anthology, a copy of which they will receive at the final class.

The focus will be on storytelling through words and pictures with an emphasis on personal and autobiographical work. The class does not require previous drawing experience though it will include hints and tips on cartooning, design and other related visual skills.

Each class will include hands-on practical exercises as well as ‘homework’ for the following weeks. Materials will be provided for the first class.

See the work from the Autumn 2014 round of the course here.
See the work from the Spring 2014 round of the course here.

Just to note this is a mixed levels class - from beginners up to intermediate. I'm confident most participants will get something out if the class but if you've already done previous comics work (or are even remotely interested) it's well worth checking out the excellent Comics Lab who have regular monthly meetings in Dublin. Likewise the Dublin Comic Jam which also meets regularly. And indeed the Galway Pub Scrawl which meets fortnightly.

Signing up

Galway (8 weeks x 2hrs = €90)

To reserve a place contact reception at Galway Arts Centre, 47 Dominick Street, phone 091 565886 or email info@galwayartscentre.ie before Monday 14th September. Book online at the Galway Arts Centre website here.

Email me directly for any questions - philip dot barrett at gmail dot com (dot = .   at = @).

I'm still noting

Buzz Number 2

Remember Buzz comic no. 1 from last year? I got to work on some comics for the brilliant Buzz number 2 recently. In a project co-ordinated by Oonagh Young and featuring comic makers Fintan Taite, Sarah Bowie and myself we adapted stories from 6th class pupils of St.Agnes Girls and Scoil Colm Boys primary schools in Crumlin, Dublin. The stories revolved around their general lives and their feelings about growing up and progressing on to secondary school.

It was a really fun project and some terrific work resulted - have a look at some samples from Fintan here and Sarah here.

The whole thing is beautifully printed on newsprint in a format similar to Buster and Whizzer and Chips comics and the like from back in the day - the paper even goes all yellow and crispy in the sunlight!

Copies should still be available from the Lab on Foley Street in Dublin or you can send an A4 stamped addressed envelope to: Oonagh Young Gallery, 1 James Joyce Street, Dublin 1, Ireland for a copy

Below are a few of my efforts:

Many thanks to Sean Hogan for colouring assistance on 'The Knick-Knack variations'.

Dice 2014 Poster

Working with the Dice creative director (and damn fine comic artist) Declan Shalvey last year I got to put together one of the posters for the 2014 Dice event. It was a lot of fun batting the ideas back and forth and tapping Declan's insight and experience for effective imagery - I was very happy with the finished result:

Here were some of the colour roughs on the way:

Note on your Nelly

Comics Evening Course - Autumn 2014 work

Details on current courses here.

In previous rounds of the course each participant works on their own graphic short story which is then collected into a class anthology booklet, a copy of which everyone receives in the last class.

The class of Autumn 2014 did a bunch of excellent work and each participant contributed a 4 page story. The anthology is called Pick N'Comix and  you can download and read the full booklet here (pdf 7.5mb).

Below is the cover and following that a selection of pages from the comic:

Simon the Pear - Ceili Braidwood

The Purr-fect Plan - Helen McCormack

You Come Back - Katherine Foyle

Shambles - Maria Butler

Warhorse - Rob Shiels

The Diord Fionn - Seán Hogan

A Hero Dublin Deserves - Tara Ferguson




Have a look at the work from the class of Spring 2014 here.

Comics Evening Course - Visual Storytelling - Spring 2015

The Visual Storytelling night class is happening again for Spring 2015.

It's going to be on in Marino College in Fairview, Dublin (note it's Marino College in Fairview not the one on the North Strand - see map) and will begin on Monday 26th January from 7-9pm and continue each following Monday night.

Students will learn the basics of comic storytelling and each create their own multi-page, black and white story for inclusion in a class anthology, a copy of which they will receive at the final class.

The focus will be on storytelling through words and pictures with an emphasis on personal and autobiographical work. The class does not require previous drawing experience though it will include hints and tips on cartooning, design and other related visual skills as well as information on the layout and print-production aspect of comic book creation.

Each class will include hands-on practical exercises as well as ‘homework’ for the following weeks. Materials will be provided for the first class.

The course will consist of 8 weeks of 2 hour classes. The overall cost for the course is €80. Sign-up for the course is Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th January at Marino College from 5.30-8pm. You can also reserve a place by emailing adulteducation at marino.cdetb.ie (at = @) or calling Marino college at 01 833 2100 or 01 833 9342 

More details on sign-up and the postal enrolment form at the Marino College website here.

See the work from the Autumn 2014 round of the course here.

Email me directly for any questions - philip dot barrett at gmail dot com (dot = .   at = @).

Xmas 2013 Card

Usually I post the previous years card before Christmas itself but things were just mad busy this year. Hope you had a good holiday anyway and very best wishes for 2015!

Previous cards here.