Teachin' (8 comments)
Teachin'
Monday, February 04, 2008 - 09:46 PM
I had the huge pleasure of guest speaking at Loyola Marymount University the other day... and it got me reinvigorated on an old goal of mine: Teaching cartooning at the university level.
The Director of LMU's Small Business Development Center asked me to come over and talk to his upper-level business class, and it was a blast. I gave a short, 10 minute presentation on how artists like myself are able to make a living online — sans mediation from publishers, syndicates, distributors, etc. — and it evolved into a 50-minute-long, rapid-fire Q&A session with the students. Needless to say... I loved it.
When we were done, the Director stood up and gave me one the nicest compliments I think I've ever received. He said that, in the "ten or so years of inviting people in to talk, I don't think I've ever seen a Q&A session last that long, or with that much energy." Which is great by me. I absolutely swam in the back-and-forth with the students.
But now it has me all fired up to start teachin'. See, back when I was pursuing my two graduate degrees in cartooning... I did so with the hope-beyond-hope that I could one day not only draw as a cartoonist, but also teach as a cartoonist. And the energy of this guest talk got that all stirred up again.
So, a huge 'thank you' to the students for a great Q&A... and know that you stinkers have me looking for my academic resume on my hard drive, now. :)
cygnet
Posts:
3
Registered:
Aug 2007
posted Tuesday, February 05, 2008 - 12:15 AM (
#40725)
Congrats on the successful presentation/Q&A!
Here's to hoping you do get to teach a lot more soon. :)
relishgargler
From:
The Frozen Tundra of MN
Posts:
19
Registered:
Nov 2006
posted Tuesday, February 05, 2008 - 06:19 AM (
#40727)
That's awesome. I would have loved to take a cartooning class in college. I love the idea and process of cartooning, even though my technical skill with a pen is way below par, and won't improve due to my strange young-age arthritis. I remember way back in Jr. High doing a report on a career we would like to have in the future, and I picked cartoonist. I even did an email interview with John Deering for it. I guess of all the careers I've wanted to have throughout my life, cartoonist and photographer have come up the most. At least now I'm halfway into one of those...
Now you got me all fired up to see how long my hands last holding a pen again...
--
I make newspapers
Narumi
Posts:
6
Registered:
Jan 2008
posted Tuesday, February 05, 2008 - 07:42 AM (
#40728)
I would totally take your class!!!
Wheezy
From:
Orlando, FL
Posts:
1
Registered:
Jan 2008
posted Tuesday, February 05, 2008 - 07:45 AM (
#40729)
Have you ever considering doing some online courses Dave? I imagine Something along the liens of Stephen Silver's Schoolism.com or the AnimationMentor.com but for cartooning would do really well.
I'd definitely be interested at any rate.
--
Dan Weiland
pahosler
From:
everywhere, but mostly stuck in Texas
Posts:
18
Registered:
Jan 2008
posted Tuesday, February 05, 2008 - 10:37 AM (
#40735)
In Response to Wheezy (#40729):
ditto, SIGN ME UP!
Bjorn
Posts:
8
Registered:
Feb 2008
posted Tuesday, February 05, 2008 - 12:34 PM (
#40739)
I will have to agree with those before me. I would totally sign up for your class. I think it'd be a blast.
Bjorn
Posts:
8
Registered:
Feb 2008
posted Tuesday, February 05, 2008 - 12:35 PM (
#40740)
I will have to agree with those before me. I would totally sign up for your class. It'd be a blast.
jlward
Posts:
1
Registered:
Dec 2007
posted Tuesday, February 05, 2008 - 03:52 PM (
#40747)
Hi Dave,
It sounds like it was a great class. I've always enjoyed your focus on being an entrepreneur and the business-like approach that you've taken as a webcomic artist.
Your two most recent posts on Half Pixel are good examples of the type of content I'm talking about. They are topics that don't immediately spring to mind when considering the topic, but become so important when you are trying to manage the day to day stuff while figuring out a way to make a couple of bucks from your ideas.
Hopefully, you will have future opportunities to teach additional classes. Good luck.
John Ward
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