Cassidy Ott

Investigate visual storytelling through the dynamic art forms of comics and graphic novels. This course invites you to explore a range of creative techniques, including writing, storyboarding, penciling, inking, and coloring. Building a solid foundation in research methods will help you brainstorm and develop your ideas. You'll create compelling projects that explore narrative structures and seamlessly blend text with stunning visuals. Regular critiques will allow you to sharpen your skills. At the same time, inspiring visits to the Art Institute of Chicago will allow you to connect with contemporary artists, illustrators, and designers. Whether you're a seasoned artist or a beginner, this class is about unleashing your creativity and finding your unique voice in the art world.

Investigate visual storytelling through the dynamic art forms of comics and graphic novels. This course invites you to explore a range of creative techniques, including writing, storyboarding, penciling, inking, and coloring. Building a solid foundation in research methods will help you brainstorm and develop your ideas. You'll create compelling projects that explore narrative structures and seamlessly blend text with stunning visuals. Regular critiques will allow you to sharpen your skills. At the same time, inspiring visits to the Art Institute of Chicago will allow you to connect with contemporary artists, illustrators, and designers. Whether you're a seasoned artist or a beginner, this class is about unleashing your creativity and finding your unique voice in the art world.

Investigate visual storytelling strategies through the contemporary art forms of drawing, painting, and alternative comics and graphic novels. You may work with various wet and dry media, including ink, pencil, charcoal, collage, observational drawing, storyboarding, or a combination of different materials. The course will include online demonstrations geared to your passions, time for self-directed work, and comprehensive faculty advising. You will engage in discussions and critiques with a vibrant online community of other students from throughout the country and around the world, create portfolio-quality work, and receive comprehensive guidance on developing competitive applications for college admissions to art and design programs.

Wimmen¿s Comix (1972-1992) dove head first into topics that others within the underground comic movement refused to breach, such as abortion, menstruation, masturbation, queerness, witches, murderesses, and, of course, feminism. This studio course will use the history of the Wimmen¿s Comix movement as a scaffolding to investigate the inherently political nature of underground comics and what it means to create contemporary feminist comics in a post Roe v. Wade society.