Matthew Rice & Michael Gunn share the same vision of Stoke

New Vision of Stoke by the Vice Chancellor

I was greeted from my return from UCAS in London by an email alerting me of an article in the Sentinel (11th Nov 2014) http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Michael-Gunn-Staffordshire-University-voyage/story-24511255-detail/story.html

To quote the paragraph that made me and a few others chuckle, 

Staffordshire University, which is celebrating 100 years of education heritage in the city, shares Matthew's vision – one in which our talented and creative graduates consider Stoke-on-Trent as a springboard for their careers and where they can play a central role in its renaissance as the "stormtroopers of regeneration".

Read more: http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Michael-Gunn-Staffordshire-University-voyage/story-24511255-detail/story.html#ixzz3J3BSQFPG 
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1st Year Students In Londo

London here we come

Last week cartoon and Comic Arts newest intake went to London. 

The aim was to get them thinking about what comics are and introduce them to the many and varied ways that comics influence our society. 

The trip to London started off with a bit of culture and the students were sent into the British Museum to seek out where Comics or sequential art has been used through out history. 

Afterwards we headed off to see Comics in their now natural place, the Comic Shop, before heading to China Town for a meal.

The following day the students went to the Cartoon & Comic Museum in Russell Street to see satirical cartoonist work by William Hogarth.

 In the afternoon Gareth Cowlin Took them to Sommerset House to see the exhibition by the Association Of Illustrators, while I headed off to London ExCel arena to set up the stall for MCM.
Saturday saw the students in MCM exploring yet another element of Cartoon & Comic Arts and how its influence has reached out across the UK to include Games, Manga, Independent Comics and Merchandising. 

 Cartoon and Comic Arts first graduating students setting up base camp in the Nova Hotel. There were there running their own stalls and selling their work

Image for Henrion Gallery Staffordshire University Stoke Site

Henrion Gallery 

Henrion Gallery Image. I asked Mark Garner Area Group Leader for Visual Communications to choose an image to represent the award. 
"the strongest ones are the ones with Speech bubble on them... without that they only work as images and don't really have any context----these ones are far more representational of CCA…..unless you put together a montage---which I think is what I would do with such diverse work…."
So this is what I knocked up. I think Mark is correct that we have such a diverse collection of people its hard to have one image that represents you all. I Choose Nigel Morey because it is quite dynamic, Claire Smith because is shows the draughtsmanship and also the process we under go as cartoon artist, and Verity Hall and Alice Urbino because of their different style and the use of panels and words. Finally Esme Baran work shows a different type or art in both colour and line work. I hope you all agree and appreciate that this was a very hard task and this represents the best solution to demonstrate the strength and styles of Cartoon & Comic Arts at Staffordshire University

The Building of of a Comic Empire

Building a Comic Empire

"Et Tu Brutus!"

 

 

 

As part of the 2nd year project, I decided that we needed to raise the anti a bit and allow the students to experience the real life side of comics. After all there are suppose to be adults! 

The plan was to get the student produce work which they felt passionate about and then in May go and sell it at the MCM Comic Con in London Docklands. To give the best possible experience in both work and education, I called on two stalwarts of the comic industry, John Charles and Kevin Gunstone to help out with the idea generation and the overall quality of the product being produced.

 

The cohort was split into 2 groups of 6 and they have set about producing the ideas, concept designs for their comics that they will be selling at in the Comic Alley at MCM in May. I'll try and keep you up to date with their progress and also give you the links to their blogs and artwork.

 

John Charles Masterclass

Friday 21st February will be a day long remembered by 2nd year cartoon and comic arts students. John Charles (MarvelUK -2000AD - currently working on the Star Wars comic) presented 2 (yes count them-2) masterclasses in comic production. The morning session saw students creating their own characters and the afternoon they learned about layouts and how to make more dramatic poses. The knock on from this is for students to up their game for MCM Expo comic con in May -London Docklands.

Staffordshire University's 1st Ever DRINK N DRAW

Staffordshire University's

Drink & Draw

 

Thursday 27th February sees the first ever Drink and Draw being held at Staffordshire University. Asked for by the Cartoon and Comic Arts students, it is aimed at being a social out let for these rather shy and retiring individuals and an opportunity for them to develop their drawing abilities. Its open to both animation and illustration students as well. Students are expected to turn up in Coplay (Costume) of their favourite characters and allow other members of the cohort to draw them.

 

As this is our first event we are happy to have a few professional industry experts to help out and add a bit of prestige to the event. They include MarvelUk and 2000AD artist John Charles and Jason Brindley. Both giving up their free time to be part of this epic new venture to the comic arts award. As well as that Kevin Gunstone, writer for Markosi, Marvel Dark Horse etc, will be sharpening his pencil as well to take part in the event. No event would be complete with out our own AGL Mark Garner as well! 

Jenny Addison

Illustration student Jenny Addison who recently joined Staffordshire University, had a go at illustrating the Twelfth Night. Wanting to be a childrens illustrator,  Jenny set this story in the rock pools with a brother and sister crab being separated and their struggle to be reconciled. An excellent good first attempt.

Pop Up Comic Shop

Pop Up Comic Shop

Wednesday 19th February 

10.00 - 4.00

 

Henrion Gallery

 

New stock will be on Sale this Wednesday in the Henrion Gallery from 10.00. This year we see students tackle Shakespeare and make comic books of a range of his plays. This Wednesday sees a selection of artwork on sale in the Henrion Gallery by 2nd Year Cartoon & Comic Arts, Illustration and Games Concept Design Students. 

 

 



Potty Anthology

Gareth Cowlin has edited together the best of a childrens comic called Potty (Over flowing) Here 2nd year students were asked to think about their intended audience (children aimed between 7 & 10) and to wrote and produce several short comic strips. Here are the best. Once again for sale at the London Super Comic Con in March.

Hot off the press

Student work for sale at the London Super Comic Con in March. First delivery of prints arrived yesterday. We're really looking forward to attending, selling our work and meeting everyone and all the special guests.

More New Work for Sale at LSCC

 

More New Artwork

Here is another post with another 3 excellent pieces of artwork and comics by 3 different comic book artist/illustrators.

 

Becci Such is a talented Comic Art student who is influenced by Manga. She has taken the story of Much Ado About Nothing and placed it in the early era of Japanese Shoguns.

 

Daniel Ward is from Games Concept art and uses his Matte Painting technique to great effect in this Western take on the "Merry Wives of Windsor!"

 

Terrina Bibb is a talented Illustrator who has a knack for drawing Comedians. In her unique take of the "Taming of the Shrew" she teams up Miranda Richardson and Jimmy Carr as the 2 protagonist of the story. Sharp cutting jokes run amuck in this updated version of the classic.

New Work being Prepared for London Super Comic Con

Students work on Shakespeare

 

Last semester saw Students taking a Shakespeare play, deconstructing it and putting it back together in individual 12 page comics. These we are hoping will be on sale at the London Super Comic Con in March as well as around the university!

 

This year saw Illustration and also Game Concept designers coming together and working alongside comic students to produce some truly outstanding work. The selection has broad base appeal and they range from small children to adult content.

 

Over the next few weeks I'll be posting the front covers for some of the work that we are hoping to sell at the convention.

 

 

 

Above is Ryan Moss version of Henry IV part 1, set in the future on a different planet these warring factions battle it out for the bigger prize!

 

Conar Cross has taken his play Timon of Athens and made it into a 1950 Mafia based story of betrayal

 

Kieran Hayes has taken King Lear and updated it with lawyers and thieves.

 

 



Tempus Nobel Reboot

Tempus Nobel

This is my comic strip that I've been working on and off with for the last couple of years. Initially based around the time of the Royal Wedding (Kate and Will, remember that?) It was suppose to be topically having an Olympic Mystery as part 2 of the adventure. The character Tempus Nobel is a mixture of James Bond and Sherlock Holmes. He incorporates that logical deduction alongside a suave and sophisticated appearance. The story also gave me an opportunity to draw political characters, from David Cameron to Barrack Obama.

 

 

Finally Drawing at Last

 

Getting back to drawing Comics!

Above work unfinished! Tempus Nobel Chapter 6

It seems like ages but I finally got back to putting pencil in hand, along with a bit of ink from my new Pentel Brush Pen, with scanner and computer at hand I've found an hour to sit down and draw. I've finally got the feel back for what I'm doing. At one point it all seemed paperwork and meetings with budgets and designing new modules and booking trips, it felt like it was a million miles away from what I wanted to do, draw! So I finally completed all the pencil sketches for Tempus Nobel Comic and come up with a conclusion. This all started so long ago when Prince William and Kate got married and at one point was very topical, Now the first Chapters seem a bit dated. Anyway, I'm hoping to get some of the comics printed for the London Super Comic Con in March. Fingers crossed.

UCAS success

We had a great time recruiting for the award at the 2 UCAS events in both London and Manchester. Interest in the award was up by about 300% with knowledge of the award growing. We look forward to seeing all those students interested in the award.