London trip 2015

Cartoon & Comic Arts in London 2015 

Day One and Cartoon & Comic Arts headed down to London for their annual trip to visit the big smoke and to explore the world of comics. 

This year we booked into the Generator just a short walk from The British Museum.

After lunch we headed to the British Museum to see a Manga Exhibition and also how sequential art has been used throughout the history of mankind.

 

After that we headed off to various Comic Shops which held displays of ex students work – Forbidden Planet, Orbital Comics and Gosh Comics before hitting China Town for a bite to eat.

Day 2

Cartoon Museum – Association of Illustrators Exhibition – Drawing along the Thames 

At the Cartoon Museum, Steve Marchant, former Beano Comic Artist and Curator of the National Lottery funding which the university is part of gives a talk about the artwork that is on show and also about the Young Cartoonist of the year which some of the students entered while there. 

After lunch we made our way to Somerset House where the students viewed the Association of Illustrators exhibition of up and coming artist. We have created close ties with the Association of Illustrators and Fig Taylor the their portfolio reviewer comes in and gives talks to both Cartoon and Comic Arts and Illustration students.

 

Holly shows off what she brought at the shops yesterday and Lewis finds his true calling as a Egyptian Pharaoh surrounded by his slaves.   

 

Taking almost 30 students around London is a lot of hard work. But we think they enjoyed it with the drawing task and we headed to the National Portrait Gallery where there was a class the students could join in with. 

This was suppose be a drawing exercise along the Thames.

The students ponder the bigger meaning of what the London Eye is… Or isn’t!

DAY 3

MCM the UK’s largest Comic Con and Expo event. Last year the 2^nd years went to the May event to sell their work at the convention and it was a success with all students selling something and quite a few selling out of their work. The first years went to be a part of it and absorb the atmosphere and also catch up with some of the previous years Alumni.

Stokes first ever Comic Con

Stoke Con

Staffordshire University

Stokes first ever comic convention is happening and where.... right her at Staffordshire University in the LRV (Leek Road Venue)
Who would have thought that 3 years after the creation of the Cartoon & Comic Arts award that this would be happening on our doorsteps. A big hand is deserved for the organising team from Six Towns Radio who have pulled out all teh plugs to make sure taht the event is Big, Bright and Bold!

The award has several tables at eth event as recruitment, sales and also the legendary John Charles and Jason Brindley are drawing people for a small outlay of money. Absolutely important for an event to have these characters on board. 

The guset list is impressive from 

Craig Charles 

Norman Lovett 

Colin Baker

Nicola Bryant

I'm going to try and keep blogging all the way through the event with images of the Students and stars as they appear and the workshops we will be running

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! 

MCM Expo Comic Con

Staffs uni has a presence in London this week end.  Initially the 1st years were touring the cities main comic centres,  including the comic museum in Russell Street and then on to forbidden Planet and finally a book signing at Gosh.  Saturday saw them traveling to the MCM in Docklands to join about another 100, 000 people there in cosplay and other comic related paraphernalia.