Comic Pop Up Shop

Staffordshire Fringe 2012 Festival

As part of the Fringe Festival I opened a Pop Up Comic Art shop where students could sell their work to the public. The shop opened up on the same day as the 3rd Year Art & Design Show and we had a huge interest from the public and other students coming into the shop to browse, look at student work which decorated the area and also buy their comics.

Above is a view of some of the comic books on sale in the shop. The most expensive being £2.50. Below is some of the best sellers.

As well as the shop we had some visiting Alumni who left the university and where making their way in the world.

Above, Jamie Bakewell reads an article about himself and his recent contribution to the animation awards, when he did a guest lecture having completed working for Aardman on their feature film "Pirates" and also doing the Pre-Viz for "The Fast & The Furious"

In the comic Shop we allowed budding Artist to show off their skills. They had to draw a picture of a film they had recently seen or in Jamie's case, worked on. Having just finished working on the New James Bond Film "SkyFall" he opted for this picture. He is a talented artist in his own right....honest!

Another visiting Alumni was Liam Wardle who works for the National Space Centre in Leicester.

Just to show that Comics and cartoons transcend a whole host of people here are a few who entered the their work in the Cartoon Shop.

Becky is a soon to be new intake for the Cartoon and Comic Arts Award At Staffordshire University

A current Cartoon and Comic Arts Student Dom shows off her skills!

Emily Peacock and illustration student who has a keen love for comics and films.

Dom's mum has a go too!

Matt Garbutt local artist and recently graduated 2D Artist shows off his work. Matt already does his own Comics on website, a true talent and a name to look out for in the future.

Finally Local Artist and 3D expert Chris Horne, use to be an illustrator but took up 3D with great success shows off his Alien Skills.

Degree Show at Staffordshire University

Well the degree show finally opened last Friday and the animation award has may excellent short films on offer. If you get a chance pop in and see the show reel in the Henerion building along College Road Stoke.

The standard of work is excellent this year and it ranges from Stop Motion to CGI to traditional drawn animations.

To mark the event and signal the end of the animation room on the ground floor the students under the wing of Woody Woodmass got together to paint this mural on the wall. It will be torn down next week starting on Tuesday 26th June as the university builds a new entrance into the building. So you only have a short time to see it in all it's glory.  

2035AD Cover Design

Here is a mock up of the cover design for the 2035AD Anthology Comic by Staffordshire University students on Cartoon & Comic Arts Award. Available during the degree show 15th June.

2035AD

2035AD

Cartoon and Comic Arts Pay Homage to 2000AD and it reaching 35 years young!

As part of the Visual Communication Module I got the students to do a homage to 2000AD Comic. 
The students worked in small groups of 4 to make a 4 chapter story each student contributing 1 chapter with a title Page. Not to be out done myself I put the old pen to paper and knocked up a couple of self contained stories. Here are my contribution, they will form part of a bigger anthology with the students work which will be on sale during the degree show Friday 15th June.

This is the opening page to add a bit of information about what the students were attempting and also introduce the Cartoon and Comic Arts award

Below is my 2 page story which I wrote in case there was any short fall from the contributing students. 

End of Year 1

Year 1

Cartoon and Comic Arts finally made it through is first year as award and I must say that over all we are flying high. To celebrate the end of the year along with Graphic Design and Illustration students we had a little bit of an award ceremony.

The Cartoon and Comic Arts students met for a quick wine before proceddings atarted in teh Flaxman Foyer. Ther Main Event was in the Film Theatre along College Road.

There was quiet a good turn out all in all and the Masters of the ceremonies enjoy a drink and a little banter with the students gathered.

In fact one could say they enjoyed the refreshments a little too much.

By now the C&CA students were well lubricated and had found one of their favourite pass times. Sitting on the Sofa.

First up for award was the best excuse for not handing in work, Jamielea Jones, who was making a pasty for her project and when returened to the kitchen found "The Dog had eaten it Sir!" A likely story!!

The next prize was for person who least looks like their Thesis ID photo, Nathan Ingle.

Cartoon and Comic Arts Recieved thir certificates for successfully completing the 1st Year.

First out of the blocks in Esme Baran

Henrietta Looms

Lex Harford

Verity Hall

Nigel Morey accepts the prize for student least likely to out live their lecturers because of junk food and bad diet, that was won by Millie Harrop

Claire Smith picks up the award for "Above and Beyond" for walking around London crossed dress as a charcter from Napolean Dynimite

Tom Stephens picks up Dom Roberts award which was voted the best Animation by

by students at the Animation Bites Award night by an Option Student. 

Claire Smith accepts her certificate.

Tom Stephens

Alice Urbino



Alice picks up Jack "Stig of the Dump" Bakers Award for the person who kept the cleaners employed all year round.

And finally winners of teh best Award for 2011, the nominations are Cartoon & Comic Arts, Graphic Design and Illustration. Seeing as we wanted to get out in one peice, all teh awards won! Horay !!

And so the end is near, with the awrds given out we headed to the foyer to finish of the wine and then onto the ember lounge to finish us off there!

London Super Comic Convention

London Here We Come!

The first Comic Convention attended by Cartoon and Comic Art Students was the London Super con.

Here are some of the photos of the gang, dressed in outfits then later at night with Comic Book artist Rob Cureton of Orful Comics. A fun time was had by all!

Most of the gang went as people from Napoleon Dynamite, with a few exceptions 

Afterwards we went for a drink and a chat with some of the artists who were exhibiting at the show.