Picture Yourself: Getting Started in Autobiographical Comics

Class Description

In this single session, we will learn about life-writing in comics and experiment with making diary comics of our own with an emphasis on the creative process. The class will begin with a brief lecture introducing the world of diary comics and graphic memoir with examples highlighting the diversity of this genre and a short introduction to basic concepts and vocabulary of the comics form. For further inspiration, participants will also enjoy a collection presentation showcasing life-writing objects from the Newberry's collections. In the second part of the class, participants will practice creating diary comics of their own, with drawing exercises and prompts for every step of the process, from creating a comics persona through narrating a day in a single page. This class is accessible to all creative skill levels, including those who have not drawn since childhood.

Kristen Haas Curtis is a cartoonist and medievalist working in autobiographical comics, literary adaptation, and the places in which these genres overlap. Her comics include over a decade of diaries, some short fiction, and adaptations from medieval poet Geoffrey Chaucer’s work.

What to Expect

Format: In Person

Class Capacity: 12

Class Style: Workshop; participation- and assignment-based

Materials List

• Pen
• Paper

Cost and Registration

1 Session, $115 ($103.50 for Newberry members, seniors, and students). Learn about becoming a member.

We offer our classes at three different price options: Regular ($115), Community Supported ($105), and Sponsor ($125). Following the models of other institutions, we want to ensure that our classes are accessible to a wider audience while continuing to support our instructors. You may choose the price that best fits your situation when registering through Learning Stream.

To register multiple people for this class, please go through the course calendar in Learning Stream, our registration platform. When you select the course and register, you’ll be prompted to add another registrant.

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Questions?

Call us at (312) 255-3700 or send us an email at adulteducation@newberry.org.

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