Sunday June 3, 2012: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm -- Downtown Library: 4th Floor Meeting Room

Cartoonist and children's book illustrator Jannie Ho gives a demonstration on the use of Adobe Illustrator for creating comics and discuss the pros and cons of creating and submitting work with Illustrator. Illustrator is a popular tool in the publishing world and one to become acquainted with if you have never used it.

Join the Forum to get fresh ideas for your next comics or graphic novel creation. Drawing supplies will be provided, so drop in to draw, learn, and network with other cartoonists.

This event is for Grade 6 - Adult.

July 7, 2012 through July 8, 2012 -- Downtown Library (Entire Building)

The annual Kids Read Comics Convention is held at AADL this year for the first time, uniting kids, teens, and adults with professional artists and writers from the field of comics and animation. Kids Read Comics introduces kids to worlds of imagination while unlocking their creative impulses. This 2-day event features: hands-on workshops; panels and presentations for kids, families, and educators; a chance for kids to meet and chat with comics and animation professionals; the opportunity for kids to have their own art portfolios reviewed; tons of special Summer Game badges and challenges!

This event is for Grade 4 - Adult.

Tuesday July 10, 2012: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm -- Malletts Creek Branch: Program Room AB

Here's your chance to create an entire graphic novel or comics book. Comics art professional Jerzy Drozd will guide you through a six week workshop covering storytelling, character design, writing the story, penciling the first draft, refining and completing the penciled pages and inking (or finishing) the pages. Attendees should expect to attend all six sessions: Tuesdays on July 10, 17, 24, 31 & August 7 & 14.

This event is for Grades 6 - 12.

Wednesday July 11, 2012: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm -- Pittsfield Branch: Program Room

Cartoonist Jerzy Drozd will lead a six-week series to explore illustration and storytelling strategies used by professional cartoonists to create graphic novels, manga, and comic books. Learn how to choose the right moments in your story, how comics take advantage of the rules of art as well as literature, and how illustration style contributes to the tone of your work. We'll have the basic art supplies so you can try out illustration techniques and storytelling strategies. Attendees should expect to attend all six sessions: Wednesdays on July 11, 18, 25 & August 1, 8 & 15.

This event is for Grade 9 - Adult.

Tuesday July 17, 2012: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm -- Malletts Creek Branch: Program Room AB

Here's your chance to create an entire graphic novel or comics book. Comics art professional Jerzy Drozd will guide you through a six week workshop covering storytelling, character design, writing the story, penciling the first draft, refining and completing the penciled pages and inking (or finishing) the pages. Attendees should expect to attend all six sessions: Tuesdays on July 10, 17, 24, 31 & August 7 & 14.

This event is for Grades 6 - 12.

Wednesday July 18, 2012: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm -- Pittsfield Branch: Program Room

Cartoonist Jerzy Drozd will lead a six-week series to explore illustration and storytelling strategies used by professional cartoonists to create graphic novels, manga, and comic books. Learn how to choose the right moments in your story, how comics take advantage of the rules of art as well as literature, and how illustration style contributes to the tone of your work. We'll have the basic art supplies so you can try out illustration techniques and storytelling strategies. Attendees should expect to attend all six sessions: Wednesdays on July 11, 18, 25 & August 1, 8 & 15.

This event is for Grade 9 - Adult.

Tuesday July 24, 2012: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm -- Malletts Creek Branch: Program Room AB

Here's your chance to create an entire graphic novel or comics book. Comics art professional Jerzy Drozd will guide you through a six week workshop covering storytelling, character design, writing the story, penciling the first draft, refining and completing the penciled pages and inking (or finishing) the pages. Attendees should expect to attend all six sessions: Tuesdays on July 10, 17, 24, 31 & August 7 & 14.

This event is for Grades 6 - 12.

Wednesday July 25, 2012: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm -- Pittsfield Branch: Program Room

Cartoonist Jerzy Drozd will lead a six-week series to explore illustration and storytelling strategies used by professional cartoonists to create graphic novels, manga, and comic books. Learn how to choose the right moments in your story, how comics take advantage of the rules of art as well as literature, and how illustration style contributes to the tone of your work. We'll have the basic art supplies so you can try out illustration techniques and storytelling strategies. Attendees should expect to attend all six sessions: Wednesdays on July 11, 18, 25 & August 1, 8 & 15.

This event is for Grade 9 - Adult.

Tuesday July 31, 2012: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm -- Malletts Creek Branch: Program Room AB

Here's your chance to create an entire graphic novel or comics book. Comics art professional Jerzy Drozd will guide you through a six week workshop covering storytelling, character design, writing the story, penciling the first draft, refining and completing the penciled pages and inking (or finishing) the pages. Attendees should expect to attend all six sessions: Tuesdays on July 10, 17, 24, 31 & August 7 & 14.

This event is for Grades 6 - 12.

Wednesday August 1, 2012: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm -- Pittsfield Branch: Program Room

Cartoonist Jerzy Drozd will lead a six-week series to explore illustration and storytelling strategies used by professional cartoonists to create graphic novels, manga, and comic books. Learn how to choose the right moments in your story, how comics take advantage of the rules of art as well as literature, and how illustration style contributes to the tone of your work. We'll have the basic art supplies so you can try out illustration techniques and storytelling strategies. Attendees should expect to attend all six sessions: Wednesdays on July 11, 18, 25 & August 1, 8 & 15.

This event is for Grade 9 - Adult.

Tuesday August 7, 2012: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm -- Malletts Creek Branch: Program Room AB

Here's your chance to create an entire graphic novel or comics book. Comics art professional Jerzy Drozd will guide you through a six week workshop covering storytelling, character design, writing the story, penciling the first draft, refining and completing the penciled pages and inking (or finishing) the pages. Attendees should expect to attend all six sessions: Tuesdays on July 10, 17, 24, 31 & August 7 & 14.

This event is for Grades 6 - 12.

Wednesday August 8, 2012: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm -- Pittsfield Branch: Program Room

Cartoonist Jerzy Drozd will lead a six-week series to explore illustration and storytelling strategies used by professional cartoonists to create graphic novels, manga, and comic books. Learn how to choose the right moments in your story, how comics take advantage of the rules of art as well as literature, and how illustration style contributes to the tone of your work. We'll have the basic art supplies so you can try out illustration techniques and storytelling strategies. Attendees should expect to attend all six sessions: Wednesdays on July 11, 18, 25 & August 1, 8 & 15.

This event is for Grade 9 - Adult.

Saturday August 11, 2012: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm -- Downtown Library: 4th Floor Meeting Room

How do you create a plausible world filled with vibrant and identifiable characters? Join New York Times bestselling artist Jake Parker (Missle Mouse, The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man) via Skype to explore how compelling character designs can be achieved by varying simple shapes. Learn how the worlds you build can be used to refine the look of your characters and bring out their inner lives! Q & A with Jake follows.

This event is for Grade 6 - Adult.

Tuesday August 14, 2012: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm -- Malletts Creek Branch: Program Room AB

Here's your chance to create an entire graphic novel or comics book. Comics art professional Jerzy Drozd will guide you through a six week workshop covering storytelling, character design, writing the story, penciling the first draft, refining and completing the penciled pages and inking (or finishing) the pages. Attendees should expect to attend all six sessions: Tuesdays on July 10, 17, 24, 31 & August 7 & 14.

This event is for Grades 6 - 12.

Wednesday August 15, 2012: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm -- Pittsfield Branch: Program Room

Cartoonist Jerzy Drozd will lead a six-week series to explore illustration and storytelling strategies used by professional cartoonists to create graphic novels, manga, and comic books. Learn how to choose the right moments in your story, how comics take advantage of the rules of art as well as literature, and how illustration style contributes to the tone of your work. We'll have the basic art supplies so you can try out illustration techniques and storytelling strategies. Attendees should expect to attend all six sessions: Wednesdays on July 11, 18, 25 & August 1, 8 & 15.

This event is for Grade 9 - Adult.

Wednesday August 29, 2012: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Shawn is a graphic novelist whose works include DMZ: Free States Rising with Brian Wood; Batman: Detective Comics; Luke Cage Noir; a new monthly series, Thief of Thieves with Robert Kirkman (The Waking Dead); and How to Draw Noir Comics: The Art and Technique of Visual Storytelling. Hear how he became a graphic artist, illustrator, and novelist and about his approach to art. Shawn's books will be for sale, and the event includes a book signing.

This event is for Grade 6 - Adult.