Caricature Class at the Lakes Festival

The Lakes International Comic Art Festival basically takes over the small lakeside town of Kendal, Cumbria, UK and brings over 70 comics creators and guests for three days of presentations, panels, classes and workshops, exhibitions and shows, films and a lot of other fun stuff along with signings and artists/publisher/dealer tables. I’ve never been but a few fellow cartoonists have and they can’t stop talking about how great it is. This year it takes place Oct. 13-15th.

I’ll be a special guest there this year and as part of the events I’ll be conducting a “Master Class” on caricature. The class will take place Saturday, October 14 from 11:15-12:15 in the Malt Room, Brewery Arts Centre (somebody there knows me well). You can read about the details here (such as they are) if you promise to remember I did not write the hyperbolic copy advertising the class… it’s more than a little over the top but bless them for their enthusiasm.

As far as the class goes you see it’s only an hour (??). That may be a mistake as I was lead to believe it would be a bit longer, so I’ll have to get that verified. It’s limited to 150 people, and it is free as part of your ticket in to the Festival. It’s first come first served with seats, so if you gets there late you takes your chances (something tells me there will be plenty of seats available).

What I am planning is a very VERY abbreviated sampling of what my weekend workshops are all about. I’ll lecture a bit but try to leave as much time for drawing as I can, and I’ll be drawing along with the class. Unlike my workshops I will be unable to personally work with anyone one on one, but if you are going to the Lakes Festival and want to get a little taste of what my workshops are all about this is a free opportunity to do so… well, free with your ticket to the Festival anyway. A full all-days pass is only £35.00, so it’s a pretty good deal.

There will be a LOT of other fun stuff going on, including my pal and fellow Usual Idiot the great Sergio Aragonés drawing for everyone as only he can, and giving out the National Cartoonists Society’s “Sergio Aragonés Award” for international cartooning excellence. Sergio and I will also go head to head with Graham Dury and Simon Thorp from the super-popular British humor magazine ‘Viz’ in the MAD Meets Viz throwdown Saturday afternoon.

Anyway, it’s sure to be a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to it this October!