Camosun College is home to not only the first Comics & Graphic Novels design program in North America, but also to a showcase festival that comes out of the program. And that festival is gearing up to happen again in April.
This year, the Camosun Comic Arts Festival (CCAF) will take place on April 16 and 17; the fest is in its fourth year, as is the program itself, which was started by instructors Ken and Joan Steacy.
“There’s a few schools across North America with some great courses, but they’re more focused on what a comic is about,” says Ken Steacy, “which is cool, because it’s looking at comics as literature and cultural artefacts. But before our program, there was nowhere to go to learn how to make comics.”
With a lifelong background in comics and graphic novels, Steacy has worked for DC Comics and has been involved with Astro Boy and Jonny Quest comics. He brings his experience to the eight-month program at Camosun, which aligns artistic students with the tools to write a story and tell it visually.
“It’s been four years now and it’s been an absolutely phenomenal experience,” he says. “Mentoring students is… I cannot imagine a better thing to be doing. When I was younger I was very fortunate to meet certain mentors who were enormously generous with their time and advice. I’ve always felt the desire to pay it forward.”
As the program gains its footing and comes into its own, Steacy says it’s been amazing to see the students develop their writing and drawing skills, not to mention their confidence.
“Comic creation is a process, but once they have those tools, they’re bulletproof,” he says. “They can do anything. We show them the door, but they’re the ones who have to step through it.”
When the eight months are through, graduates of Steacy’s program take away a polished portfolio in the form of their very own 24-page comic book. A second and arguably more valuable portfolio is the collection of work that shows the comic’s inception and development.
“At the end of the day you have this artefact, this piece of original artwork,” says Steacy. “And that has value too. People want to see us do what we do; it’s magic. The feedback you get from dragging a brush loaded with ink across a coarse piece of paper… there’s nothing like it. It’s a very visceral experience, and it’s one that makes making comics as enjoyable as it is.”
Both versions of portfolios will be on display on the first day of the CCAF. It will be most students’ first opportunity at “tabling”—having their complete work spread over a table where patrons can browse their sketches, drawings, and paintings, and ask questions about the stories portrayed.
“The students will have the original artwork, so patrons will get to see that,” says Steacy. “They’ll get to see the comic book, talk with the book’s creator, buy the comic book, and then there’s space inside for the artist to do a sketch in the book. So folks are able to get right in there and participate in the creative process.”
As CCAF grows in numbers each year, Steacy is delighted to see the connections between comic fans and creators.
“Every year we’ve had absolutely phenomenal results,” he says. “It’s just so gratifying to see. And I think the greatest thing about this generation is the sense of community that is being built, and it’s a very creative community, and a very supportive community.”
The first day of the event will be Saturday, April 16 from noon to 5 pm on the third floor of the Young Building.
On Sunday, April 17 there will be a keynote panel at Bolen Books at 6 pm.