Janine Vangool

ACAD design alumni Janine Vangool did a presentation at the Evernote Trunk Conference in San Francsico a few weeks ago. She took part of presentation discussing her use of Evernote in running Uppercase Magazine. She has put together a page that shares her experiences

http://uppercasemagazine.com/evernote

Uppercase magazine continues strong, the most recent issue is #14 with issue #15 going to press this week. http://uppercasemagazine.com/issue14

Sho Uehara

ACAD character design alumni has shared a whole bunch of pages from his sketchbook- and they are great, it would be an amazing sketchbook to see in person! Check it out HERE

The Anatomy of Story Master Class with John Truby

ACAD is hosting John Truby who will do a 3 day seminar on script writing.
For more info http://www.acad.ca/wh_news_2012_08_truby.html

 TOP HOLLYWOOD STORY CONSULTANT COMING TO CALGARY
 Calgary, AB – August 13, 2012

 – The Alberta College of Art + Design (ACAD) is pleased to present The Anatomy of Story Master Class with John Truby, as part of its Master Class series in the newly renovated Stanford Perrott Lecture Theatre on September 21-23, 2012. John Truby is Hollywood’s premier screenwriting instructor and story consultant. Over the past 25 years, more than 35,000 writers have attended his sold–out seminars around the world - having earned more than $15 billion at the box office and sold more than 42 million books. Truby is called “the most authoritative voice on story,” and regularly serves as a story consultant for major studios and production companies worldwide. He has been a script doctor on more than 1,000 movies, sitcoms and television dramas. (www.trubywriting.com) There’s a reason Truby’s three-day Anatomy of Story Master Class is considered ‘a must’ by today’s top working screenwriters, filmmakers, authors, novelists, producers and directors – it turns good writers into great writers. He not only explains how a great story works, he provides the principles and techniques needed to create one, which is why his classes regularly attract everyone from Oscar winners to first-time writers. This Master Class is also an ideal course for journalists, advertising copywriters, publicists, marketing communications professionals, fundraising and development professionals, and anyone who works in the area of corporate storytelling.

 WHAT: The Anatomy of Story Master Class with John Truby

WHEN: Friday, September 21, 2012 – Sunday, September 23, 2012
From 9:30 AM - 6:00 PM each day

WHERE: Stanford Perrott Lecture Theatre at ACAD
1401 - 14TH Avenue NW Calgary, Alberta T2N 2R3

FEE: $495 per participant

Jillian Tamaki

ACAD alumni Jillian Tamaki was one of the featured presenters at this years illustration conference ICON 7 held in Providence, Rhode Island.

She participated on a series about illustrators and their sketchbooks. You could see how the experimental nature of her sketchbook work has contributed to her success as an illustrator.

Recently Jillian's Webcomic SuperMutant Magic Academy has been nominated for an Ignatz award for Outstanding Web Comic as part of the Small Press Expo being held September 15 & 16, 2012 http://www.spxpo.com/

http://mutantmagic.com/

Tom Bagley

ACAD Alumni Tom Bagley is the guest of honour at the Red & White Calgary Comic & Toy Expo happening on Sunday Sept 16, 2012. http://www.comicandtoy.ca/

From the Expo website:

Tom Bagley is an illustrator, musician and instructor born and raised in Calgary. After a few early childhood years spent in Edmonton and Toronto, he has resided here since 1974.

Tom has been working professionally since 1988, when he graduated from the Alberta College of Art and Design. Having latched onto lifelong interests in dinosaurs, monsters and rock & roll at quite a young age, his work has been used in numerous publications and advertising campaigns as well as on books and CD covers. He has also illustrated 25 years worth of posters for various bands and venues across Canada and abroad.

Drawing inspiration from such sources as old comic books, movies, paperback covers, children’s books, animation and advertising design, Tom combines a “vintage” look with modern subject matter, using a variety of commercial illustration techniques.

For the last few years, he has been enjoying the challenges of teaching the arcane secrets of Comics and Cartooning to a young clientele at the North Mount Pleasant Arts Centre.

Matt Luckhurst

Designer, Illustrator, and ACAD alumni Matt Luckhurst has his first picture book coming out this October 1.

See his website for more pictures:
http://www.mattluckhurst.com/PAUL-BUNYAN-AND-BABE-THE-BLUE-OX

Tyler Jenkins

I was lucky enough to attend the premier in Calgary of the Documentary, Legend of a Warrior. It was a fine film that I really enjoyed. It's the autobiographical story of the director Corey Lee who films his attempt to reconnect with his estranged father, martial arts master Frank Lee. It is a finely crafted film with a moving story and compelling characters. ACAD alumni and comic artist Tyler Jenkins contributes the artwork for a series of graphic novel-esque motion graphic segments that work in historical and biographical story elements throughout the movie. These segments add to the success of the film by adding a level of narrative, excitement and texture to the film. Beyond telling a moving story about a father and son the movie also gave me a better understanding and appreciation of what motivates martial artists - and how appropriate and descriptive the term artist is in this context.

The movie is showing until Thursday at the Plaza.

Martin Warszawski

Animation grad Martin Warszawski's work is featured in a new documentary Legend of a Warrior, it will be playing this Friday Sept 7, 2012 at the Plaza starting at 7pm. Martin helped animate the motion comic components of the film. http://www.nfb.ca/film/legend_of_a_warrior_trailer/

Demo Reel 2012 from Martin Warszawski on Vimeo.

Riley Rossmo

Great promotional image from Image Comics featuring ACAD instructor and alumni Riley Rossmo.

Hans Thiessen

Just before summer break Ad Rodeo held it's annual awards, ACAD alumni had a great showing as award winners.

Hans Thiessen was a name regularly mentioned as well as Zahra Al Harazi, Erin Belton, and Shauna Leudtke. Other ACAD Grads included Kelly Sutherland, Cameron Benedict, Theresa Kwan, Darcy Parke, Kelly Pollack, and ACAD instructor Mark Kamachi. (And I am sure I missed a few others.)

Check out the work and award winners here http://www.adrodeo.com/

Geoff McFetridge

My first post of the new school year comes from a visit to New York, despite rushing through the subway in the Williamsburg area of Brooklyn to catch a train, I noticed a series of posters for Beck's Beer. Forefront was an image created by ACAD alumni Geoff McFetridge.  Other artists in the series include M.I.A., Bert Rodriguez, Aerosyn-Lex, Freegums, and Willy Chyr.

Here is a great video with Geoff where he discusses his work

New beginning(s) and ends

With the new school year starting it is time to fire up the old blog with a summer recap.  Over the next week I will be posting at least a dozen or so posts that I have saved up over the summer holidays.

However after that I am going to wind down this blog - but not to worry! The first bit of news is that the VCD department at ACAD will be starting their own blog soon and so I will be sending over news I get to them. Also I am starting a blog shortly for my new studio that will also post some of the stuff that I would have posted here. After this weeks summer recap I will post more info. Cheers!