From Comics to 3D Models: Resident Artist Helps Students Bring Stories to Life
From Comics to 3D Models: Resident Artist Helps Students Bring Stories to Life
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Springfield-Clark Career Technology Center (CTC) welcomed the return of Resident Artist Jerzy Drozd to the Computer Graphic Arts program for the second consecutive year. Funded by a TeachArtsOhio grant from the Ohio Arts Council, this unique opportunity provided students with the chance to learn from a professional artist.
About Jerzy
Jerzy Drozd is a cartoonist and teaching artist known for his work in the comic book world. He is the author and illustrator of Science Comics: Rockets, created alongside his wife, Anne. Drozd has also drawn special projects for renowned publishers such as Marvel Comics, VIZ Media, and Glencoe/McGraw-Hill. He is a member of the Ohio Arts Council’s Teaching Artist Roster and leads cartooning workshops for students of all ages, as well as podcasts about comics and how to make them. Drozd’s current project is a middle-grade fantasy comic titled The Inscrutable Doctor Baer and The Case of the Two-Faced Statue
Creating Comics
Drozd’s time with the Level 1 CGA students focused on visual storytelling and design through comics. Students developed the concept for a main character and then sketched and refined their character, eventually adding a storyline. They explored and used design principles such as shape, line, rhythm and color, culminating in an 8-page comic book.
3D Modeling Brings Characters to Life
The Level 2 (senior) class worked with Drozd last school year on comic book design, so this year their work with him focused on advanced digital work where they brought last year’s comic book character to life through 3D modeling using Blender and Tinkercad. They also worked on storyboarding for tv/film and creating graphic novel pitches for publishers.
Real-World Experience and Career Preparation
“Both projects provide valuable material for their professional portfolios and the confidence they need for a career in graphic design and animation,” shared CGA instructor Linda Cabaluna. “Jerzy has given the students a much-need glimpse inside the animation industry, which is an industry that many students are interested in and aspire to have a career in.”
Looking Ahead
As Drozd’s residency wraps up, he hopes that “the students take the skills they’ve learned—whether it’s in digital design, 3D modeling, or storytelling—and apply them in their future projects and careers. I’m hopeful that I’ll have the opportunity to continue working with these talented students next year, helping them grow as they transition into their senior year. I look forward to being a part of their journey and am excited to see what they create next.”
Michelle Patrick, CTC Superintendent, echoed this sentiment, sharing “We were excited to have Jerzy back on campus for a second year, helping seniors expand their skills and gain essential work-based learning hours,” shared Superintendent Michelle Patrick. “Learning from an industry veteran like Jerzy gives our students both practical experience and the opportunity to establish important industry connections.”
Experience Funded by Ohio Arts Council
Thank you to the Ohio Arts Council and supporters of the TeachArtsOhio grant supporters for their generous support which made this residency possible!
Computer Graphic Arts program senior, Dustin Camp from Kenton Ridge High School, asks Resident Artist and cartoonist, Jerzy Drozd, questions about his comic book.
Justin Callicoat, a senior student in Computer Graphic Arts from Southeastern High School, reviews his progress on the storyboard for the comic book he is creating under the guidance of cartoonist and Resident Artist Jerzy Drozd.
Jerzy Drozd, a Resident Artist and teaching artist through the TeachArtsOhio program, helps Jovi Gorby-Banter, a Computer Graphic Arts senior from Tecumseh High School, with transitioning completed hand sketches into digital art.
Computer Graphic Arts student, Rylee Cleveland-Huey from Tecumseh High School, works to transition their pencil sketches to digital during the process of bringing their character to life and creating their own comic book from start to finish.
Tecumseh High School senior and Computer Graphic Arts student, Ronan Weaver, takes a break from working on his comic book to smile for the camera!
Cole Conner, a senior in Computer Graphic Arts from Springfield High School, uses a ruler to measure while working on the hand-drawn sketch of his comic book. From measuring comic panels to planning perspective, students are discovering that skills like math, problem-solving, and precision are key tools in an artist’s toolkit.
Cartoonist Jerzy Drozd reviews Logan Thompson's, Kenton Ridge High School, hand-illustrated comic book and discusses next steps.
Jerzy Drozd is a cartoonist and teaching artist known for his work in the comic book world. He is the author and illustrator of Science Comics: Rockets, created alongside his wife, Anne.
Drozd has also drawn special projects for renowned publishers such as Marvel Comics, VIZ Media, and Glencoe/McGraw-Hill. He is a member of the Ohio Arts Council’s Teaching Artist Roster and leads cartooning workshops for students of all ages, as well as podcasts about comics and how to make them. Drozd is holding his current project, a middle-grade fantasy comic titled The Inscrutable Doctor Baer and The Case of the Two-Faced Statue.