Free Focus Loves Tempe art program for Special Needs or Autistic Kids in Tempe

**This program has finished. We are not accepting more students on this 5 week program. Please check out our other art programs and subscribe to our blog and social media for updates on new programs in the near future**

Focus comic are proud to announce that they will be starting a New 5 week art program on how to draw comic strips for special needs and autistic kids in Tempe. The “Focus Comic Strips” art program will take place every Sunday via online tutoring week 1-4. Week 5 will take place at Brandon’s comics Store in Tempe either in person or online. 

Focus comic features one of the worlds first autistic super heroes, Marvel and Dc comics talent plus autistic interns. Focus comic creator Yvonne Wan will lead this art program with certified art teacher and professional Comic artist Douglas Hebert. The Tempe students will receive a certificate of achievement bearing their art professionally colored as a reward for completing the course. There will be a mini graduation ceremony for the students in week 5. The ceremony will take place in person in Tempe with the option of online attendance instead. 

Program for: Special needs or autistic kids who reside or study in Tempe. 

Ages: 6-15.

Cost: Free

When: Each Sunday 3- 4pm.

Duration: 5 weeks, 5 classes plus optional additional support if needed.

Start date: 26 Sept 2021.

Where: Online art tutorials via zoom for week 1-4. Week 5 will be in person teaching at Brandon comics store in Tempe. Students may opt out of in-person learning in week 5 by attending an online class October 23 at 3pm instead. 

How to apply: Please email [email protected] with the subject heading: Free comic art program for special needs kids in Tempe .

Deadline to apply is 26 September 11.30 am.

Please provide the following info:

Students name:

Students age:

Parents name:

Parents telephone number:

Parents email:

City of residence:

Week 1: An Introduction to comic strips

In week 1 our students will be introduced to the world of comics, from comic strips to comic books, animation to the big screens. Our students will learn the role of comic strips in entertaining readers through telling a story through short panels. Our students will be introduced to the basic components involved in creating a comic strip and will be given a written Focus Comic script to translate into a 4 panel comic strip using pencils.

  • Introduction to comics strips
  • A brief history on the relationship between comic strips, comics, animations and movies. 
  • Telling a story through panels.
  • Panel planning. 
  • Theme. Character. Setting. 
  • Panel transition. Points of view.
  • How to draw comic panels
  • How to draw 2 panels.

Art supplies needed: Paper, Mechanical pencil, Eraser, Long and short Ruler, Thin and thick black markers.

Please scan your art and email it to the teacher by the end of the day. 

Additional one to one feedback classes are available by appointment to the students for those needing extra support. 

Week 2: Pencilling.

In week two our students will continue their journey in translating a focus comic script into a comic strip using a mechanical pencil, ruler and eraser. 

Art supplies needed: Paper, Mechanical pencil, Eraser, Long and short Ruler, Markers. Art from previous week.

Please scan your art and email it to the teacher by the end of the day. 

Week 3: Inking.

In week three our students will learn how to ink their comic strip like a professional.

Art supplies needed: Paper, Mechanical pencil, Eraser, Long and short Ruler, Markers. Art from previous week.

Please scan your art and email it to the teacher by the end of the day. 

Week 4: Coloring.

In week four our students will learn about color theory in comics and how to apply it to comic strips. Our students will color their comic strip using alcohol markers or felt tip pens.

Art supplies needed: Paper, Mechanical pencil, Eraser, Long and short Ruler, Markers. Alcohol Markers or Felt tip markers. Art from previous week.

Please scan your art and email it to the teacher by the end of the day. 

Week 5: Presentation skills and Graduation ceremony

In week 5 our students will learn how to present their artwork. We will teach our students to structure their presentations and express the concepts and the ideas they want to communicate through show and tell. 

Our Tempe students will be presented with their certificate of achievement featuring their art which will be professionally colored as a digital reward for students completing the course successfully. Students attending the graduation ceremony in person will be presented with a special gift courtesy of Focus comic.

This 5 week “Focus Comic Loves Tempe” art program is partially funded by a City of Tempe – Community Arts Grant.