FREE COMIC CLUB!

This year I’m running a free 1 hour online lunch time Comic Club starting at 12.45 
I set a few comic exercises and give a few tips.
Then we share and chit chat.
January, March, May, July, September and November 1024
Sign up for my newsletter to join.
To join any of my workshops email me at  
ball.rachael@yahoo.co.uk

------------------------------------

Graphic Novel Your Life (online) 2025 21 Jan- 1 April (10 weeks)  (no session 25 Feb) 6-8.30 pm (GMT) FEE £450 Low waged £360 A limited number of concessions Small class size: 12 ‘This is one of the best courses I’ve ever done!’ -Student ‘Graphic Novel Your Life’ I’ve been running this course at the Quentin Blake Centre of Illustration for the past 7 years. In that time I’ve honed the course into something very special. Next year I’m going INDEPENDENT ! And to mark the moment each session will now be exyended to 2.5 hour instead of 2. This will give the students even more support. What does the course include? Guided by a Guardian best graphic novelist you will learn to create a brilliant graphic novel inspired by your life experience. Guided by a Guardian best graphic novelist you’ll breathe life into well-thought-out characters and craft the essential elements of a compelling plot. You will learn how to create fictional stories from memories. Investigate different turning points to inspire your story. Create and breathe life into well-thought-out characters. Learn to craft a compelling plot. Develop the pace of your story. Use visual metaphor to evoke emotion and suspense. After trouble shooting your story we will develop scripts and visual roughs. We will then go on to experiment with various media and techniques to create captivating page layouts through real-time exercises and tutorials. A key feature of the course is the collaborative environment. During the course we engage in class discussions. You will also receive personalized feedback, and participate in a 1:1 session with me. At the end of the course I will share tips on approaching a Publisher and together we will develop an action plan. Students also share progress on a Padlet and receive weekly feedback from me. This unique aspect of the course allows students to elevate their GNs to a higher level. Although each workshop happens in live time, a recording will be available for students who cannot make the lessons in real time. Feedback- “The whole course was so well paced. I loved posting on the Padlet and receiving feedback. Rachael has deepened and re-enlivened my practice and I am so grateful.”

------------------------------------ Fall Back In Love With Your Graphic Novel (online) This course is for comic artists who are fed up with making slow or no progress on their comics or graphic novels, but know they would make huge leaps forward over one dedicated week with the right support.   Take some radical action and join me and like-minded creatives. I will do everything necessary to help you fall back in love with your graphic novel. Three 5 hour sat sessions: 15/3 22/3 29/3 Course Includes: Presentations and Discussions Find the Gold in your Story 1+2 Character therapy session Visual Character workout.   PACE session     and a 1:1 FEE- £300 Low waged- £275 ‘Does exactly what it promises! Fabulous course!’ (NB There will also be a one week Fall Back In Love ..summer course, date tbc) Email me at ball.rachael@yahoo.co.uk to be added to the waiting list ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Advanced Grow Your Graphic Novel Group Mentoring Starts Feb 2025- Jan 2026 (online) Working on a graphic novel and tired of working alone? You post your work in progress on the Group Padlet. I read it and feedback at our monthly group meet ups. We then discuss it as a group.   Its fun, supportive and USEFUL! Max group size 5 students. Nine  2.5 hour monthly sessions (plus a 1:1 with me.) FEE £385 Feedback- ‘So beneficial and encouraging and the other people on the course were equally supportive.’ -------------------------------

Overview
Each course is specially shaped to nurture and develop your ideas,visual narratives and stories until they gleam. By the end of each course I am fully confident you will move forward to make the best graphic novel/comic/ script or picture book imaginable.

I have taught workshops in writing and illustrating visual narratives, be that graphic novels, comics or picture books for 7 years at the Quentin Blake Centre of Illustration, at The Arvon online, Anglia Ruskin, Cambridge University, The Art Academy, the Cartoon Museum, UCL aswell as workshops at LDC Residencies.
I was also a Subject Leader and art teacher in secondary schools for 16 years. All of these combined with over 30 years experience as an established and acclaimed cartoonist puts me in a unique position to be able to help my students realise their very best potential.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

REVIEWS

’I found Rachael quite special and incredibly generous with her knowledge which we all benefitted from.’

‘Rachael is an amazing teacher and so helpful when giving feedback and advice. The booklets given out were a great learning aid also!’

‘I wish my university course had been this informative!’

‘It was everything listed and more! I was hoping to gain a little push with my work; to broaden my understanding of graphic novels and to gain specific feedback. It was better than expected!’

‘Thank you so much for this wonderful course. I've enjoyed every moment. The sessions have inspired me to get something to publishers by the end of the year.’


STUDENT WORK: