Workshop Titles + brief Descriptions
If you are interested in any workshops, please contact Ashlyn at ashlyn.anstee@gmail.com.
Hands-off (~1hr)
(for kids 3+, over Zoom or in person)
Reading & Writing (hands-off) ages 3+:
Ashlyn Anstee will read from her picture books, show some of her paintings, and talk about storytelling and writing. Ashlyn will use prompts from the students to create an animal, brainstorm a problem, and tell a story from start to finish!
Comics + Graphic Novels (hands-off) ages 3+:
Ashlyn Anstee will read from her graphic novel and then dive into some common storytelling techniques used in comic books, as well as show some other great examples of comic books! With prompts from the students, Ashlyn will create a comic on the spot!
Hands-on (~1hr)
(for kids 5+, in person or over Zoom with smaller groups)
Reading & Drawing (hands-on) ages 3+ :
Ashlyn Anstee will read from her picture books, show some of her paintings, and talk about storytelling and drawing. Students can use pencils and papers to create their own garden to take home.
Comics + Graphic Novels (hands-on) ages 7+:
Ashlyn Anstee will read from her graphic novel and then dive into some common storytelling techniques used in comic books! Students will create their own main character, and then create their own little comic book-zine!
Storyboarding (hands-on) ages 7+:
Storyboard artist Ashlyn Anstee will lead students through the basics of storytelling and the creation of a storyboard based on “The Tortoise and the Hare”. Storyboarding combines characters, drawing, and storytelling, and students will learn all three, and make a story they tell themselves!
Shapes of a Painting (hands on) ages 7+:
Create a layered painting of your memories with illustrator and animator Ashlyn Anstee. Study the color, form and energy in paintings by modern artists (and friends) Vasily Kandinsky and Paul Klee. Explore how they use bits and pieces of elements that might remind you of something familiar. Gather inspiration from these works to create your own painting using layers of color, collage and shapes.
In Depth (2hrs)
(For kids 7+, longer workshops for in person, or smaller groups)
Storyboarding (hands-on) ages 7+:
Ashlyn Anstee will show examples of sequential visual storytelling, and talk about basic camera shots. Using Little Red Riding Hood as a base, students will follow along on storyboarding templates to draw their own version of the tale.
Superhero Comics (hands-on) ages 7+:
Kids will learn about character creation as they design their own superhero (or villain). Using simple prompts and a printable template, kids will follow along with the workshop leader to write and draw their character.
Autobiographical Comics (hands-on) 7+:
In the same vein as many comics and instagram illustrators, we’ll explore the art of self-analysis to create true, real, stories and drawings. Students will come away with a little zine-diary (5 pages, with a few sections about stuff they own, personal traits, and a little short story they illustrate) about themselves in their present state.
Desert Island (hands-on) 9+:
For DnD lovers:
This workshop will encourage kids to think creatively about how to solve survival problems using the environment around them and their own wits. The kids will leave with a 4 entry Robinson Crusoe-esue diary describing their brief stay out in the wild. The more creative the solution, the better! Maps + environment descriptions included, recommend having some students serve as dungeon masters.
Once Upon a Video Game (hands-on) 9+:
If you've ever been captivated by the stories in video games, this workshop is for you! Students will learn about interactive storytelling, and how games make stories that draw us in. Students will learn about characters, items, and storyline creation, and leave with their very own game idea!
The Story Behind the Paintings (hands-on) 7+:
Storyboard artist Ashlyn Anstee will lead students through the basics of storytelling and the creation of a storyboard based on historical paintings. Storyboarding combines writing, drawing, and storytelling, and students will learn all three, and take home a story they tell themselves!
Holiday Memory (hands-on) 7+:
This workshop will teach students visual and written storytelling, journaling and comic-making, all under the festive umbrella of the holidays. Using their own memories as a starting point, and then adding a fantastical twist, students will create a short visual memoir of an unusual holiday tradition. We’ll explore narrative, visual “poems”, list making, and comics as a whole!