Welcome to the student-led workshop series to be held in OCAD U Library Services: The Learning Zone. This special programming is presented in partnership by the OCAD U Library, and the Writing & Learning Centre (WLC) and supported by funding from the Ontario Post-Secondary Access and Inclusion Program, administered by the WLC.

We start this workshop series with a Character Design Workshop with Vincy Lim (Thursday Jan. 23) followed by André Freitas Digital Colouring For Comics Workshop (Friday Jan. 24).

Vincy Lim is a Chinese-Canadian non-binary sapphic illustrator and cartoonist whose work revolves around the themes of self-love, queerness, disability, and abuse. @kiwimii

Vincy will give a brief presentation about character design then share tips & techniques allowing time for constructive feedback in this hands-on workshop that will get you started on creating your own unique characters. 🎈🎈🎈

Participants are welcome to bring their own materials, such as their laptop + drawing tablet if desired, and are encouraged to bring reference photos of things that interest them in order to inspire the characters they create. Drawing materials will be provided.

The Digital Colouring For Comics Workshop led by comic artist André Freitas, will step you through various digital colouring techniques in comic design using Photoshop, including the all important flatting techniques used by colourists. Participants are encouraged to bring a laptop with Photoshop installed to follow along and experiment with the techniques being demonstrated.

André Freitas is an independent comic book artist, originally from Brazil who moved to Toronto to study at OCAD U. André graduated in Industrial Design from Faculdade de Belas Artes de Sao Paulo and has worked for publishers illustrating books and making comics. Since 2013 André has been self-publishing comics through crowdfunding in Brazil. André is a current OCAD U student and the International Student Representative for the OCAD Student Union. @yescabrita

Student-led workshops are open to all current OCAD U students. Stay tuned for student-led workshops coming in February 🔥🔥🔥

Vincy Lim: All My Friends Are Straight

January 7, 2020 – January 31, 2020

This exhibition features a series of sapphic artwork by OCAD University illustration student Vincy Lim.

Lim is a Chinese-Canadian non-binary sapphic illustrator cartoonist whose work revolves around the themes of self-love, queerness, disability, and abuse. Through graphic memoirs and fictional stories grounded in the realities of today’s marginalized groups, Vincy produces work that emphasizes on loving yourself, healing, and the recovery process.

Inspired by love, Lim describes the experiences of those outside the conventional mold. Lim portrays Queer, disabled, people of colour, and females that love each other and love themselves regardless of not fitting into society’s unrealistic standards of perfection and heterosexual normality.

Lim’s work is straightforward and personal, capturing singular moments of loving, loved and enduring love:

All My Friends Are Straight is a series of sapphic works that describes the experiences of those unlike the mold. Queer, disabled, people of colour, and females that love each other and love themselves regardless of whether or not they fit in to society’s standards of perfection and normality.

Knowing that you have survived past this singular moment, that there will be many others, in your life, and through the lives of your loved ones. That love will be passed down through the generations and continue to be passed onwards. A new day begins every day and your memories, dreams, and ambitions live on in the hearts of others who cherish and love you.

It is a statement of hope for intersectional queers, that we too can love and be loved. And we can continue being loved for the rest of time. It is the fact that our history which grounds us, our history that influences us, which create who we are today, is cherished and respected as we raise a generation of children who learn from love and respect. That we stand strong, that we stand bold, and ever mighty.

Extended until February 21

Join us in the Learning Zone this January as we host a series of workshops to help jumpstart your creative process in 2020! These introductory workshops are designed to cover basic skills, techniques and tools to create digital artwork, self-publish your zines or publication, or learn the art of bookbinding.

All of the workshops are led by Marta Chudolinska, librarian, artist and zine maker. Marta brings her many years of experience with publishing her comics and art, and is happy to share and demonstrate her skills.

Introduction to Photoshop Tuesday Jan. 14, 2-4 pm

Get started with the Introduction to Photoshop (Jan. 14) where you will learn the differences between Raster and Vector images, file resolution and all the nifty tools on hand in the toolbar to create or retouch your images. This workshop is intended for current OCAD U students who are new to Photoshop and are ready to get started with this powerful tool of image editing. Bring your laptop to follow along, a notebook to take notes, and any questions you have.

Self – Publishing 101 Tuesday Jan. 21, 2-4 pm

Self-publishing 101 will cover the steps in publishing your zine or publication no matter the size. Learn how to design, price, and choose a publication method in this introductory workshop.

Softcover Bookbinding Wednesday Jan. 29, 2-4 pm

Ready to give your publication a handmade touch? This workshop will cover the basics of softcover bookbinding,  including cover folded bindings, pamphlet stitch and Japanese stab binding.

If you have a special paper that you would like to use for the cover or for the interior pages, bring it with you! Otherwise, all material is provided. Maximum attendance is 12, first come, first served.

Open to OCAD U students and is free, including materials.