2024 Peninsula Libraries Comic Arts Fest

Tuesday, April 2, at 3:30 PM

North Fair Oaks Library

Anime Your Way is a comprehensive step-by-step drawing program developed over 10 years by former Simpson’s artist Carlos Nieto III, that teaches you how to create and modify an anime character from scratch, no matter what your drawing level is! Using simple shapes and easy-to-understand instructions, you will gain the knowledge to create your very own unique anime characters. All materials are provided. 

Tuesday, April 2, from 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM

San Mateo Public Library

Draw and compare a realistic face to a manga-style face with different expressions. Chibis, cute and small character types, are taught along with standard proportions for manga-style characters.

Tuesday, April 2, at 5:30 PM

Redwood City Public Library - Downtown

Anime Your Way is a comprehensive step-by-step drawing program developed over 10 years by former Simpson’s artist Carlos Nieto III, that teaches you how to create and modify an anime character from scratch, no matter what your drawing level is! Using simple shapes and easy-to-understand instructions, you will gain the knowledge to create your very own unique anime characters. All materials are provided. 

Sunday, April 7, at 11:00 AM

Brisbane Library

Have fun learning to create characters and comic pages just like the professionals with step-by-step help from cartoonist Khalid Birdsong. This workshop is for you, even if this is your first time making a comic. 

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Tuesday, April 9, at 3:00 PM

Half Moon Bay Library

Anime Your Way is a comprehensive step-by-step drawing program developed over 10 years by former Simpson’s artist Carlos Nieto III, that teaches you how to create and modify an anime character from scratch, no matter what your drawing level is! Using simple shapes and easy-to-understand instructions, you will gain the knowledge to create your very own unique anime characters. All materials are provided. 

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Tuesday, April 9, at 3:00 PM

Pacifica Sanchez Library

Have fun learning to create characters and comic pages just like the professionals with step-by-step help from cartoonist Khalid Birdsong. This workshop is for you, even if this is your first time making a comic. 

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Tuesday, April 9, at 6:00 PM

East Palo Alto Library

Anime Your Way is a comprehensive step-by-step drawing program developed over 10 years by former Simpson’s artist Carlos Nieto III, that teaches you how to create and modify an anime character from scratch, no matter what your drawing level is! Using simple shapes and easy-to-understand instructions, you will gain the knowledge to create your very own unique anime characters. All materials are provided. 

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Wednesday, April 10, at 3:30 PM

Foster City Library

Learn about visual literacy and the tools you can use to create a depth of emotions in your comics. We'll go over how to draw a variety of facial expressions, speech bubbles, panel compositions and sound effects to help tell a compelling story. 

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Thursday, April 11, at 2:30 PM

Menlo Park Library

Do you like to draw and doodle? Or maybe you would like to start drawing but need some help? Come and doodle together with Artist Nan Hockin. Pencils and mini blank journals will be provided (while supplies last). Artist Nan will also have some of her own markers to try out. Feel free to bring in your own sketchbook and Nan will be happy to give you feedback and tips! Children ages 6-12 are invited to doodle with artist Nan Hockin! 

Nan Hockin is a Korean American artist with a degree in Fine Arts. Nan says, “I have been drawing and creating all my life so can't say there was a particular time I started. A lot of my influences come from childhood toys and images/objects that I have collected over the years. I get my ideas from everyday stuff around me. These days my creative inspirations comes from my family.” 

Thursday, April 11, at 4:00 PM

Daly City Public Library - Serramonte

Meet artist Gerald Pilare at the Daly City Serramonte Library on April 11 at 4:00 PM as he leads a workshop on character design with a brief introduction to visual storytelling.

Thursday, April 11, at 5:00 PM

Redwood City Public Library - Downtown

Wanna create your very own comic book? Think It Ink It: Comics Basics will teach you how! From writing to designing your characters to drawing the panels, every major aspect of the comic book process will be explored. Through some simple thought exercises, you will start to unleash your imagination! All materials are provided.

Saturday, April 13, at 3:00 PM

San Bruno Library

In this hands-on workshop, artists will explore how to tell a silly story in just four panels. We'll start with drawing warm-ups, then we'll learn how to structure a comic strip—and how to make it funny! All skill levels are welcome.

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Wednesday, April 17, at 2:00 PM

San Carlos Library

Learn about visual literacy and the tools you can use to create a depth of emotions in your comics. We'll go over how to draw a variety of facial expressions, speech bubbles, panel compositions and sound effects to help tell a compelling story. 

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Wednesday, April 17, at 3:00 PM

Woodside Library

Join us for an introductory class on the digital painting app, Procreate! We will learn easy and fun digital art tricks. Artists of all abilities who are new to digital painting are welcome! iPads and tablet pens will be provided.

Thursday, April 18, at 3:30 PM

Portola Valley Library

This hands-on workshop will help you transform your comic characters from static images to dynamic personalities. We’ll learn how to draw different emotions using simple strokes of your pencil. 

Saturday, April 20, at 3:00 PM

San Bruno Library

Looking for a creative balm for life's stressors? In this workshop, Bay Area artist Kenneth Tan will lead you through the soothing process of drawing simple line patterns inspired by Filipino tattoos and weaving. He will then invite you to use those patterns to draw banigs, which are Filipino woven mats. Enjoy calming music throughout the program, quieting your mind while your hands do gentle work. 

Saturday, April 20, at 3:00 PM

Menlo Park Library

Ajuan Mance is the author and artist behind the illustrated books What Do Brothas Do All Day, Living While Black and 1001 Black Men. In this workshop, she invites teens and adults to join her in exploring the ways we can use art to share the unique ways that we see ourselves and the communities of which we are a part. 

What is my community? Our communities are as varied as we are, and most of us see ourselves as part of different communities. There are neighborhoods. There are racial, religious and gender-based communities. There are communities based on whom you love, but also on what you do for employment, the kind of music you like, the school you attended, your nation of origin and your military status, just to name a few. 

Tuesday, April 23, at 6:30 PM

Pacifica Sharp Park Library

Looking for a creative balm for life's stressors? In this workshop, Bay Area artist Kenneth Tan will lead you through the soothing process of drawing simple line patterns inspired by Filipino tattoos and weaving. He will then invite you to use those patterns to draw banigs, which are Filipino woven mats. Enjoy calming music throughout the program, quieting your mind while your hands do gentle work.

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Thursday, April 25, at 5:00 PM

Daly City Public Library - Bayshore

Come join us at the Bayshore Library on April 25 at 5:00 PM for a cartooning 101 workshop led by the Cartoon Art Museum!

Saturday, April 27, at 11:00 AM

Atherton Library

Learn about the elements of comics in this fun, hands-on workshop! We’ll start with some creativity warmups, then practice drawing facial expressions, sound effects and settings. After, we’ll combine all the pieces to create a short adventure comic that’s silly, scary or suspenseful—you choose! All skill levels are welcome.

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Saturday, May 4, at 2:00 PM

Millbrae Library

Who comes up with your favorite characters? Ever wonder why Superman is red and blue, and SpongeBob is a square? Learn what it’s like to design characters for comics, movies and animation from award-winning artist and author Sara Alfageeh. Develop your own character in this workshop, and learn how to design for stories!

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