Cartooning program 'toons' in kids, seniors

August 2, 2012

The Cartooning Community Connections Program aims to bring seniors and aspiring cartoonists together. Times File Photo.

WEST WARWICK — Local artist Jerry Shippee will be instructing students, free of charge, on how to draw, during the Cartooning Community Connections program.

Beginning on Aug. 6, local kids will be able to attend the program at the West Warwick Senior Center.

The classes, which are held until Aug. 17, give the students an opportunity to learn how to draw cartoons and caricatures.

Shippee said this is his second year instructing the program in West Warwick, but he has taught many other classes throughout the state.

Both classes are open to 10 students and are free to all who enroll.

Shippee said the funding for the program is provided through donations from himself and Manny Murray, Director of the West Warwick Senior Center.

During the cartooning class Shippee begins by teaching the students basic shapes.

He said once the students can draw squares, circles and triangles they can begin to make their characters “come to life.”

“We’ll do some work with wire framing and I’ll teach them how to draw different characters such as action comics; Marvel and DC,” he said.

He explained that the students are also taught how to create backgrounds and set up jokes for a comic strip.

Shippee said even when teaching the students how to draw caricatures, the whole design is based on shapes.

He explained that last year he taught 22 students during the program, ranging from ages six to 16.

He said that currently, seven kids have enrolled for next week’s program and he asks that anybody interested in the program enroll by Friday, Aug. 3.

“In the climate we live in, the one thing we need more than anything is something to look forward to,” he said. “When the kids can express their ideas and share it with other people, I think the town and the world can use that. I think the kids are open to it and they absorb it and make it part of their lives.”

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