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Julia Halperin's avatar

This is great, I'm looking forward to it! FYI, I don't see anywhere to turn on my "mentions", maybe because I'm just a Substack subscriber, not a creator. But I'm happy to keep checking the thread independently.

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Amy Cowen's avatar

I’m looking forward to it, too, Julia.

Np about the mentions. I just wanted to make sure you saw the new post — and it’s fine to just watch for it each week. I probably won’t be tagging people routinely. If you ever do want to update those, it should be: Click your photo to access your profile, go to “Settings,” and go down to Privacy. The option is there. (When someone tries to tag you, it comes up with an error that mentions are disabled.) Settings should be here: https://substack.com/settings

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Julia Halperin's avatar

Ah, thanks for pointing me in the right direction!

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Laura Babcock's avatar

I’m excited!!

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Amy Cowen's avatar

Yay! Thanks for saying yes - even if it was just the two of us. Should be fun — and hopefully wrist-injury friendly.

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Laura Babcock's avatar

Hopefully I’m getting out of the brace on Monday. Fingers crossed!

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Laurie G.'s avatar

Am I too late to join? I've returned to my first love, art after retiring as a K-8 teacher. This group community would be so amazing to join. Please let me know. @sunfishrules. Thanks!

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Amy Cowen's avatar

You are absolutely NOT too late! I would love to have you join us, Laurie. This post contains my plan for this first week while people are getting a copy of the book (check your library). Mostly this week contains some easy intro reading and a few short exercises. We'll meet up in chat next week to share work as we go along. -- I love knowing that you are working on a graphic novel now that you have YOU time!

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MM Jenkins's avatar

Thanks for doing this Amy! I will play catch up/ got the book through library - I love Lynda and need this type of class for the book-

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Amy Cowen's avatar

Wonderful, MM. Welcome. This first week was a fast one. Should be pretty easy to catch up and move on into the week 2 schedule (there’s another post — called Week 1, which has the Week 2 schedule). Doing things together is good for getting it done ;)

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Adriana Z.'s avatar

Id love to join. Can I still do it?

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Amy Cowen's avatar

Absolutely! This post outlines the first week. We will have the option to discuss and share next week.

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Hex Mason's avatar

Joining too! This is great. I bought Syllabus and Making Comics a couple months ago and have hoped to find a group to go through it with. Thank you!

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Amy Cowen's avatar

Wonderful, K! Look forward to working through it with you. Sounds like the timing was good!

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Dishkitty's avatar

I got my book today! My library didn't have it, so I actually haven't read it before. I ended up buying a copy, which is great because I know it's going to be one I'll return to again and again. Excited too get started!

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Amy Cowen's avatar

Great, Trish! And it will be even more fun since this one is new to you.

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Tess McCarthy's avatar

I love Lynda! I took her Drawing From Workbook 52 at The Omega Institute. She inspired me to draw again—her exercises are magical.

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Amy Cowen's avatar

How lucky that you had that opportunity! She has such a great perspective. These books are always good as a reminder/refresh... I think there is something to discover each time.

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Tess McCarthy's avatar

I want to try to join if you’re comfortable 😌

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Amy Cowen's avatar

Absolutely! You are totally welcome to join. It should be fun.

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Tess McCarthy's avatar

I think I have the book at my art studio—crossing fingers. :) but I’ll get it too if it's not there!

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Amy Cowen's avatar

Check your library. I’m sure your system has good pull. If you can’t get it in time, I can share the two exercises for week 1 with you. That will probably hold you over until you get your hands on a copy.

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Tess McCarthy's avatar

Girlllllllll 🙌 good on you for pimping books—I know how to check my library! I'm a librarian with a freaking degree and was served public...I write about my past life here 🤓

https://open.substack.com/pub/visualliquid/p/essay-for-every-library-theres-a

I have a friend from the workshop who misses Lynda too. I'll pass this post on to her as well. What a lovely idea and wow!

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Tess McCarthy's avatar

Ooh yes—I realized that and remarked to myself, “Tess, parts of you carry old wounds…” and that’s still with almost 4 decades of therapy. 🥴 ((but I’m glad you know some things about me! Whew! It’s not one-sided after all! 😅))

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ArtistWriterStudio's avatar

I would love to join you! I do have to get the book first. I have Syllabus and What It Is, but not this one.

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Amy Cowen's avatar

Fantastic. I am seeing this in the middle of work, but I think you’re who I think you are at Instagram, right? If so, I saw your post this morning with the Barry quote and thought it was a crazy moment of serendipity. So, yay! I’m glad you’ll be joining us. Making Comics is very similar to Syllabus, but the exercises are a bit different. — If you are not who I think you are, I’m so sorry. And welcome!

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ArtistWriterStudio's avatar

Yes, it is me. I was looking to see if I had the book before I responded and came across that little quote. Syllabus is my favorite, so I’m sure I will have fun with Making Comics as well. I am looking forward to it!

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Amy Cowen's avatar

Wonderful!

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Sharon Birch's avatar

Yes! Yes!

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k c's avatar

I may share less in a public chat, but am willing to go with the flow and what works for the group. Do you suggest we get a composition book like MC is modeled on?

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Amy Cowen's avatar

I understand if chat isn’t what you hoped for. There are far more people than I expected. I definitely think you will want to pick up a composition book, if you plan to really work through this. Many of us use them all the time. Her exercises use index cards, paper, and the comp book. I will probably do a lot of it in the comp book regardless. But you could just work your exercises into another sketchbook, if that is easier.

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k c's avatar

All good. You posted once about photographing creatively for privacy so I can take that approach! Thx ☺️

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Amy Cowen's avatar

That’s the spirit! I hope it ends up feeling like a safe and supportive space. It is what we make it. But I always support controlling what we show! Showing for an accountability — as in, “I did this exercise” — doesn’t have to mean revealing everything or giving others an oven book.

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Elizabeth Heller's avatar

this is so much fun! never too late!

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Amy Cowen's avatar

Welcome, Elizabeth! Glad to have you joining us. Yes, it will be fun!

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Carol Hamilton's avatar

I have been wanting to do this so excited to jump in!

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Amy Cowen's avatar

Great, Carol! I'm happy that there are a number of us. The first week should be low-key, but this will be fun.

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Fálki Heiðdóttir's avatar

I'm in! I met Lynda in the fall and got to take a workshop with her - SO GOOD.

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Amy Cowen's avatar

Awesome. I bet that was a wonderful experience. (I don't know that I could do it. But I love that some of you have.)

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Hermione (she/her)'s avatar

Same!!!! I’ve been wanting to do a group read of LB’s books forever!!!! Still open to join?!? 😬

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Amy Cowen's avatar

Absolutely! You are welcome! The first week is pretty low-key as people who don't have the book grab it.

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Rikki Horvatic's avatar

Oh I’m definitely joining in! I’ve done a couple of false starts to this book but loved syllabus so hopefully a group setting will help me 😊

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Amy Cowen's avatar

Great, Rikki! I hope that a bit of group accountability will help support you through the book. That's the goal. Syllabus is great, and, as you know, Making Comics is very similar. Welcome!

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Amy Bivins's avatar

Hi, Amy! Is 5/4 the first Sunday? If so, I’d love to join also. I bought the book a couple years ago and didn’t do what I wanted to do with it. This feels like a second chance!

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Amy Cowen's avatar

Wonderful! Welcome! Yes - tomorrow or Monday I will post something in chat just in case people want to introduce themselves. I view this week as a settling in …. There are still people finding their way here.

The “week 1” reading and tasks are in this post. I am planning to post something late Wednesday (my reflection or questions and reading pages/exercises for the next week) and then we’ll meet in the comments and in chat. So nothing “really” happens until later in the week. But there are a number of us.

I’m glad this might be another chance to push through this book the way you hoped!

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Amy Bivins's avatar

Yay, thank you! The ease of your approach to it feels so comfortable. I’m excited to see what we all make.

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Amy Cowen's avatar

Thank you. I genuinely appreciate this comment.

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