Workshops, Classes, and Talks

I love teaching! These days, I focus on leading workshops and classes about creating zines and comics journalism. I am available to speak lead 60-to-90-minute workshops for people of all ages on media empowerment, zines, and comics. My workshops center on collaborative media-making, so everyone will make a zine or comic to take home. Get in touch if you'd like me to come speak to your group. I teach workshops both remotely and in-person.

I charge a sliding-scale fee for nonprofits and educational institutions. Please get in touch to ask about rates.

Upcoming Classes:

✏️ I’m teaching a seven-week memoir comics class online in October-December 2024. This class is capped at 20 people, so sign up to get a spot!

Examples of recent workshops:

Playing with gender through zines: In this hands-on workshop for Smith College’s 2024 Zine Fest, participants read numerous zines that delve into big questions about gender. Then we explored how to playfully explore students’ gender expression through writing and drawing a mini-zine, based on prompts I provided.

Creating nonfiction comics - In this intensive in-person, day-long workshop for the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), I led students through several exercises in writing and drawing comics based on real-life source material. We focused on adapting an interview into a four-panel comic and practiced editing a memoir comic published in The Nib.

Drawing the invisible - For this 90-minute virtual workshop hosted by the Brooklyn Public Library’s 2023 graphic medicine series, I asked participants to delve deep and think about a part of themselves that is not visible to the outside world. I then led the group of about 50 participants through writing and drawing exercises to make a four-panel comic about that invisible part of themselves. We ended by sharing our comics, in what was an emotional and inspiring session.

• Drawing your teenage self - For this 60-minute virtual workshop hosted by the Sequential Artists Workshop, I led roughly 100 participants through comics-drawing exercises to reflect on their memories of who they were as a teen. Each participant created a full-page comic, which we shared together in a supportive environment. Watch this workshop on Youtube.

•  Zine-Making 101 - In this 90-minute virtual or in-person workshop, I teach both adults and kids how to fold a one-page zine, introduced the participants to the history of zines, and discuss the power self-publishing holds today. We look at examples of zines and discuss why people still make printed matter in this digital age. Then as a group, we each write and draw a quick zine. Watch this workshop on Youtube thanks to the Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo.

• Comics Journalism For Everyone - As an editor at The Nib, I report journalistic stories that comics artists bring to life. In this virtual workshop for Creative Mornings in 2022, I discussed how comics have the potential to share nonfiction narratives in a particularly powerful and engaging way. I share examples of the diversity of comics creators working right now and share real-life examples of how writers and artists have turned their passion for comics into careers.  Watch this workshop on YouTube.

CLASSES

I teach eight-to-10 week long classes on writing, research, and comics-making. My next memoir comics class will run in Spring 2024—sign up to get a spot. Please get in touch if you’d like to talk with me about teaching or developing a class for your school or institution.

Memoir Comics - In 2023, I developed and taught this eight-week long class as a virtual workshop for 20 students. The feel of the class is very supportive—it’s a safe space to be vulnerable and share your work, even if you’re new to creating comics. Over the course of eight weeks, participants read the work of 20 cartoonists, engaged in numerous writing and drawing exercises, and each created the first draft of their own 10-panel memoir comic. Participants also met with a small editing group to discuss their work in-depth and get feedback on their evolving drafts.

Student testimonials:

“This class is more valuable than any college class I ever took. It is an incredible class even through Zoom. Shay is in an incredible teacher.”

”I felt so welcome and at ease, despite having no previous experience as an artist. I was able to learn and grow with the support of Shay and all my classmates. It was the highlight of my week for 8 weeks!”

”Comics classes with Shay have been a huge boost to my creativity and drawing practice. The classes are fun, engaging, and introduced me to a community of very cool artists who are supportive of each others' work.”

”I took this class as a total beginner but a big fan of comic memoir and I learned SO much. Shay managed to make the class so fun and generative while also making space for folks to be really vulnerable with their stories. The last time I drew anything was probably when I was a kid, and this class really helped me remember why I loved doing that in the first place. HIGHLY recommend!”

Reading, Writing, and Drawing Comics - In 2022, I developed and taught this 10-week class for Portland Community College. I also taught a four-week intensive version of it for Portland State University. This hands-on class dives into the craft of modern comics, builds understanding of how comics are made, and empowers students to begin publishing their own work. Students will read a diversity of webcomics and graphic novels to learn how comics work, from discussing pacing to page design. Each week, students will work on writing and drawing assignments that help spur their creativity and confidence. Throughout the class, students will learn about comics communities and how to publish, share, and sell their comics in various mediums. Students of all skill-levels are welcome, from current comics-creators to complete newbies.

Student testimonials:

“I’ve been bragging to my friends about how freaking awesome this class is. I didn’t know what to expect, but wow.”

”The sharing of our work was so supportive and engaging.”

”Beyond the content being great, you were the right person to teach this class. You’re an artist yourself and it was fun getting a peek into your own comic and editing process. You actively listen, give students the space to have their own voice, and make them feel confident in their work. I appreciate that you make everyone feel comfortable, especially the ones who are shy, completely new to comics, and maybe insecure in their art abilities… I just want you to know that you’ve left a big impact on me and rekindled my childhood love for comics. Thank you!’”

”You packed in so much information for 10 classes, but it didn’t feel like *too much*. You’re thoughtful of showcasing a diverse range of artists and styles, and I appreciate you address race, pronouns, sexuality! There was a nice balance of presenting, us presenting, group discussion, and comic exercises. I like that homework was FUN and not taken too seriously; you respect your students’ time and boundaries.”

Writing and Research Seminar - Since 2015, I’ve taught a graduate-student writing and research seminar for members of Portland State University’s Art and Social Practice MFA program. This flexible seminar hones students’ practical, real-world writing skills. We focus on the most important part of writing: actually doing it. This class centers on loosening up about writing and experimenting with publishing in multiple digital and print mediums. In line with the spirit of art and social practice, students are pushed outside the classroom, writing about community events, under-represented artists, and current social issues. Students connect their artistic practice to the broader community around them, learning how to approach art with the eye of a journalist and how to conduct in-person interviews.

Student testimonials:

”I think you did amazing. I was really appreciative of the flexibility and your ability to work with my various challenges. I really learned a lot and feel confident(ish) in areas I would've never approached head on.”

”I was surprised how much I learned.”

”Your feedback has been super useful and to the point and I enjoyed our interactions.”

”Awesome class!”

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