CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio — To help kids expand on their interests, or to discover new ones, a northeast Ohio organization hosted an event to connect them with creative professionals.
What You Need To Know
- Lake Erie Ink’s 10th annual Kids Comic Con offered a hybrid experience
- The three-day event brought in nearly 100 participants
- Participants had the chance to attend workshops and conversations with experienced comic creators
- Guest artists from across the country and locally taught both virtually and in person
Roxy Konnoff, 11, is a young creative. She said she has goals to write comics or direct films someday. Lake Erie Ink’s 10th annual Kids’ Comic Con was a space for her to explore and develop her creativity.
“I like dark humor. I’m drawing a kid screaming about how he eats plastic straws so turtles don’t have to,” said Konnoff. “I learned how to make a mini comic, how to organize it, like, brainstorming how to draft it and construct it.”
Lake Erie Ink is a writing space for youth. For 10 years, the nonprofit has hosted the Kids Comic Con.
Participants had the chance to attend more than 20 workshops and conversations with experienced comic creators and guests from across the country and local area.
Highlights of the 2022 Kids Comic Con included a virtual comic workshop with artists from Nickelodeon Studios, a conversation with “Myles Morales Shock Waves” author Justin Reynolds and a talk with Terri Libenson, Juan Fernandez and Amy Schwabauer.
“Kids need a way to express themselves and tell stories and like, you know, get what they want to say out. And comics, I think it’s just a great way to do that,” said Sequoia Bostick, an illustrator, comic creator and designer based in Cleveland.
Participants learned to make mini comics, draw villains, develop characters and more.
Cynthia Larsen, education director at Lake Erie Ink, said the expo gives kids a safe space to meet like-minded people and make friends.
“I want them to feel good,” said Larsen. “I want them to feel confident. I want them to feel like they have a community, like they’re not alone. I want them to feel like the things they care about are important and worth sharing and expressing.”
Through writing and drawing, she said they learn to communicate and express themselves in a healthy way.
“Comics do a lot of powerful things,” said Larsen. “One thing they do is that they allow you to express your information, what you’ve learned, in a new and dynamic way, right? They teach you how to sequence a story or a narrative. They teach you what’s important, and what you can leave out of the picture, how to transition things. So it makes you a better writer all the way, you know, and being a good writer is important for success, no matter what you’re going to do.”
It’s a creative outlet where kids like Konnoff can be themselves and have fun.
“I just like to be creative here,” said Konnoff. “It helps me get all my ideas out onto paper.”
Participants do have to pre-register to attend the events. To be on the lookout for next year’s Kids’ Comic Con, click here.
Lake Erie Ink is also offering creative expression camps this summer. Registration starts March 14. For more information, click here.
