The Center for
Cartoon Studies (CCS)
Students travel from across the U.S. and around the world to study comics at CCS in a diverse and vibrant community in Vermont.
Click here learn more about our programs.
Do you have burning questions about CCS’s MFA and certificate programs but aren’t able to make it to one of our admissions events? Drop us a line at outreach@cartoonstudies.org and we can set up a 1-on-1 video chat session to answer any of your questions about the curriculum, the application process, student housing, financial aid, living in Vermont, or anything else you need to know about applying to CCS!
This fall, The Center for Cartoon Studies (CCS) will host a series of low-cost ($5), 90-minute webinars that will be open to the public. All proceeds will go to sponsor zine fests around the USA that CCS supports. The webinars will feature alums, instructors, and visiting artists. Here is the lineup for fall 2024:
Robyn Smith ’16 won the 2024 Outstanding Artist Ignatz for NIGHT FEVER from Gladiolus Magazine #1 published by Black Josei Press. The comic was inspired by Robyn’s first Hampshire College Halloween!
Robyn won an Outstanding Story Ignatz Award in 2023 for WASH DAY DIARIES, also published by Black Josei Press and Chronicle Books.
The prestigious Ignatz Awards are presented at the annual Small Press Expo. To see SPX Ignatz nominees and winners, visit: smallpressexpo.com/ignatz-awards/
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The Applied Cartooning Lab is pleased to announce its newest graphic guide, Art & Courage: A Guide to Sustaining a Creative Path. The comic book is based on Art & Fear, Observations On the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking by David Bayles and Ted Orland. Since its release in 1993, that book has become an underground classic helping artists across various disciplines persevere through uncertainty and self-doubt.
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Congratulations to Emma Hunsinger ‘20 on her debut graphic novel, HOW IT ALL ENDS by HarperCollins/Greenwillow Books. After working on it for three years, it releases 8/6 wherever books are sold! You can pre-order it now!
HOW IT ALL ENDS has received many starred reviews. Including:
“Hunsinger’s distinctive style. . . is reminiscent of doodles in the margins of student notebooks and perfectly suits the subject matter. . . . Tara’s voice rings true, and readers will find much to relate to in her various social and emotional struggles. Frequent moments of humor create a lighthearted tone despite Tara’s overall angst. . . . A slice of life that’s as imaginative as its protagonist.” —Kirkus Reviews
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We’re excited to announce members of the CCS community have been nominated for one of comics’ oldest and most prestigious awards—the Harvey Awards!
The nominees are….
Book of the Year: WATERSHIP DOWN, THE GRAPHIC NOVEL by CCS co-founder James Sturm, art by Joe Sutphin, based on the novel by Richard Adams (Ten Speed Graphic)
Book of the Year: TENDER by Beth Hetland ’11 (Fantagraphics)
Best Young Adult Book: CLEMENTINE, BOOK 2 by Tille Walden ’16 (Image Comics)
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Congratulations to Colleen Frakes ’07 on her new middle-grade graphic novel, KNOTS, with HarperAlley! KNOTS is available for pre-order and will be available wherever books are sold beginning 9/3.
“In this endearing graphic novel, Frakes (PRISON ISLAND) utilizes flat, saturated colors, busy backdrops, and easy-to-follow paneling to chronicle one tween’s experience navigating the intense pressures of middle school and family life.” —Publishers Weekly
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The debut graphic novel by Coco Fox ‘19, LET’S GO, COCO!, hits bookshelves on 8/13 with HarperAlley!
“This is the book I wish I could have read when I was in sixth grade. It would have made me laugh while also making me feel less alone,” said Coco Fox ‘19. “LET’S GO, COCO! is a middle grade graphic novel that shows how making new friends and being yourself is a clumsy, silly, scary and fun experience. It felt cathartic to revisit that time and felt a little bit like I was whispering to that sixth-grade me, ‘Psst, you’re going to be OK. You’re confused, but so is everyone else… also, when you get older, you’ll get to draw as much as you want to.’”
LET’S GO, COCO has received great reviews:
“In this semi-autobiographical debut, Fox combines middle school angst with giggle-inducing humor to deliver a wholesome graphic novel romp.”
—Publishers Weekly
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A free self-directed eCourse to improve your cartooning skills. Online, Start Anytime!
Click here to learn more and make an online donation now.
Are you considering applying to The Center for Cartoon Studies MFA or Certificate program? Join us for our virtual campus open house and portfolio day. Learn about the campus and the renowned collection of the Schulz Library, hear from current students and graduates, and meet faculty and staff for a portfolio review*!
CCS wants your old comics! These comics and many more were donated to support CCS's BIPOC Cartoonist Fund. If you're interested in making a comic book or cash donation drop us a line.
Cartooning In An Anxious Age (pdf) is a free comic by Cara Bean on the act of drawing, which focuses your attention and intimately connects you with the generative act of creation. It’s an inspiring read.
Created for middle and high school students, Let’s Talk About It: A Graphic Guide To Mental Health is a lively and educational comic book that destigmatizes the conversation around mental health.
Using the power of comics to teach teens about the way our government works This Is What Democracy Looks Like, A Graphic Guide To Governance is a 32-page comic book created by The Center for Cartoon Studies (CCS). This short comic guide helps to bring democracy back to the hands of the people by explaining what democracy actually means and how the whole thing works. This guide will be a great jumping-off point to learn about our government.
Download a free copy of The World is Made of Cheese, The Applied Cartooning Manifesto.
© The Center for Cartoon Studies
PO BOX 125, White River Junction, Vermont 05001
info@cartoonstudies.org
802.295.3319
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