Karen Rubins
I aim to create an informal atmosphere where students can be creative, and have fun while learning. I want to encourage open-mindedness, creativity and confidence. My approach to teaching will involve both demonstration and experimentation, group, pair and individual work.
What will students gain if they come on one of your courses?
Students will gain the knowledge and skills to be able to create their own comics and graphic novels, as well as an insight into the language, contexts and diversity of the medium.
Are there any particular techniques/processes you use in your teaching?I will be covering storytelling techniques, visual language and grammar, the use of style and how word and image work together.
What inspires your own work?I am influenced by American indie comics and Japanese manga. The content of my work is often inspired by mythology and folklore. I enjoy experimenting with the comics form, and taking inspiration and influence from as many diverse sources as possible.
Where can students see examples of your work?On my website. As well as an online gallery, there is a link to my blog, and to my current publisher's website.
Where did you gain your training/experience?BA (hons) Visual Communication Design (Illustration), Middlesex University, 1998 – 2001 Comics Artist in Residence, Victoria and Albert Museum, 2009 Selected Work Urban Beasts, 1-2, ITCH publishing, 2009, 2010 HEADNET, The Word Magazine, 2010 The Mistaken Magpie, V&A Magazine, Cultureshock Publishing, 2010 Tales by Ghostlight, Leek and Sushi's Manga Show, ITCH publishing, 2008 Tsuchigumo, Mammoth Book of Best New Manga, Constable and Robinson, 2007 DARK, self-published, 2001 - 2006 Awards 2009 Neo Awards: Leek and Sushi's Manga Show (containing Tales by Ghost Light) nominated for Best Manga award 2009: "Comics Artist in Residence", Victoria and Albert Museum, July - December 2008 Embassy of Japan “Manga Jiman 150” competition for a short manga story, runner-up 2007 Mecal International Short Film Festival, featured 2006 International Manga and Anime Festival awards, Character Brief category, second place 2001 D&AD Student Awards, Mixed Media category, commended 2001 South-West Arts Start-Up Grant for “Dark”
What teaching experience have you had?I have taught manga and graphic novel workshops for all ages for a number of years, as well as teaching individual computer lessons. I recently spent six months as an Artist in Residence at the Victoria and Albert museum, where I taught graphic novel, manga and illustration workshops and drop-in sessions for different groups of visitors, such as school students, adult refugees, and young people.
Is your work in any public or private collections?Most of my comics are in the National Art Library.