Happy new year everyone. I thought I would start off the new year with a new book that I have just recently published through Brand Studios, and my good friend Alberto Ruiz. It will be available at the end of January, exclusivly through my website and conventions that I attend. www.silvertoons.com. This new book is about the importance of life drawing and how you can take the figure that is in front of you and turn them into a character design.

From the life drawing board.

The october class is finished and I wanted to share with you some of the students final assignment work. They had to design a character by the name of Fat Joe. Again, I am posting this because I am so proud of all the effort and results that each student put into and recieved from this course. In a final note, due to overwhelming response, I have added a second January session that is starting to fill up. For more info on signing up, go to www.schoolism.com, click on courses and lessons and then course dates. Jan 14th.

October Student Testimonial:
I have been working as a freelance illustrator for over ten years now and while I am happy to make a living creating art, I was finding the projects and the process becoming boring. I knew this was something I had to change if I wanted to forward my career and land better projects. Steven Silver's character design course was able to jump start my creative process in a whole new way. This class is not only about drawing cartoon characters but making them unique, well designed and believable. Silver has an entirely fresh way of looking at character design that will turn seemingly average people on the street into great characters on paper. After nine weeks of Silver's teachings and assignments I find myself sketching people at the grocery, the mall, and at home but more importantly when I am not able to draw I look at people and imagine how I would draw them. Silver's class was just the shot of creativity and discipline that my art needed and plan on taking his lessons with me as I breathe new life and passion into my own art and career.

Steve Harpster
childrens book illustrator
www.studioharpster.com

show# 10

Artcast Show 10 Download

This Artcast is about motivation and the fear of failure.
Please leave any suggestions you have for future topics.
Thanks for listening
SCHOOLISM.com

Well, I just recently finished my very first semester of teaching online, and am now halfway through the second semester. It has been an extremely rewarding experience, and with that I felt I wanted to share with you what some of the students have said. Every now and again it is ok to pat oneself on the back, and I am doing so here because of how proud I am of the students for their dedication and the 9 week course I have put together. My next semester starts in January, and there are only 3 spots left, My next semester will follow in March.



Silver; thank you so much for this class. I have a degree in illustration and have been a professional artist in the video game industry for 11 years. I learned more from you in nine weeks than I have in years. Your straightforward way of explaining your process and the principles of character design was both refreshing and inspiring! You really opened a new door for me.

Barry Prioste

I have had a incredible time. Prior to this course I had just completed a three year animation degree and after these past nine weeks I feel I have learned more invaluable practices and techniques with you than i did during my time at university. You are a true master of your craft and working alongside you has been a dream come true. I feel I have grown more as an artist than ever before and have a new found drive to become not only a great character designer, but a great all-around artist as well. I cannot begin to put into words how appreciative I am of the priceless knowledge you have shared with me and I will always remain incredibly grateful for granting me this fantastic opportunity.

Ben Williams

I just wanted to personally thank you for the time and effort you've put into these lectures and our critiques and everything. I know my drawings have improved and are more confident. I now have some experience in turnarounds and clean up and feel as though I was able to skip a lot of the heartache of trying to learn it on my own. I really enjoyed having a lecture each week to look forward to and being able to watch the other student's videos was a real treat. I've already recommended schoolism.com to a lot of my friends and fellow students.

Chris Houghton

As artists we are always looking for ways to grow and inspire us. Well what better way than to be mentored by a professional/master, who is at the top of his game, like Stephen Silver. Character design is a complicated mix between capturing a unique personality while applying appealing design elements to each character. There are many ways to study design, but the best is to be provided with in-depth instruction and valuable critiques. However, it is often difficult to find someone who is a master at the craft as well as an excellent teacher. Stephen Silver is just that, an amazing character designer by right, but also a priceless teacher. I could not possibly sum up the value of this class. Each lesson is packed full of beneficial fundamental information that placed alone would be worth taking this class. But combined with all the information you get one on one attention with informative critiques that will open your eyes to what you need to work on to improve your work. I recommend this class to people of all ages, amateurs to professionals; there is something for everyone in Stephen Silver’s character design class offered at schoolism.com.

Brittnie Bruner


Thanks for the class. It was really great, the course covered so much from basic drawing issues to ways to approach and analyze design. Your crits were very
Informative and gives you an insight on what pros see and do. Thanks agian.

Arree Chung


Stephen's character design class is fantastic. Each lesson is loaded with insight and inspiration. Stephen goes beyond just tricks and gimmicks to focus on mastering the fundamentals. His passion for drawing is contagious, and his one-on-one feedback was extremely helpful. Stephen raises the bar high and then comes alongside you to help you achieve it. I would highly recommend this class to anyone who is serious about becoming an animation character designer.

Cedric Hohnstadt


Thanks for all the lectures and in-depth analysis of my work, I truly feel I've grown so much as an artist in the past 9 weeks - and at a much faster rate than I would have on my own over several years. Really, I mean that.

You've helped me gain an understanding of a myriad of techniques and processes I can explore to broaden my skills, and most of all, re-ignited a spark that I had as a kid - my love for drawing and just having fun with it all.

I no longer feel intimidated by a blank sheet of paper, and have no fear of failure or producing bad drawings, because you've shown me through this course that each one gets me closer to a better one and deeper into the art form.

Rafi Nizam

I just wanted to say how valuable this course has been. Just the fact that I got to work with a personal hero of mine on assignments every week for the past couple of months has been incredible. Learning from someone who is actually working in the industry and going through everything that he teaches is a wonderful way to trust every critique as being correct. I never once found myself questioning anything that Mr. Silver was saying about my work. I found myself watching the videos multiple times just because my pen couldn't take notes fast enough. I would highly recommend this course to anyone (and I already have).

Steve Umbleby

I had a fantastic time on this course and have learnt so many new techniques and exercises that I will be using daily for the rest of my life. Stephen Silver is an incredible teacher who makes learning enjoyable and easy to understand. His 1 on 1 critiques are superb, and he really goes to great lengths to make sure you understand what is being taught and leaves no stone unturned when it comes to guiding you in the right direction to strengthening your designs. My drawings have improved so much over the last 2 months thanks to Stephen Silver's Character Design Course. I highly recommend this course for anyone interested in learning character design, you will NOT be disappointed. Thanks for all your help and guidance, Stephen. Kind Regards.

Justin Cook.

As many of you know, I am a big advocate for encouriging artists to get involved in the artist community, and being a part of cartoonist organizations wherever you may live. It is a great way to network as well as meet some great talent, hear some good stories, look at beautiful art and make some good friends. I am personally involved in the (NCS) the national cartoonists society, (www.reuben.org)the (NCN) the national caricaturist network(www.caricature.org) and (CAPS) The comic art professional society,(www.capscentral.org) that meets in burbank once a month. Anyway, last year I helped organize a banquet where we honored the great Jack Davis. This year I have helped organize a banquet where we will be honoring the great Stan Lee Next month. One of the things we do is have all the artists of CAPS, do an original drawing for the person that we present to them in a beautiful leather bound book and honor them with the Sergio award. Based on Sergio Argones, one of the founders of the group and who attends each month. Anyway, This was my sketch for Stan.

Well, I've been in the industry for quite some time now, and people always say, "Why don't you pitch your own show". Well there are many reasons, but here is a little section of a development piece that my creative partner Frank Rocco and I have been pitching.

A COUPLE OF 5 MINUTE POSES FROM THE LIFE DRAWING BOARD.

My quick little sketch of king Pin

Goonies animated interview

I know I've posted this before, but there has been quite a bit of talk about it on the internet, mainly due to the fact my buddy Corey Feldman is talking about it. Just kidding on the buddy part. I don't know him. but you can see his interview on the link below. Or click on the title. Maybe with enough Buzz Warners will rethink. The powers that be at Warner Bros didn't think there would be enough interest. Paul Dini was going to write the thing to. http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2007/08/30/sloth-love-cartoon-goonies-sequel-may-go-animated/

Schoolism.com bonus

This is one of the many videos that I have been doing. Sketching from life and the importance of it.

CAR TALK ANIMATED SERIES(working title)

Just wanted to share with you a recent project I designed, coming next year.
Bulletin posted July 11, 2007
Tom and Ray Magliozzi as Click and Clack characterized for the new PBS animated series. (Image copyright CCTV 2007.)

PBS's first primetime cartoon series is also probably the first regular show anywhere based on fictional private lives of public radio stars.
The first run of half-hours starring the sibling hosts of NPR's Car Talk will debut in summer 2008, PBS announced July 11 at the summer TV critics press tour. A contest to come up with a name for the TV show will be announced on the radio show.

H-6
It's that time again, Comic-con is here. I will be at booth H-6 right near the cafeteria in the back. So stop on by and say hello. I am more than happy to look at portfolios and give any advise I can.
See you there.

Quick little sketch of my friend Sergio from our monthly CAPS meeting events. If your a professional writer or professional cartoonist you are welcome to join. We meet in Burbank on the second Tuesday of every month. Membership is only $50 a year. I also wanted to make a mention that the August session of my online class is full and their are only 4 more spots available in the October class. The next character design semester will start December 1st. Thanks again to all that have signed up so far. I am extremly looking forward to working with you.

This is a memory sketch from this past weekend in San Diego at the beach. I looked to my right and the realities of old age hit me. Be grateful for my youth right now and enjoy. This guy was walking as slow as a snail. Not only did it hit me that I have to excercise but also keep my back straight while I draw. But then again, when you're old you're old.

Been super busy latley, but there is always time for some quick sketches. And on another note my second semester of Character Design at Schoolism.com is filling up. We will begin that one in the beginning of October.

Every now and again I take the train into work. It gives me the opportunity to read and draw. This was a memory sketch based on a guy sitting near me.

One of my favorite things to do besides drawing in my sketchbook is attending life drawing class. You never know what your gonna get. Some models are fun and some are boring as all hell. My main goal though is to just have some fun.

I will be at Ape Con this coming weekend in San Francisco and Calgary the following weekend. This sketch was done right off the bat using a ball point pen. It will be put into their program along with alot of other artists sketches that will be attending. They will then auction off all the originals.

SCHOOLISM. Online art classes

Well the time has come and I'm very pleased and excited to announce that www.SCHOOLISM.com is now open for registration!
This is a school created by artists for artists. Every week participants in the class will be given a video lesson and assignments. Receive personal video feedback from me as I draw over top of your assignments. Here is a little verbal insight as to what it is about. Once you go to the site you can get more info on the lesson plan. My class will actually start in August. Just as a reminder registration has already started and I am only taking 15 students at a time.

Before I left Nickelodeon in november. I was developing another Butch Hartman show. Unfortunatley the network passed on it. So here are a few of my designs and explorations. And lastly I will be at the L.A wizard con this weekend.

Been super busy lately, but wanted to share this with you. Here, you will learn my techniques, philosophies, and skills that I have learned as a character designer. It is a nine week course and there is one new video lesson every week. You will receive personal video critiques and feedback from me on your assignment work. I will post more on this shortly, so that if your interested you can register. On a side note, I will be at the L.A wizard con march 2-4th.

Off to San Francisco for the wonder con, I will be in the small press section D, So stop on by and say hello. see you there

NEW YORK COMIC-CON

I will have a booth at the second annual New York Comic-con. It is happening Feb 23-25th. So, stop on by. I am sharing my table with the great Alberto Ruiz and Bobby Chiu.

Can you spot the fake Beatle. This was done by my friend Mike Kurinsky for a birthday gift.

Silver the Golfer. Just recently I have taken up the game of golf, mainly because I don't do anything except draw. And all my muscles were getting real stiff. plus it's nice to feel what fresh air feels like. It sure has been fun. So here is a quick sketch of a typical moment.