Author Dave Roman to Host Graphic Novel Workshops at Amity

Artist/illustrator, writer, and graphic novelist Dave Roman will visit the Amity Regional High School library next week to offer workshops to Amity’s art and English classes. He previously visited Amity on two occasions prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, both of which were well received by and popular with students. 

Mr. Roman is the author/illustrator of the Astronaut Academy series (winner of Maryland’s Black-Eyed Susan Book Award) and writer of the graphic novels Teen Boat! (with John Patrick Green) and Agnes Quill: An Anthology of Mystery. He has contributed stories to Comics Squad: Recess! Explorer: The Mystery Boxes, Nursery Rhyme Comics, and Goosebumps Graphix: Slappy’s Tales of Horror.

Mr. Roman is a professor at the School of Visual Arts, a former editor at Nickelodeon Magazine, and the current series editor for First Second’s Science Comics and History Comics series of nonfiction graphic novels. He lives in New York City. 

The visit will consist of two separate, back-to-back sessions. The first will be an interactive presentation to a mixed audience of students from art, creative writing, and graphic novel classes. Mr. Roman will talk about how comics have served as inspiration throughout his life, fostering a love for reading and a passion to make his own books. He will also detail how he became a writer/artist and his experiences in the industry. Finally, he will discuss the creative process and explain how comics/graphic novels are produced as well as provide a drawing demonstration. 

The second session will be a master class for students enrolled in Amity’s graphic novel course, a senior elective in which students explore the history, production, and form/medium of comics and graphic novels. Mr. Roman will provide students with critique and feedback on their work as they prepare for their final project in the course: an original graphic narrative in which they demonstrate deliberate use of the comics principles and techniques they have discussed throughout the semester.

The event, hosted by Amity librarians Ken Clark and Victoria Hulse, is generously co-sponsored by the Jamie Hulley Arts Foundation. More information about the foundation’s mission and work can be found at jamiehulleyartsfund.org. 

This event is not open to the public.