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Lydia Bratton
in Instructor
Cartoon Character Development
with Lydia Bratton
Ages: 9 - 12
Great cartooning is more than just drawing—it’s about writing and world-building! In this expanded two-session workshop, students follow a professional creator’s protocol: first,designing a character’s "soul" and silhouette; second, developing a unique storyline; and finally, placing them into a detailed indoor or outdoor setting.
By focusing on the architecture of a character rather than rushing into full comics, participants will master dynamic posing andpersonality development to ensure their creations are ready for any adventure.
The workshop takes place in our Digital Arts Lab, offering students the best of both worlds. Whether they prefer drawing manually or want to explore our professional desktopworkstations and drawing tablets, they will have the tools and time needed to refine theirwork.
Students will walk away with a complete character "blueprint" including varied poses, a narrative foundation, and a background scene—the essential first steps for any aspiringcartoonist or storyteller.
Ages 9-12
Saturdays 3-5 pm
August 22-29
Registration Fee: $76 Supply Fee: $6
Digital Painting and Composition
with Lydia Bratton
Unlock the power of digital color and form in this immersive painting session. Utilizing professional tablets and Krita, students will learn to translate traditional painting concepts-like balance, focal points, and the rule of thirds-into the digital realm.
Whether starting with geometric abstractions or fluid organic shapes, participants will focus on building 'beautiful compositions' from scratch. The workshop culminates in a high-quality print of your final digital masterpiece to take home.
Ages 18+
Fridays 6-8 pm
September 11-25
Registration Fee: $114
Sculpting Your Inner World: Expressive Clay Figures
with Lydia Bratton
2026 is the year to give back to yourself, and there's no better place to start than our ARTful Wellness series!
This workshop is an invitation to explore your emotions and intentions through three-dimensional form.
Using simple sculpting techniques, you will create a small, abstract or figurative sculpture from earthenware clay that represents a feeling, a goal, or a part of your inner world. The focus is on intuitive expression, not realistic representation.
This is a powerful and cathartic exercise in self-reflection. You'll take your finished clay piece home to air-dry and finish as you wish.
Ages 15+ (Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult)
Sunday, September 27th
2-5 pm
Registration Fee: FREE!
This free wellness class is brought to you in collaboration with UVA Health.