OUr Programs
Every year we offer a diverse range of programs that create Affordable new learning opportunities for young, emerging, established, and professional comics enthusiasts alike.
Below you will find a break down of our most popular recurring programs with links to further information. All our programs are offered at a sliding scale. Everyone, regardless of knowledge and skill, is welcome!
Online Certificate Program
The SAW Certificate Program has been the premier program for affordable, personalized comics instruction for over 10 years. Enrolling every fall, this is an intensive nine-month course that offers instruction in Drawing for Comics, Comics Storytelling, Comics History and much more.
Certificate program alumni have gone on to work in various storytelling and visual realms from Graphic Design and Art Direction to Teaching and Tattooing. This could be you!
Online Graphic Novel Development Intensive
Every six months ambitious artists and writers are invited to join our Graphic Novel Development Intensive. Here we bring together the combined wisdom and experience of SAW instructors Tom Hart, Jess Ruliffson and Emma Jensen to provide you with inspiration, advice, critique, motivation and structured plan forward.
Through access to unique learning resources, a vibrant community and regular special events with comics professionals, you will gain insights into what it takes to realize your vision.
In person Artist Residencies and Fellowships
Make it stand out
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
SAW has a long history of opening its doors to visiting artists and local-cartoonists for short and long term stays. Our current Emerging Artist in Residence provides access to artmaking space and professional development opportunities for up to 8 artists each calendar year.
The residency program includes access to a shared studio, library and workshop space, access to SAW in person and virtual workshops, artistic mentorship and publication opportunities. In exchange, participants will create a workshop series, artists talk or community activation event/s in Alachua County.
In Person and Online Short Courses
Throughout the school year, we offer one day and evening classes in the SAW space that explore a variety of knowledge and skills related to visual storytelling. Courses are offered at a variety of levels and formats for anyone - new or veteran - to feel they have the support to explore their creative practice anew. Find our most recent schedule of courses through Eventbrite.
And if you’re not in Gainesville, Florida, we bring programs to you wherever you are in the world through our online programs. Explore our upcoming courses and ongoing programs, including monthly community subscriptions over at learn.sawcomics.org.
In Person Weeklong Comics Retreats and Workshops
Looking to immerse yourself in comics? Join us in the SAW space for an intensive week of learning, exploration and play. We offer a handful of retreats and workshops throughout the year in February, May, July and October. Workshops information is available through Eventbrite. Class size is limited to 16 people per workshop so register early here.
In Person Teen Summer and Afterschool Workshops
If you are young person between 11 and 17 who loves comics, we’ve got specific programs suited for you. Each summer the SAW space is taken over by the 2 week Teen Summer Workshop, a fun-filled exploration of comics storytelling and production.
During the semester we offer afterschool workshops that slow down the comics making process and work towards an anthology of work produced during the 10-week session.
Free Weekly Online Workshops
Draw with us every Friday Night with our We Believe in Comics free community workshops. Each week we invite a different artist or writer to host a 40-minute workshop via Zoom. Past hosts have included Mel Gillman, Ashanti Fortson, Dave Ortega, Robyn Smith, Emma Hunsinger, Jett Allen and 30 more. Register ahead of time here. And you can watch every Friday Night comics workshop we’ve ever hosted for FREE on our youtube channel.
Free Events
Whether you’re joining us in person or online, we offer a bunch of free events from exhibitions and draw jams to comics reading parties and open studios. Stay connected in our online community or follow us on social media for regular updates.
Our programs are built in the spirit of peer-to-peer mentorship: we all have experiences that lend themselves to cooperative learning. We also offer 1-on-1 consultations with members of our core teaching staff, all of them professional comics creators.
Community Workshops
SAW will come to you. Are you a school or college looking to deepen your artmaking and storytelling offerings? Are you a business interested in telling better stories?
We offer a range of different workshops that can travel to you. Contact us and let us know where you are, what you’re interested in and your budget.
We love comics! And we’re excited to bring together people who share our passion. Come explore with us!