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Changes in Store for CA's Manga Camp!
 With a new instructor and a shift in focus, a summer of changes is in store for the third annual Manga Mini Camp held at Columbia Art Center, 6100 Foreland Garth, Columbia, MD.
What exactly is manga? Manga is Japanese cartoon drawings that date back to the 19th century; however, manga did not gain popularity in the US until the 1980s. Since then, it has been steadily rising in popularity. Manga may be the Japanese word for “cartoon,” but these are not the “Family Circus®” cartoons you grew up with. Manga is characterized by over-exaggerated emotions of characters that have small mouths and large eyes.
Due to scheduling conflicts, this year’s Manga Mini Camp will not involve a field trip to the annual Otakon anime convention and, consequently, campers will not be making costumes for the conference; however, the camp is shifting its focus to be more drawing intensive. This shift stems from its new instructor, Arnie Clapman. Clapman was introduced to Monica Herber, director of camps, through a sibling who teaches at the Art Center.
Clapman has experience working with children at the Children’s Art Center of Santa Cruz. There he published Comix by Kidz, a comic book featuring his students’ art work. Herber stresses that Clapman is a professional artist and that his expertise will further help campers develop their drawing skills.
Clapman’s website, http://www.arnolddavidclapman.com, describes his expertise and teaching skills: “Students learn anatomy, costume design, movement, expressions, gestures, distinguishing features and personality traits using published characters as templates.”
In addition to developing drawing skills, Columbia Art Center will provide campers with the materials they need for the camp, so campers are not required to bring their own art supplies. Parents, this means no midnight runs to Wal-Mart to buy your children supplies the night before camp begins! The camp is also designed for all skill levels, from beginners to advanced artists.
Herber said that the goal of the camp is for participants to learn how to enhance their drawing skills. More so, the camp is a way for participants to learn how to express themselves. And, when it comes to teenagers, drawing manga is a great form of self-expression.
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