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!

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, Hyena Hell, and more to provide you with inspiration, advice, critique, motivation, and a 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.

Preview work by students from our 2023 Graphic Novel Intense by clicking on the anthology product to the right.

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, 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 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 here.

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 Week-long 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 a 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 many 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.

Consultations

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 art-making 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!