HOW TO DRAW COMICS

Comic books have been around since the Great Depression, inspiring young minds and even entertaining soldiers overseas. They have been everything from treasured works of art to feared abominations of popular culture. Today everybody knows them for superheroes in colorful costumes, but in decades past they were also known for westerns, dramas, and even horror stories. In recent years comics have served as source material for numerous movies, television shows, and video games. To produce a mainstream comic book, many people and skills are needed. Writers, pencilers, inkers, colorists, letterers, editors, marketers, printers, and more all collaborate to create a single product. Individual artists and small teams of collaborators can find success as well. Independent publishing has been around for decades, and webcomics are now a popular (and frugal) outlet of artistic talent. If you want to create your own comic books, below are a few helpful sources. Some commonly used tools include: bristol paper, lead holder, kneaded eraser, plastic eraser, technical pens, quill pens, Copic markers, scanner, and Photoshop.

Patrick Shettlesworth is a video game concept artist. He has a website with many step-by-step art tutorials ranging from drawing the human figure to coloring with Photoshop.

• Polykarbon Tutorials

Scott McCloud is a comics theorist who has written several books about how sequential images convey information to a reader. These books illustrate the process of telling a story with pictures, the ways in which technology affects the medium, and how to start drawing your own narratives.

Understanding Comics	Reinventing Comics	Making Comics

David Yardin is an Australian artist who works for Marvel Comics. He posted videos of his entire process for creating a comic book page to YouTube. The time-lapsed footage adds up to over two hours of drawing with the artist's commentary.

• Creating a Comic Book Page

Brad Krause is an animator and illustrator working for Radiance Media in Wisconsin. He has several YouTube videos about drawing and inking comic book art.

• Comic Book Inking

HISTORY OF CHINA AT HARVARD

This course is titled “China: Traditions and Transformations,” and it is taught by Professors Peter Bol and William Kirby. Provided by Harvard's Open Learning Initiative, the lecture videos are free to watch, but college credit will not be given. If you want credits, then you will have to pay tuition. Why study China? Its rapid growth and development are making it a new superpower in global politics and economics. Countless businesses import or export goods and services from China, often taking advantage of notoriously cheap labor. China's relationships with countries such as Japan, Tibet, and North Korea also make this nation extremely influential and worth watching as events unfold. Studying the history, political, and philosophical aspects of this country can provide insights into how its people think and how the government makes decisions.

China: Traditions and Transformations (Harvard)

LEARNING HOW TO USE ILLUSTRATOR

Whereas Photoshop is used for editing photos, Adobe Illustrator is great for graphic art and abstract art. This program creates and edits vector images, pictures that maintain clarity no matter how much you zoom in on them. Using vector format allows one to print both an advertising flyer and a billboard sign using the same file. With Illustrator, there are no blocky or blurred edges. Listed below are a few websites for learning how to use vector editing software, especially Illustrator.

N.Design Studio

Vectortuts+

Tutvid Illustrator

LEARNING HOW TO USE PHOTOSHOP

Adobe Photoshop is a very powerful and versatile program. The possible uses range from removing red-eye on family photos to creating lightsaber effects. There are so many tools and effects available to the user! But Photoshop's strength is also its weakness. Having so many features (for over $600 it ought to have lots of features) can cause bewilderment for new users (and even experienced ones!). Fortunately there are plenty of helpful tutorials to be found that can illuminate the method of creating whatever effect you want. Below are a few websites worth visiting if you want learn how to use this impressive software. If Photoshop CS5 is too expensive, then Photoshop Elements is a good alternative. It has many of the same features but wears a much friendlier price tag.

Psdtuts+

Photoshop Essentials

Photoshop Lady

Tutvid Photoshop

LISTENING TO MUSIC AT YALE

This course is called “Listening to Music” and is taught by Professor Craig Wright at Yale. While this course is focused on classical music, there are occasional references to modern styles such as hip-hop. The goal is to give the student “aural skills” necessary to understand and appreciate composition of music in the West. If you are interested in writing music, playing an instrument, or having an intellectual discussion over a glass of wine, this is a good place to start.

This course includes the following topics: musical genres, rhythm, melody, notes, scales, harmony, chords, sonata-allegro form, fugue, Benedictine chant, Baroque music, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Mahler, Ravel, opera, and musical style.

Listening to Music (Yale)

MORE CALCULUS AT MIT

If you have gained competence in single variable calculus, and want to learn more, then you might try studying “Multivariable Calculus” from MIT. This course is taught by Professor Denis Auroux. The main focus here is on vector calculus and working with multiple variables. As is usual, you have access to transcripts, lecture notes, exams, and assignments in addition to the lecture videos.

This course includes the following topics: dot products, determinants, matrices, parametric equations, Kepler's Second Law, partial derivatives, least squares, second derivative test, chain rule, Lagrange Multipliers, partial differential equations, polar coordinates, change of variables, vector fields, path independence, flux, spherical coordinates, divergence theorem, line integrals, Stokes' Theorem, and Maxwell's Equations.

Multivariable Calculus (MIT)

CALCULUS AT MIT

This free course is called “Single Variable Calculus” and is taught by Professor David Jerison. It introduces students to differentiation of a single variable and integration. In addition to lecture videos there are transcripts, lecture notes, exams, and assignments available.

This course includes the following topics: rate of change, slope, limits, derivatives, chain rule, implicit differentiation, exponents, logarithms, hyperbolic functions, approximations, maxima, minima, Newton's Method, Mean Value Theorem, differential equations, definite integrals, fundamental theorems, work, probability, substitution, polar coordinates, infinite series, and Taylor series.

Single Variable Calculus (MIT)

INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAMMING AT MIT

This is a course from MIT's OpenCourseWare website. It is called “Introduction to Computer Science and Programming” and was instructed by Professors Eric Grimson and John Guttag. You can watch the lectures, read the transcripts, and view class assignments and exams. No programming experience is required. This course is intended to enable students to write small programs and use them for solving problems. The programming language utilized here is Python. Coincidentally, Python is the same language used by Blender.

This course includes the following topics: operators, variables, iteration, code patterns, recursion, bisection methods, lists, efficiency, algorithms, binary search, testing, debugging, dynamic programming, abstract data types, encapsulation, computational models, plotting, distributions, simulations, curve fitting, linear regression, and stock market simulation.

Intro. to Computer Sci. and Programming (MIT)

STUDYING EARLY CHRISTIANITY AT YALE

Here is another free course from Open Yale Courses. Professor Dale B. Martin teaches “Introduction to New Testament History and Literature.” This course examines the early history of Christianity and its various interpretations. The Bible's New Testament is the main body of text used, but other sources are studied as well. Keep in mind that this course is taught from a strictly secular perspective, and it is not intended for religious insight. If you are interested in the origins of Easter and its customs, then this is a good place to start. This may also be a good course for those interested in Roman civilization and its subjects. Happy Easter!

The classes include the following topics: Biblical canon, Greco-Roman world, Judaism, the gospels, Jesus as a historical figure, Saint Paul, interpretations of scripture, and the afterlife.

New Testament History/Literature (OYC)

INNOVATORS PITCH THEIR IDEAS TO THE WORLD

The free exchange of ideas is arguably the greatest function of the internet. Millions of people are online every second, and they are accessing one of mankind's greatest resources. One source where you are likely to get a premium selection of ideas is TED. TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is an organization that hosts conferences with businessmen, inventors, scientists, artists, politicians, and others as both presenters and audience. These presentations, or TED Talks, are opportunities for speakers to share their ideas with an audience of influential and appreciative listeners. The presentations are later uploaded to the internet to be watched by the biggest audience in the world, free of charge. The ideas vary from new ways of interfacing with computers to getting clean water for those in need. Any video is sure to inspire and challenge open minds; below are a few examples.

TED Talks

Sir Ken Robinson finds faults in public schooling

Prof. Sugata Mitra finds kids can teach themselves

Stewart Brand and Mark Z. Jacobson debate nuclear fission power

FIRST-CLASS PHYSICS TEACHER

Physics classes can be daunting and boring to many people. It is often hard to fully appreciate the utility, ingenuity, and elegance of using mathematics to explain how the real world works. Teaching physics effectively can be very difficult, but Walter Lewin makes it look easy. Dr. Lewin is a professor emeritus at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Three courses taught by him have been recorded and made available online through MIT's OpenCourseWare project—much like Open Yale Courses. Anyone can access this university material for free, but do not expect college credit for watching the lectures. Dr. Lewin employs his comedic wit and dazzling demonstrations to clarify physics concepts and applications for his students. The first course is about “classical mechanics”, the second is about “electricity and magnetism”, and the third is about “vibrations and waves”. All three courses are intended for students who are experienced with calculus. Even if you do not plan on becoming a scientist, you will probably find the classes entertaining and thought-provoking.

The classical mechanics course includes the following topics: units, kinematics, vectors, circular motion, Newton's laws, friction, work, energy, forces, collisions, momentum, rotating bodies, stars, torque, oscillations, gravity, planetary orbits, gyroscopes, precession, fluid mechanics, buoyancy, harmonics, resonance, heat, thermodynamics, and astrophysics.

The electricity and magnetism course includes the following topics: historical background, fields, Gauss' law, flux, voltage, currents, EMF, circuits, electric motors, solenoids, induction, inductance, Faraday's law, eddy currents, levitation, material properties, electromagnets, Maxwell's equations, electromagnetic waves, light, refraction, polarization, scattering, rainbows, interference, Doppler effect, and cosmology.

The vibrations and waves course includes the following topics: oscillations, waves, damping, resonance, coupling, pendulum, sound, Fourier analysis, electromagnetic waves, polarization, Doppler effect, stars, radiation, reflection, standing waves, refraction, interference, double-slit experiment, thin films, diffraction, and rainbows.

Classical Mechanics (MIT)

Electricity & Magnetism (MIT)

Vibrations & Waves (MIT)

PSYCHOLOGY AT YALE

A lot of people get interested in psychology at some time or another in their lives. Why? Well, that is a psychological question. Studying how people think and analyzing the causes for their behaviors can be beneficial and fascinating. Understanding oneself is a key factor for personal growth. Understanding others can facilitate peace and prosperity. In much the same way that knowing how your body functions can empower you to take better care of it, studying the workings of the mind can help you maintain good mental health.

Yale University offers a free online course in psychology, taught by Professor Paul Bloom. “Introduction to Psychology” is just one of the various courses available at Open Yale Courses. OYC gives free access to recorded classes actually taught at Yale. You do not have to be registered at the university—just have a fast internet connection. The lectures can be heard as MP3s, watched as videos, and you can read the transcripts and presentation slides. While this course is genuinely taught at Yale, online viewers cannot get any university credit for watching the videos. If you want a degree, then you need to enroll at Yale.

This course includes the following topics: the teachings of Freud and Skinner, communication, emotions, morality, mysteries in psychology, mental illness, and happiness.

Introduction to Psychology (OYC)

 This is the first lecture of the course.