“We Draw Comics!” Artists Gather in Kyiv to Learn & Share in The Art of Creating Comic Books

Drawing inspiration from drawing comics.

Dozens of fans gathered for Kyiv’s second ever ‘We Draw Comics’ drawing session. Every participant has different levels of experience and skill; but a passion to create and innovate that really unites the artists.

[DMYTRO DANILYUK|ORGANIZER, FOUNDER OF KYIV COMICS FESTIVAL]

“When you’re all together, you’re all inspired, you have high spirits, and you can easily create much more than when you’re alone – so the main idea is to create, to express yourself, to create something new and to develop visual art and comics in Ukraine.”

Ivan, Nana and Dan took part in the so-called ‘drawing jam’ for the first time. They came here to get ideas, improve their skills, and experience the comic community.

[IVAN|PARTICIPANT]

“I think; I can write – I think so at least. But in real life, I suppose the community gives some inspiration to at least try to draw, not only write”

[NANA|PARTICIPANT]

“This gives you a small limit. You have a limit of time, you have a limit of size, you have a limit of materials: like only something you can bring here, and so it’s just a really good exercise to try to push yourself to your limits and try to see what you can come up with.”

[DAN|PARTICIPANT] ((Community always mean a lot. It basically moves the industry forward. And the idea of collaboration and, like, literally instantly like submitting into a possible publishment is a cool thing to do. As well as, like, a conversation room.))

Yan is here for the second time. Along with fellow participants, the comic he created at the previous session was published.

[YAN|PARTICIPANT]

“I was always drawing. But as for comics specifically — it was probably my first experience. Because no story plots ever come to my mind. I usually just start drawing and then it comes to something. It kind of builds up. Sometimes something solid comes up, sometimes it doesn’t

Every comic completed gets published. The size of the published issue is relatively small and only one hundred copies are printed.

[KOSTIANTYN SOKOLOVSKYI|PUBLISHER, FOUNDER OF “GON” COMICS]

“The policy for our collection is that everyone who draws gets included. I want to motivate people so I publish different works, because everyone is unique and interesting in their own way.”

Kostiantyn’s favorite comic is by a boy, who left his work unsigned.

[KOSTIANTYN SOKOLOVSKYI|PUBLISHER, FOUNDER OF “GON” COMICS]

“My favorite story is a comic by a boy. I guess he’s somewhere between 10 and 13. I really love children’s comics — they’re very honest, and there’s a lot of imagination. “

More ‘We Draw Comics!’ meetings are planned. The organizers aim to invite industry professionals to share their experience in order to draw the community together.

Artur Korniienko and Yevhen Slavytskyi for UATV