Doodling and Sketching as Artistic Practice: The Art of Comics-Engaged Research Webinar with Raey Costain and Cal Smith
In the SCVN webinar series, Art and Testimony, Ph.D. students Cal Smith and Raey Costain presented their research on how visual methods such as comic drawing have a unique capacity to explore and document human stories in the past and present. The webinar, The Art of Comics-Engaged Research, was moderated by Dr. Mary Chapman and involved active engagement by the attendees. The session began with a drawing exercise, lead by Raey, where they asked participants to doodle material related to what’s in front of them, what’s behind them, and where they’re sitting. The activity was designed to situate speakers and participants. Instructions for hosting or participating in the activity can be found below.
The webinar continued with Raey presenting on drawing as an artistic practice, both related to their personal drawings and the act of researching drawings done by others. After that, Cal shared part of his potential Ph.D. research on queer comics in Canada in the 1980s and 90s. He focused on the practice of research that has defined his early relationship with his Ph.D. Both speakers were intensely interested in what stories a doodle or a sketch can illuminate and the power of paying attention to the infinitesimally small details in such unassuming graphic narratives.
Link to the webinar can be found here.
Raey Costain’s Drawing Activity Instructions:
Raey’s activity is designed to situate speakers and participants. This activity is for everyone, no matter their drawing “talent” or experience! We would recommend underlining the sensations that go into drawing. Ask, “What does it feel like to pick up a pen and draw? What goes into finding inspiration? Where does your mind wander?” Mention that it’s ok to just breadth and reflect before putting the pen to the page.
- Ask participants to grab something to draw with.
- Draw three squares that are roughly the same size on a piece of paper. They can be vertical or horizontal.
- In the first square, ask everyone to draw something ahead of you, i.e. something you can see in your environment. Maybe it’s the computer monitor or a coffee cup!
- In the second square, ask everyone to draw something behind them. This can be physically behind them in their environment, or it can be understood more metaphorically as something behind them; something you’ve moved through, or someone, say, standing behind you.
- In the final square, ask everyone to draw something related to where their feet are. This can also be taken literally or metaphorically. Maybe consider the territory you’re physically on, or, where your standing in life.
- In a large group, the activity leader might say a few words reflecting on the activity. In a smaller group, you might invite others to reflect.
- Finally, you may choose to invite people to share their work if they’re comfortable. There’s no pressure to do this, as the activity is principally a moment of personal reflection.
Link to the activity document can be found here.