IN PERSON – PUBLIC GROUP CLASSES

My in person classes will follow CDC recommendations for mask use to the letter. Currently everyone in the St. Louis area is required to wear a mask indoors in public spaces, regardless if they are vaccinated or not.

This also means our situation can get worse and eventually we won't be able to have in person classes at all (again) if this newest outbreak cannot be contained.

In the event we can't meet in person for a class, I will update parents and offer them a live online version of the class via Zoom instead. The content will be exactly the same. Parents who previously registered who do not want the online class option will be issued refunds (if they paid by credit card.)

If you are a parent who is anti-mask or anti-vaccine, then my suggestion is to NOT take my in person classes at all until the pandemic is over. I cannot in good conscious endanger the lives of myself or the children around me. Please consider taking my ONLINE CLASSES instead.

PEOPLE WHO ARRIVE AT MY CLASSES UNMASKED WILL BE TURNED AWAY. NO EXCEPTIONS!

Please let me know at drop off or email the night before and I will write their contact info down. Thanks!

NO! All supplies are covered in the cost of class!

I can teach anywhere in the St. Louis, Missouri area and have taught children in PRIVATE one on one classes, GROUP classes, BIRTHDAY PARTIES, and HOMESCHOOL classes.

For the vast majority of my classes there is no homework, however, for my Beginner and Advanced KIDS COMIC WORKSHOP classes, there will be some homework. (But it's fun homework so it doesn't count!)

For classes shorter than six weeks your child will bring everything home. With the Beginner Kids Comic Workshops, I will keep your child's story sheets because I want to make sure they arrive back the following week where we need to use them. At the end of the course, however, your child will get everything back.

I've been an artist since I was eight years old, but since 2009 I've focused my artistic skills on creating three kid friendly comics, and sell them in my SHOP and at comic conventions around the Midwest.

The teaching path I'm currently on started in April 2015 when I was asked to teach a primitive version of my BEGINNER KIDS COMIC WORKSHOP to four 3rd grade classes at my son's elementary school during art class.

Within six months of that I was teaching an expanded version of that class to kids all around St. Louis. By end of that year God threw me in head first teaching grades 1-8 at a Charter school for four months full time as a substitute art teacher with zero teaching experience. Their regular art teacher was on maternity leave. (Talk about a boot camp!)

Since that time I've expanded and refined that comic course and have added numerous other classes. This is now my career and I teach my classes all around town as well as online!

No I won’t, but from time to time I do send out an email to everyone that is class specific, like reminding your child to bring homework back, that sort of thing.

No refunds will be given for weeks missed, sorry.

In the event that I am sick or some other situation comes up and I cannot conduct class that day, I will first try to reschedule the class, if that does not succeed then you WILL get reimbursed for the class missed.

Yes but it depends on the need. My son is high functioning autistic, so I am more versed in the autistic world than anything else. If the child has more severe needs, the parent or guardian must be present with the child to help them through class because I won't be able to devote a lot of time to individual children. You can leave me a note during registration about the needs of your child.

You do not have to stay. When you register there will be space for an emergency contact number in case I need to get a hold of you. Just keep your phone handy and make sure to get back before the class ends!

I use SQUARE for all credit card transactions. It's just like Paypal (but better) and is perfectly secure! I will also accept cash only on the first day of the course. (exact change please.) No checks allowed! The course must be paid in full before it begins or right at the start of the first class. No late payments will be accepted!

I usually do not have a wait list for my classes, however, keep an eye out on my upcoming class schedule for the class you're interested in. If it says "walk ins are accepted", show up the day of class and pay by cash (exact change.) There will always be one or two who sign up who don't show up, so you will be safe!

Space is often limited so I prefer you sign up online to reserve your seat. There may not be any left if you walk in the day of. If you still want to do this, please make sure to check the class information on this site as ir will say if walk ins are allowed or not for a particular class.

No, I have no connection with the book store other than being able to rent out their classroom space for my classes.

All registrations are handled through my website here. The book store has no way of taking registrations or collecting money for me. I am not associated with them and only rent their classroom space to teach my classes.

Not easily. They will just redirect you to my website, which you are already on if you are reading this. I will always keep an updated seat availability count here on this page.

All payments are through me, whether on my website (for credit card payments), or cash, the day of the first class you signed up for. I am not associated with the Novel Neighbor other than renting the classroom space to teach classes. They have no other connection with me when it comes to my classes.

As of July 2021 the classroom space has moved. It is technically no longer inside The Novel Neighbor space, but in the basement. The only way to reach this room is from the side of the building on the Dale Avenue side. There are two doors on the side, the one closest to Big Bend is the door you enter.

Unfortunately, there's not enough room in the classroom for parents to hang out and watch, but there is an outer area from the classroom that you can sit in. Also you may go upstairs to the Novel Neighbor and hang out there if you like. You also have the option to leave the store entirely and come back when class is over.

In the registration form is a space for an emergency contact number, so in the event I need to get a hold of you I will call the primary number you give first, followed by the emergency number.

The prerequisite to take my ADVANCED KIDS COMIC WORKSHOP is to either be 12+ years old OR have taken the 8-11 year old six week BEGINNERS comic workshop, HOWEVER, being accepted into this course is on a case by case basis as some younger kids may not be ready for the Advanced class.

Sometimes I teach an one hour introductory class for 6-11 or 12+ that lightly goes over topics covered in the full courses. If you are interested, please CONTACT me! This is great for group events!

Sure, but I wouldn't go older than 13 as some of what I teach in the Beginner class may be beneath their skill level. Having 11 years old as the cut off is really arbitrary and is based on the range I think would get the most out of this course. If you feel your kid will benefit from learning the basics then by all means sign up, but I also have an ADVANCED KIDS COMIC WORKSHOP that is for 12+ that may be more their speed.

I have a two week JUNIOR KIDS COMIC WORKSHOP that is specific to 6-7 year olds, so they should take that before attempting the BEGINNER workshop. Now having said that, if they did take the Junior class and are 7 years old, I will definitely consider letting them into the Beginners class, but I wouldn't go below that age as a lot of what I teach in this class will go over the 6 year olds heads.

The Comic Workshops are designed so that things taught are built upon from one week to the next, so walk ins for any individual week are not permitted after the first week.