Legendary Comic Artist Bob Hall to Join NPA for Comic Book Celebration

The Nickel Plate Arts 10th Annual Comic Book in Day Challenge, presented by Browning Day, is scheduled for Jan. 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Celebrity special guest and legendary comic artist Bob Hall will be in attendance and assisting participants as a Featured Artist.

Hall has worked in the comics industry for more than 45 years and has made appearances in numerous comic cons over the past several decades.

“I’m looking forward to helping the next generation of artists excel in their work during this extraordinary event,” Hall said.

“Nickel Plate Arts provides the opportunity for continued successes among our community members, pushing the bar higher through events like the Comic Book in a Day Challenge.”

The annual event features the opportunity to create a comic book from scratch in just 8 hours with the help of Nickel Plate Arts’ Featured Artists, including Stuart Sayger, Gavin Smith and other staff members.

Hall and the other Featured Artists will be creating alongside participants all day and will be available for questions and coaching. In-person and virtual options are available.

This day-long challenge will allow participants to meet other artists and compete for prizes; however, registering for the challenge isn’t the only way to enjoy this event. The public is welcome to stop in throughout the day to watch the challenge in progress, meet and shop for artwork from our professional Featured Artists and try your hand at comic-themed art activities.

All artwork created in the challenge will be displayed in an exhibit in Ignite Studio and published in a printed comic book.

“Our title sponsor, Browning Day, is the perfect fit for Comic Book in a Day because creativity and artistry are a core part of their design process,” said. Nickel Plate Arts Director Ailithir McGill.

“They encourage their staff to explore a wide range of disciplines.”

Nickel Plate Arts will once again partner with the Fishers Library Ignite Studio for this event

Once a participant has registered, they will be added to Nickel Plate Arts’ contact list and will receive updates about the details of this incredible event. A registration fee will pay for a copy of the ‘Comic Book in a Day’ compilation, which will include each participant’s work. Drawing supplies to anyone who needs them for this event will be provided.

If the registration fee for this challenge is a barrier for your participation, contact Nickel Plate Arts for options.

2022 Champion Ella Satterfield reflected on her win from last year, saying, “One thing I think helped a lot was using a story that not only meant a lot to me, but related to others as well. When you make a connection with people, your stories mean a lot more! Art-wise, I always start with thumbnails in my sketchbook before doing anything digital! That way I can see what I want to make before commiting a lot of time to the finished piece.”

Comic Book in a Day Workshops

Nickel Plate Arts will host a series of workshops to help you prepare for the upcoming Comic Book in a Day event. These workshops are open to the public:

• Jan. 4 from 2-3 p.m. – Comics Demo by Returning Champion Ella Satterfield – Turning Everyday Experiences into Great Comics
• Jan. 12 at 6:30 p.m. – Creative Warm-Up with Bill Wilkison
• Jan. 17 at 6:30 p.m. – What Makes a Comic Book? with Gavin Smith
• Jan. 19 at 6:30 p.m. – Unconventional Comics with Stuart Sayger

Visit nickelplatearts.org/comicbookinaday/ for additional information on the workshops.

Rules and regulations for the challenge can be found on the Nickel Plate Arts website: nickelplatearts.org/signature-events/comic-book-in-a-day/

Register for the challenge online at nickel-plate-arts.square.site/product/2022-comic-book-in-a-day-artist-challenge/4167?cs=true&cst=custom. For full event details, visit nickelplatearts.org/event/comic-book-in-a-day-4/

Learn more about Bob Hall at bobhall.com

About Nickel Plate Arts:

Nickel Plate Arts is an umbrella nonprofit organization that creates and coordinates arts and cultural experiences across communities in eastern Hamilton County and the surrounding areas to improve the quality of life for residents, strengthen local economies and enrich experiences for visitors. Nickel Plate Arts is a project of Hamilton County Tourism, Inc.