The Okotoks-based owner, artist and publisher of Panday Studio, Dario Carrasco Jr., is set to host a comic workshop in Langdon next weekend.
The workshop will be held on Saturday, Feb. 22 from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Langdon Community Library, 12 kilometres east of Calgary.
At the workshop, Carrasco, who has worked on prestigious comic titles like Star Wars and Marvel, will be sharing techniques for beginners into sketching and drawing from the imagination using different shapes to form an art figure.
“I find from experience that it is very useful for an artist,” he said. “I used this technique in drawing comics throughout my career.”
He shares that this particular technique is simple to do and can assist both novice and experienced artists.
While watching Batman cartoons on his neighbour’s TV, Carrasco’s passion for drawing superheroes was ignited at the age of six.
“The image stuck with me, and I even sketched Batman under our dining table,” he said.
Carrasco grew up in the Philippines where his rituals involved reading Sunday comic strips followed by drawing superhero characters.
In Manila, during his university days, Carrasco began collecting Marvel and DC comics with his savings.
“Influential titles and artists like Conan by John Buscema, Captain America & The Falcon by Jack Kirby, The Avengers by John Buscema, Sgt. Rock by Joe Kubert, Phantom Stranger by Neil Adams & Jim Aparo, and Aquaman by Jim Aparo inspired my decision to become a comic book artist,” he said.
Carrasco moved to Canada in the early 1990s.
“I maintained a full-time position as a draftsman in the engineering sector while supporting a young family. Concurrently, I pursued my interest in drawing and collecting comics,” he shared.
As his collection expanded over the years, the foundation of a renowned comic artist began to take shape.
With each visit to various comic shops, he began seeking guidance and sharing his artwork with store owners and loyal customers.
“Their feedback was overwhelmingly positive [paired] with many suggesting that I pursue a career in the comics industry,” Carrasco said.
The artist in him felt encouraged and began submitting samples of his work to Marvel Comics.
Excitingly enough, he received responses from Rob Tokar, the editor of the ongoing Marvel series Alpha Flight, and David Wohl, the editor of the forthcoming series Hellraiser: Pinhead.
“Subsequently, I was hired as a penciller for both series, thus commencing my professional journey in the comics industry,” Carrasco humbly stated.
Carrasco kept his sketching talent as a comic enthusiast part-time, while working his day job.
“The job isn’t a typical 9 to 5 with waiting periods for the next assignment once I send in the last page of the book,” he explained.
He took on fill-in work when artists were on vacation or disappeared without informing their editor. That allowed him to work on some exciting characters in the Marvel universe such as Captain America and Iron Man.
“In 1994, I was so lucky to land an ongoing penciller for The Night Thrasher, one of longest ongoing series in the Marvel lines of superheroes,” Carrasco said.
Additionally, in mid-1994, Carrasco landed a major project pencilling the Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi series for Dark Horse Comics.
“From 1994 to 1998, I enjoyed the most fulfilling period of my comics career,” he revealed, adding that, “after completing my Star Wars projects, I intermittently worked on small projects with independent companies and took on art commissions.”
In 2020, he illustrated a 40-page book called Lady Alchemy: Mutus Liber. It was for a woman named Martina Markota who is best known in the comics world as Lady Alchemy.
Markota is currently working on the storyline of the second book, which Carrasco will again have the honour of illustrating.
While he is not working on any assignments as of now, but is proud to share his last four projects he completed for Zenescope Entertainment in 2024.
It was an opportunity that fell in his lap through his old Marvel editor, David Wohl, who was the chief editor at Zenescope.
“My main goal now is to conduct art workshops for all ages and create more CFAC comics for fundraising to give back to the community,” Carrasco shared.
He makes occasional store appearances and takes up commission work, including backing board arts and blank cover arts, which he does in his spare time.
“I still enjoy drawing as a hobby, staying connected with the comics industry and networking with local and comic book artists,” Carrasco concluded.
Registration for the upcoming workshop is now open. For more information, visit langdonlibrary.ca.
