Unbelievable Turnout: Over 100 Fans Flock to ‘Make Your Own Pokémon’ Workshop, Sparking Excitement for a possible Bigger, Better Event Next Year!
The “Make Your Own Pokémon” workshop, hosted by Maryam’s Mark at New York Comic Con 2024, was a huge hit, drawing over 100 participants eager to unleash their creativity. The room was packed with parents and children alike, some even spilling out as the space overflowed with excitement. Led by Darren Sanchez, Maryam Muhammad, Arielle Lupkin, and Tiara Orange, attendees learned step-by-step how to create their own unique Pokémon characters, making it a hands-on and fun-filled experience for everyone involved.
In addition to the core drawing activities, Tiara from “The Royal Orange” added an extra creative twist, interviewing participants about the Pokémon they designed. She offered tips on how to incorporate fashion elements into their characters, encouraging attendees to think outside the box and add personal style to their creations. Tiara’s engaging personality made each interaction memorable, while inspiring participants to blend fashion and art in a way they hadn’t considered before.
Behind the scenes, Isa, another integral part of the team, provided seamless organization and additional synergy throughout the event. Isa assisted with keeping the flow of the session smooth and managed photography, ensuring that key moments of creativity and connection were captured beautifully while also adding ways to keep track of our audience interest with keep count of participants and adding data surveys to our presentations. Data researched collected will assist us with planning our next ventures.
Watch Quick Clips from Make Your Own Pokemon Workshop held during New York Comic Con 2024
To add an extra layer of synergy, giving a nod to today’s viral style of teaching Arielle shared her process to sketching a Pokémon, virtually. Attendees watched the video, and drew along with Arielle – virtually, specifically wowed at trying her tips on how to sketch a tail.
Bonus: A special thank you goes out to Buddy Scalera of Comic Book School for securing an amazing deal with Marvy Uchida, who generously provided free marker kits and drawing pens to all workshop attendees, making the experience even more enriching. Initially, providing one box of 45 kits however after Maryam entered the workshop room, seeing the large amount of participants, Tiara jumped in action to head back to the Marvy Uchida booth to ask for more kits – lucky us, we scored the Marvy Uchida last box – giving our Make Your Own Pokémon just enough markers to giveaway!
One participant, Emily Johnson, said, “I came for my kids but ended up loving it just as much as they did. The step-by-step guidance made creating a Pokémon fun, and Tiara’s “The Royal Orange” fashion tips added an extra layer of creativity. We can’t wait to try it again!”
This workshop was such a fantastic experience for both the kids and me. We didn’t expect it to be so packed! I really hope you bring it back next year—just with a bigger room and at least two full hours. That way, everyone can fit comfortably, and there’s more time for the kids to enjoy creating their Pokémon without feeling rushed. It’s clear this event is something a lot of people love!”
Jorge Clex - parent attendee
One parent, Jorge Clex, who attended with his children, shared his enthusiasm for the event’s return next year. Clex also shared how excited his kids were when they first saw the “Make Your Own Pokémon” workshop listed on the NYCC schedule app. “The moment my kids spotted the event on the app, they couldn’t stop talking about it. They’re huge Pokémon fans, so the idea of creating their own Pokémon had them counting down the days. When we finally arrived, their faces lit up as they grabbed their pencils and got to work. It was an experience they’ll be talking about for a long time!”
To keep the excitement alive and continue offering these engaging, creativity-boosting activities, we need your support. By contributing to our crowdfunding campaign, you’ll help us secure larger spaces, provide more supplies, and ensure that every artist—young or old—has the time and resources to fully enjoy these workshops. Your donation will go directly towards covering costs for next events like the “Make Your Own Pokémon, Fast Sketch and Swap, and End of the Starving Artist workshops,” allowing us to return bigger and better next year. Donate today and be a part of fostering a community where art and imagination thrive! Support our Indiegogo Campaign now: Give towards future our next Art Socialize Experience.
Photo Credit: Isa Muhammad
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