Event

Toons and Brews: Cartooning workshop and beer tasting for adults

Upon visiting the ToonSeum last fall, Academy Award nominated actress Anne Hathaway signed our guest board with a humble "Boy, I wish I could draw." Its a sentiment we hear everyday from visitors everyday, hundreds of guests claiming they can't even draw a stick figure.

Toons and Brews will hopefully start to change all of that.

The ToonSeum is, of course, dedicated to spreading the love and appreciation for the cartoon arts, but we're also big advocates of local businesses and good beer. On August 19th, we're teaming up with The Church Brew Works to present the latest Toons and Brews event. This month, we're offering our first in a series of adult-beginner cartooning classes complimented by a selection of delicious Church Brew Works ales and lagers. Guests will learn cartooning basics from professional artists (like the ToonSeum's executive director Joe Wos) while sampling great craft beers and watching vintage beer-themed cartoons.

"People love cartoons but often assume they can't draw," said Joe Wos, "often because of a fear of failure. They might have really loved drawing as a kid, but maybe their sketches didn't look like everyone else's or they became interested in something else and gave up. These classes are an opportunity for adults to try their hand, and we offer a little beer and good conversation to take the edge off of the fear."

Even if you are a casual doodler or season veteran, you probably still want to stop in for the beer. "The Church Brew Works has been a staple in Pittsburgh for almost 15 years," said event manager John Mattie. "The brewery keeps getting better, really balancing traditional styles and bold new recipes."

This class is the second in a series of Toons and Brews events highlighting Pittsburgh craft breweries and local artists.