TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — Troy University’s Department of Art and Design hosted its annual COMICAMP Visual Arts Camp to help youth around the Troy area improve their creative abilities.

The students learn to draw a variety of things, including characters from TV shows, as well as original creations.

“It’s great,” said Giana Mazaheri, a student attending COMICAMP. I like the fact that I’ve learned to draw a bunch [of] new things and I haven’t just been drawing one thing the whole time.”

All of the activities help the students prepare for their big project: their very own comic book.

“They give me input on the positives,” said Greg Skaggs, Chair of the Department of Art of Design at Troy University. “I always ask what things we could change for tomorrow because I think that’s also very helpful.”

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Not only do the students draw their own comic books, they also get to choose what the story is about and write it themselves.

“I haven’t completely finished it,” Mazaheri explained. “But I do know there’s like, this girl and she’s kind of walking down the street and she kind of gets struck by lightning and it’s like, all a dream, and she becomes a cat.”

Although drawing and writing are important parts of the camp, the most important part is…

“I think the big takeaway is just the excitement that they had a great summer,” Skaggs said. “They had a great week and they can’t wait to come back next summer.”

COMICAMP is just one part of Troy University’s annual Summer Spotlight series. The series is meant to inspire young community members to develop an interest in the arts.