In celebration of the French book festival 'Livre de Fete'* the French Cultural Center* the Cultural Department for International Cooperation at the French Embassy and the French Department at Sana'a University organized workshops on drawing and writing comics in Sana'a recently.French comic book artist and 1997 Angoulême International Comic Book Festival award-winner Fabien Rypert is in Yemen for the first time to conduct the workshops.Rypert designs famous comics for children and adults. Although he started out as an electrical technician* he used to collect comics and that?s how he was inspired to produce his own. As an intern in a drawing studio* he started creating characters for postcards and T-shirts* the most popular of which was 'Boogy' the frog* now a main character in his children comic books series of 'Boogy and Rana'. Participants at the workshops learned how to create a one-page comic strip step by step. Stressing the need to compliment talent with a solid education* Rypert said* "Reading is essential for children and education is very important as you can't always depend on your talent." He praised the talent of participants and said* "A girl called Jumanah showed me her drawing and if she was in France* her comics would surely be published." According to Georges Mouden* Linguistic Attaché at the French Embassy in Sana'a* "Children's literature was chosen as the theme for the Sana'a book festival* because comics are still rare in Yemen and we are trying to enrich this area." Sama'a Abdulghani* a participant in the workshops* studies in the ninth grade and is very interested in comics. She wants to be a writer and artist and likes black and white drawing whether with coal or pencil. "We learned where to write the scenario or the story* how to divide the paper* how much space to leave between the box and the drawing as well as drawing the characters*" she said.Rypert advises those interested in comics to be brave and to try develop their skills. At the beginning of his career Rypert had met artists who discouraged him and advised him to stop drawing comics but he insisted and persisted until published his art.Salla Al-Awadhi draws people and faces because she likes reality. Al-Awadhi learned how to draw animals and how to write text for stories under the supervision of Rypert. She aspires to be an architect.Estelle El-Hallak said* "We learned how to draw birds and animals* and use our imagination." She hopes someday to tell somebody's life story through a comic. "Sometimes one drawing can be better than a great speech* but the dialogue and text are also important*" Rypert concluded."Livre en fete" is an annual celebration for reading in France and French cultural centers worldwide. It aims to increase reading by organizing various activities related to literature and reading....

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