Robin is part of the VCA Teaching Artist Roster, which helps schools and community groups in Virginia to invite her to do workshops through the Arts In Practice and Education Impact Grants.  Please visit vca.virginia.gov for more information.

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​TALKS + WORKSHOPS

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Robin speaks on a host of exciting topics and has given talks and workshop presentations to groups across North America, including the National Museum of Asian Art, the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo, the Center for Fiction, the University of Georgia, the New York Public Library, and many more.

 

 

Speaking topics

 

Comics Career Talk

 

I have always wanted to be a cartoonist and went to an art school to learn how to draw. But newsflash: most colleges don't teach you how to become a professional artist. In this talk, I will share with you my journey from a comics-obsessed girl in South Korea to a best-selling graphic novelist in America.

 

 

Tasty Colors

 

When I was young, I thought cooking and drawing were not related to each other at all. It wasn't until I became an adult and started cooking for myself that I discovered that making food and making visual art are similar in many ways. Creativity lives in all of us and different people express it in different ways. In this visual presentation, we will explore how our creativity can help us connect and find joy within ourselves in hopes that everyone can open themselves up to becoming more creative. 

 

 

Asian American Identity

 

Asian Americans are the fastest-growing demographic in America yet we are still viewed as 'outsiders'. As a 1.5-generation Korean American author, I have been able to examine these two vastly different cultures from the inside and outside. This talk will explore the challenges and joy of being part of the Asian American community, and discuss how our society shapes our ideas about race and identity.

 

 

Korean Food Adventure

 

The bold Korean flavors can level up your everyday meal If you are adventurous enough to try them. I am immensely proud of Korean food and determined to share it with everyone in the world. Since my cookbook comic book, Cook Korean! came out in 2016, many readers have shared with me their Korean home cooking through social media and their creativity inspires me. In this talk, we will learn about Korean food culture and discover how Korean ingredients and cooking techniques can be used to brighten up your everyday home cooking. 

 

 

Workshops

 

Memoir graphic novel workshop (All ages, no experience needed)

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Is your diary brimming with exciting stories? And do you love to read comics? Walter-Award-Honoree graphic novelist, Robin Ha will walk you through how you can transform your life into a graphic novel. You'll learn a step-by-step process of selecting and refining your personal stories, planning out your graphic novel, and drawing the comic pages. This workshop can be presented in a single seminar or in multiple sessions with more in-depth lessons, in-class assignments, and critiques.

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Intro to making comics (All ages, no experience needed)

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Do you love to read comics and want to be a comic artist someday? This workshop is for you! You only need paper and pencil and a story idea to start. NYT bestselling graphic novelist, Robin Ha will help you jump-start your comic book idea and bring it out onto paper. The workshop will examine comics as a powerful storytelling medium and teach you to use all the elements in comics in the most effective way to tell your story. From brainstorming your story, and developing your characters to page layouts, you'll get a comprehensive lesson on the creative process of making comics. This workshop can be presented in a single seminar or in multiple sessions with more in-depth lessons, in-class assignments, and critiques.

 

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Recipe comics workshop (All ages, no experience needed)

 

This workshop will teach you a step-by-step process of selecting, and refining personal recipes, drawing them, and creating sequential art that you can share with your friends and family.  

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Mini-comics zine workshop (All ages, no experience needed)

 

Did you know that many established cartoonists started their careers by making mini-comics zines and selling them at art festivals and local bookstores? Zines are self-published, small booklets that are printed at home or by using a self-service printer and distributed by the maker. It is a low-cost way to explore your creativity and engage with your communities.  This workshop will teach you the basic process of making mini-comics zines from idea to print. You will learn how to refine your ideas for the zine, make the book layout, and explore various visual mediums including pen and ink and collages.

 

 

Selected Press

 

Bitch Media

Immigration as Inspiration: Who Gets to Be an All-American Girl? https://www.bitchmedia.org/article/robin-ha-on-being-an-almost-american-girl

 

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The Comics Beat

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INTERVIEW: In ALMOST AMERICAN GIRL, the universal language of comics connected Robin Ha to her new culture
https://www.comicsbeat.com/interview-robin-ha-almost-american-girl/

 

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The Nerds of Color

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A Conversation with ‘Almost American Girl’ Robin Ha

https://thenerdsofcolor.org/2020/02/23/a-conversation-with-almost-american-girl-robin-ha/

 

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NPR: All Things Considered

Robin Ha's New Cookbook Mixes Korean Cuisine With Comics

https://www.npr.org/2016/09/01/492288849/robin-has-new-cookbook-mixes-korean-cuisine-with-comics

 

 

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Video

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How to Draw a Comic | ALMOST AMERICAN GIRL by Robin Ha

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr-DcBTX59A
 

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Jerry Craft and Robin Ha Author Takeover
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFf3BweaI2E&t=167s

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Speak on It | Robin Ha

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4KXIse0U9M&t=2s

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IARGS Spring Speaker Series: Celebrating Diversity with Graphic Novels

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QzQ6uR3W-U