Jamar Nicholas is an award-winning, Philadelphia-based artist and educator, dedicating his career to helping young people realize the power of visual narrative. He has taught and lectured on the topic of comics creation at numerous institutions, dedicating his career to empowering young people to create their own cartoons and comics. Jamar aims to bring awareness to anti-bullying, healing, positive images of people of color, the idea that everyone can be a hero, channeled through images and art of the every-person archetype.

Jamar’s current project, partnering with Scholastic Graphix, “Leon the Extraordinary”, is the first book in his series featuring Leon and his friends, Carlos and Clementine. Leon’s next volume, “Worst Friends Forever”, releases in October 2024. 

LEON WORST FRIENDS FOREVER (Oct 2024)

A Junior Library Guild Gold Selection – Graphic Novel Selection 2024

LEON THE EXTRAORDINARY (2022)

“Nicholas’s innovative tale, brimming with fully fleshed out characters and bombastic battle sequences, is one to revisit again and again.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review

A Junior Library Guild Gold Selection – Graphic Novel Selection 2023

The Children’s Book Committee of Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Books of the Year [2023 Edition]

Nene Award, 2025, for Grades 4-6, Graphic Novels

School/Library Visit Presentations

THE JAMAR CHRONICLES – Assembly (45 mins-1hour PPT)

Jamar will present an interactive digital slideshow on his career as a cartoonist and focus on specific projects and themes that reoccur in his graphic novels like bullying, perseverance, making good choices, never giving up and more!

★ Must provide technical equipment needed for digital slideshows such as projector, smart board, speaker and microphone. Jamar will bring his laptop and a flash drive for backup.

THERE’S A HERO IN ALL OF US – CHALK TALK (Assembly 45 mins – 1 hour)

Through a “chalk talk” (Talking while drawing) presentation, Jamar will discuss the magic of cartooning and visual storytelling  and cover important issues from bullying awareness, being a hero (in your community, for your family and friends, and to yourself) and the power of positivity as a young person.

★ Must provide, drawing surface (Stable white board, easel with pad, removable sheets of paper etc., markers (black))  Jamar will bring his laptop and a flash drive for backup.

IMAGINATION AQUARIUM (Workshop 45 mins – 1 hr)

Ever find yourself stuck for cartoon ideas? Put on your wetsuit and dive into the IMAGINATION AQUARIUM, where cartoonist Jamar Nicholas will help you catch ideas in your net and create awesome cartoons! Beginning with art ‘warm-up’ drawing exercises, Jamar instructs kids on overcoming creative ‘artist block’ by creating fun and funny idea mashups! Interactive instruction and drawing fun for the whole family.

★ Must provide drawing materials for the session participants: pencils and paper.

RESIDENCIES (One day to one week, continual)

These long-form programs will instruct a group on the basics of comic-making, ending with the students creating their own worlds, characters and short-form stories. Week-long residencies can result in the class publishing their work via photo-copied ‘mini-comics’.

★ Materials needed will depend on residency/workshop content

Adult Presentations

Adult Keynotes

WHY STORIES WITH WORDS AND PICTURES WORK SO WELL

Award-winning Author-Illustrator Jamar Nicholas posits to answer a modern question: what’s so special about Comics/Manga/Graphic Novels? In a fast-paced world where young readers have embraced visual narrative, Jamar will unlock secrets of this unique form of storytelling in an engaging presentation that is fun, funny and insightful. You will leave the session understanding the mechanics of comics, including (but not limited to); how to read comics (not just see them), the cartoonist-as-director, emotional connectivity within the panels, and more! 

Adult Workshops/Breakout Sessions For Educators & Author/Illustrators

BREAKOUT: The Superpower of Graphic Novels

Jamar Nicholas leads groups in an interactive session where you will learn to develop your storytelling skills via fun and engaging cartooning drills, designed to help you understand how comics work, and how to train your unique voice to tell YOUR story using words and pictures. 

If you ‘can’t draw a straight line and/or a stick figure’ – no worry – all are welcome!

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS: In the Director’s Chair

Drawing comics is more than just putting pictures in boxes! Author-illustrator Jamar Nicholas will lead you through an interactive workshop where you will learn the behind-the-scenes art of storytelling using words and pictures. 

 

Website

Availability and Honorariums