Thien Pham is an Oakland artist and educator. His new book, Sumo, is a graphic novel about an aspiring Sumo wrestler. It's a quiet and meaningful story, written and illustrated by Pham, who is one of the funniest and most dedicated comic artists in the Bay Area.
Pham has also worked as an illustrator on publications such as the graphic novel, Level Up, and his food review comic strip, I Like Eating, was syndicated in the East Bay Express. We dropped by Bishop O'Down High School, where Pham teaches, to learn more about his art career and new book.
Thien also treated us to hands-on lessons in how to draw four-panel comic strips, as well as ideas about developing characters. Pham aspires to be like Commander Mark, the host of the 1980s PBS drawing series, Secret City.
While these video lessons are directed at a student audience, anyone who is artistically curious will enjoy learning how to draw a four-panel comic strip, and special techniques for drawing a female ninja.
Keep up with Thien Pham on Twitter @Cobratalon.