The Festival ‘Caricias’ de Fanzines y Autoedición has opened registrations for a free illustration and fanzine creation workshop aimed at young people aged 15 to 18. The workshop will take place on 7 and 8 November at La Fábrica de Creación in Santander, as part of the festival's second edition.
Led by illustrator and comic author Theo Corral, known artistically as Theo Malorde, the workshop is designed for adolescents with artistic interests in drawing and illustration who wish to enhance their creative skills and discover new ways to develop and share their projects.
Spanning a total of eight hours over two sessions from 10:00 to 14:00, the workshop will provide tools to incorporate drawing into daily practice. Participants will create a personal sketchbook, focusing on finding inspiration, sketching, observing models, and developing ideas into finished projects, which may take the form of small handmade publications, artist books, or fanzines.
In addition to its practical component, the workshop will offer young people insights into the professional realities of illustration. Theo Malorde will share his experiences in the industry, discussing topics such as working on commissions, workflow processes, and opportunities for professionalisation within the graphic arts.
An artist with international prospects
Trained at the ArteDiez school in Madrid and initially linked to the fanzine and self-publishing scene, Theo Malorde has published his first comic with the independent publisher Ediciones La Granja and has completed commissions for institutions like Oxford University Press and the Cultural Department of the Spanish Embassy. His career will continue in 2027 at La Maison des Auteurs in Angoulême, France, an international reference centre for comic creation, where he will undertake an artistic residency to develop his first long-format work, supported by a grant from Acción Cultural Española.
His participation in ‘Caricias’ will allow young attendees to gain firsthand experience from a creator who has navigated the journey from self-publishing to the editorial and institutional project realms.
Free registration and limited spaces
The workshop is completely free, although the organisers suggest a voluntary contribution of five euros to help cover material costs, which is not mandatory. The activity will accommodate a maximum of twelve participants. While prior training is not essential, experience in drawing and illustration, whether self-taught or through formal education, will be considered during the selection process.
Interested individuals can apply by filling out the registration form available directly or through their legal guardians. For any inquiries, the organisation has set up an email at cariciasfestival@gmail.com and an Instagram profile @cariciasfestival.
This workshop is part of the programming for the second edition of the Festival Caricias de Fanzines y Autoedición, which will be held in Santander from 6 to 8 November, with support from the Ayuntamiento de Santander. The event will bring together 77 local, national, and international artists around illustration, comics, self-publishing, and independent culture, featuring a programme that includes a publication fair, workshops, talks, and activities aimed at various audiences.
