Let's Make a Comic Book!
Class experience
To create a comic book from concept to completion learners should come to class excited with a written story or robust idea. We will work together to create our own comic books. Learners will interact with the teacher by using classroom video demonstrations, brainstorming threads, sharing and developing visual work together. Learners will interact with the teacher using the Outschool classroom, nearpod for collaboration boards, visual games, and summary quizes. All of our classroom...
8 lessons//8 Weeks
Week 1Lesson 1Concepts and IdeasIn the first week learners will share their story concepts, we will work with thumbnail sketches and storyboards to identify the pacing of our comic book. We will use contour lines, sketches, and gesture drawing to establish main characters, costumes, and visual elements to support plot points.Week 2Lesson 2Research and Goal SettingThis week will have us exploring the various ways to produce illustrated comic books. We will talk about the process of digitizing for reproduction. We will decide on page size and layout of our comic (for print or for webtoon), look at different art styles in sequential illustration. At the end of this class we will have decided upon page number, page size, and page panels for our personal comic books.Week 3Lesson 3Composition and LayoutTime to delve into panel layout and sketching our page content. We will use a cut paper exercise to talk about page layout and composition, and we will have a real world scavenger hunt to help us look at comic books from our own collection that demonstrate key aspects of composition, line quality, and visual hierarchy. Learners will be drawing their panels and stories in pencil at this stage.Week 4Lesson 4Just CoversThis week we will pause with our pages and take a look at Cover Art. With video demonstrations, classroom sharing, and discussion, learners and the teacher will explore art materials used to create cover art. We will look closely at font use, margins, and we will practice digitizing art while we create compelling covers for our comic books. Learners will share their covers in the classroomWeek 5Lesson 5InkingThis week learners will discover all about inking. We will participate in exercises on line quality, line variation, and talk about how artists have inked work over the years. We will have an activity using hatching and cross hatching to create value. We will look at portraying mass, depth, and form in our objects. Along with the teacher demonstration we will share and comment on an inking exercise in high key value.Week 6Lesson 6Colour for ComicsThis week learners will begin to colour their comics and will explore and implement decisions about spot color, limited color palette, and full colour. We will explore the print process and learn why certain decisions about colour is made in book creation. Some colour theory concepts will be touched on here to examine how to use colour to reinforce action in our composition.Week 7Lesson 7Purposeful ProgressIn the second to last week of this course learners should be completing their comic books. Together we will take a look at reproduction options, and will be uploading to the classroom. Learners will be shown how to bind their work and protect their original art.Week 8Lesson 8Being InspiredAfter weeks of hard work Learners will present their comic books to the class. As a fun nod to some of our favourite comics, learners will engage in an exercise called "in my style" where we take all of the drawing skills we have learned in previous weeks and draw a character made by another artist in their own style. Learners who reach the end should feel celebrated and accomplished and have to tools they need to publish if desired.
Homework Offered
Learners who work at a slower pace can expect to spend more time in between class working on their comic book art and following the class exercises and discussions.1 - 2 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
Grades Offered
Learners will want to have: A short story or well developed written idea. Sketchbook or sketch paper Ruler Pencil and eraser Fine Line waterproof inking pen (I recommend Micron) Pencil crayons/coloured pencils
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
In this class we will reference comic books of varying style and subject. Super hero comics such as "Superman" , "Batman" , "Adventure Time" will be looked at in our study of style.
" With a focus on traditional media, old and new art techniques and a core understanding of the principals and elements of art and design, I strive to give learners the tools they need to not only be successful artists but to facilitate the...
Self-Paced Class
$13
weekly or $100 for all content8 pre-recorded lessons
8 weeks of teacher feedback
Choose your start date
1 year of access to the content
Completed by 11 learners
Ages: 12-16