Illustration and Comics
Be an artist, illustrator, designer
Who is this programme for?
For students who want to apply their drawing talents to the art of comic book storytelling. Learn about the many influences comics, and their characters, have had on society. You will gain an understanding of effective visual storytelling techniques as well as best practices for the comic creation process.
Using traditional materials such as pencil and ink, you will create a visual narrative accompanied by a written script.
What will you achieve?
You will:
- learn the rich history and influence of comics
- learn what makes good visual storytelling
- develop artistic skills using a variety of mediums including pencil, pen and ink
- create your own comic
- visit art institutions and top U.S. universities.
Timetable
Through this program, you will develop creative writing, composition, and drawing skills while exploring the art of comics. You will learn how to pursue comics as a career and the history that sits behind them, as well as visits to art institutes and top US universities.
Week 1
| Day |
Time |
Activity |
| Monday |
8:30-12:00 |
Discussions on what makes good storytelling and scriptwriting |
| 1:30-4:00 |
Writing your story and script |
| Tuesday |
8:30-12:00 |
How to develop characters
Continue writing your script |
| 1:30-4:00 |
Comic vocabulary
Page layout and page composition
Thumbnail sketching |
| Wednesday |
8:30-12:00 |
Figure Drawing |
| 1:30-4:00 |
Rules of Comics (Panels, Gutters, Angles, Views)
Drawing your comic |
| Thursday |
8:30-10:00 |
Continue drawing your comic |
| 10:15 |
Board bus for Harvard Square |
| 11:00-4:00 |
Drawing at Harvard Museum of Natural History and comic shops in Harvard Square |
| Friday |
8:30-12:00 |
Continue drawing your comic |
| 1:30 - 4:00 |
Learning perspective for panel backgrounds |
| Saturday |
Full day of trips and excursions |
| Sunday |
Full day of trips and excursions |
Week 2
| Day |
Time |
Activity |
| Monday |
8:30-12:00 |
History and influence of comics |
| 1:30-4:00 |
Studio time to draw your comic |
| Tuesday |
8:30-12:00 |
Introduction to the art of inking |
| 2:00-4:00 |
Movie trip |
| Wednesday |
8:30-12:00 |
The business of comics and how to break into the industry
Self-publishing and webcomics
Studio time to draw or ink your comic |
| 1:30-4:00 |
Figure drawing |
| Thursday |
8:30-10:30 |
Studio time to draw or ink your comic |
| 10:45 |
Board bus for Boston Comic Con trip |
| 12:00-4:00 |
Boston Comic Con |
| Friday |
8:30-12:00 |
Studio time to draw or ink your comic |
| 1:30-4:00 |
Present finished comics to rest of class |
| Saturday |
Full day of trips and excursions |
| Sunday |
Full day of trips and excursions |
*Timetables are subject to change. We reserve the right to change these schedules with out prior notice.
Quick facts
| Age |
14-17 |
| Language level requirements |
TOEFL 40+ or equivalent |
| Average class size |
14 |
| Availability |
CATS Boston |