Comics: The Art of Storytelling [CGMA, Shaun Healey]
- Publisher
- CGMA
- Product Type
- Video Course
- Author
- Shaun Healey
- Language
- English, English Subtitles
- Duration
- 11:06
- Release date
- Jul 1, 2021
- Skill level
- Project Files
- Yes
- Product Price
- $699
This 8-week intensive course on comic creation and publishing is well-structured and covers essential aspects of storytelling and the technical skills needed to bring a comic to life. Here’s a refined overview of each week, with some suggestions for activities and resources to enhance the learning experience:
Course Outline: Comic Creation and Publishing
Week #1: The Script
- Focus: Understanding comics and narrative foundations.
- Activities:
- Introduction to what constitutes a comic.
- Brief history of comics and influential authors.
- Read and analyze different scripts.
- Homework: Write a short script based on a personal story or concept.
Week #2: Primary Storyboard
- Focus: Breaking down the script into visual sequences.
- Activities:
- Break the script into frames and scenes.
- Discuss essential narrative elements and common pitfalls.
- Begin building a primary storyboard.
- Homework: Complete a rough storyboard for your comic.
Week #3: Final Storyboard
- Focus: Refining the storyboard with design elements.
- Activities:
- Develop the storyboard further with character and location design.
- Research visual references for inspiration.
- Explore different styles and concepts.
- Homework: Create a polished secondary storyboard.
Week #4: Composing a Page
- Focus: The aesthetics of comic page layout.
- Activities:
- Analyze shape, frame placement, and rhythm on a page.
- Compare different comic styles (European, American, Japanese).
- Discuss symmetry and narrative flow.
- Homework: Compose a page layout using your storyboard.
Week #5: Drawing and Reference Research
- Focus: Building the comic universe through drawing basics.
- Activities:
- Conduct reference research for objects and settings.
- Explore perspective, proportion, and style in drawing.
- Homework: Create sketches of key locations and objects in your comic.
Week #6: Inking Techniques
- Focus: Techniques for clean and effective inking.
- Activities:
- Practice various inking techniques (clean lines, heavy blacks).
- Discuss composition in inking and the importance of line work.
- Homework: Ink a selected page from your storyboard.
Week #7: Character Design & Flat Coloring
- Focus: Finalizing character designs and applying color.
- Activities:
- Create character color cards and explore color theory.
- Learn about flat coloring techniques and light basics.
- Discuss color schemes and their emotional impact.
- Homework: Color a page of your comic with flat colors.
Week #8: Lighting, Special FX & Social Media Promotion
- Focus: Final touches and promoting your work.
- Activities:
- Learn about lighting effects, sound FX, and dynamic lines.
- Explore Photoshop techniques for enhancing pages.
- Discuss strategies for presenting work to publishers.
- Understand how to use social media effectively to promote your comic.
- Homework: Prepare a final presentation of your comic project.
Additional Resources and Activities
- Reading List: Provide a list of influential comics and graphic novels for study.
- Guest Lectures: Invite comic artists or publishers for insights into the industry.
- Portfolio Reviews: Offer one-on-one or group sessions for feedback on students’ projects.
- Online Community: Set up a platform (like Discord or Slack) for students to share progress, seek feedback, and collaborate.
