This video is part 2 of our comics curriculum for self-taught artists which reviews prompts and exercise for practicing your comics skills, comics history, what comics are like today, and more resources for learning comics on your own.
Discussion led by Art Prof Clara Lieu and Teaching Artist Cat Huang.
Video Walkthrough
- Comics history
- Where did comics begin?
- The Bayeux Tapestry can be considered a comic, it’s sequential art that tells a story.
- The Yellow Kid started as a journalistic comic.
- Winsor McCay was a landmark comic artist and animator.
- Where have you seen a comic, that wasn’t labeled as a comic?
- The visual language of Nancy is extremely simple, which allows them to have broader appeal.
- Becassine was a comic about an everyday person in regular life.
- A lot of comics have been transformed into video games and movies, many people don’t know they started as comics.
- Golden age of comics: 1938 – 1956 in the United States. ‘
- Consider that color can really inform a story.
- Typically people associate comics with superhero comic
- Where should you start if you have a very ambitious comic in mind?
- You need to gain a lot of skills first before starting a big comic project.
- Comics prompts
- “Your Inner Voice“
- Comics Jam
- Instructional comic
- Birthday Party comic
- Morning Routine comic
- Draw your ideal self at 100 years old
- Art media for comics
- Non photo blue pencils
- Pencils & drafting tools
- Pen & inks, paper, erasers, markers, dip pens
- Basic skills for comics
- In comics you really have to draw everything: people, animals, spaces, props, buildings, etc.
- Long Term Comic Projects
- You have to be prepared to draw things multiple times in comics.
- A big comic project requires a lot of stamina and planning.
- Do your research! You’ll need to portray subjects accurately.
- Writing for comics
- Many comic artists don’t consider story and writing enough.
- Writing a script for your comic can be very useful.
- Printing hard copy comics
- People really appreciate hard copy comics.
- Try different formats: zines, art books, print on demand.
- Cat’s Mama Bruja comic
Artists & Artworks mentioned
Comics mentioned
- Hey Kiddo, Jarrett J. Krosoczka
- My Favorite Thing is Monsters, Emil Ferris
- Streak of Chalk, Miguelanxo Prado
- Akira, Katsuhiro Otomo
- This One Summer, Mariko Tamaki & Jillian Tamaki
- Understanding Comics, Scott McCloud
Comics Resources
- The complete Comics for Self-taught Artists Curriculum document links to every video that expands on the topics touched here.
- Comics Tutorials
- Comics Premium Track
- Comics Track
- Comic Book List
- Manga Book List
- Comics Resources
Historical Comics
- The Yellow Kid, Richard F. Outcault
- Little Nemo in Slumberland, Winsor McCay
- Nancy, Ernie Bushmiller
- Becassine, Jacqueline Rivière & Joseph Pinchon
- The Smurfs, Peyo
- Arzach, Moebius
Full Curriculum
Art Supplies
Pens
- Bic Ballpoint Pen
- Rapidograph pen
- Rapidograph pen refill
- W&N Fineliner Pens
- Felt tip pen
- Micron Pens
Dip Pens
- Oblique Pen Holder
- Zebra Comic Pen
- G Nib
- Quill nib
- Speedball Pen Holder
- Tachikawa Pen Holder
- Ruling Pen
accessories
Erasers
Surfaces
Pencils & Drafting
- Non photo blue pencil
- Pacific Arc Ames Lettering Guide
- T-Square
- Plastic Triangle
- Alvin Tech-Matic Leadholder
- Pentel Mechanical Pencil
Inks
Markers
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