The second description evokes the three main elements of storytelling we’ll be dealing with in this project: CHARACTER, SETTING, and THEME. “A crying alligator sits alone in a desolate swamp.” I see “An alligator is crying.” Not bad, but let’s try to extract more description from my drawing. Let’s start with panel one (the top left most frame). By doing this project, you’ll get an understanding of the decisions a graphic novelist makes to create a comic.Ī great way to learn to analyze a comic is by describing the story you see on the page out loud. Well, the goal of this project is to learn to look closer. With a quick glance you can understand the story of this four-panel comic strip, right? We’ll start by taking a look at my own finished class project: Wanna try it for yourself? Let’s go! Learn to Make a 4-Panel Comicįor today’s project, I’ll be guiding you through the process of creating a simple four-panel comic about animals and relationships. What makes comics a great fit for a young, aspiring storyteller is that comics require only a few simple things to get started: a pencil, paper, and a basic understanding of the elements of comic art. I’ve been drawing comics since I was a kid and a big reason for that is that it’s really easy to get started! Hi there! My name is Ira Marcks, I’m a graphic novelist, a teacher, and the author/illustrator of Shark Summer. If you want, you can color in your drawing.Written by Ira Marcks, author and illustrator When you’re done, fill in the outlines with ink, then erase the guidelines and any other stray pencil marks. Fill in any details you like, such as the character’s hair, eyebrows, clothing, and any other special features or accessories you want to add. Sketch a pair of circles for the eyes, a sideways curve or c-shape for the nose, and a slightly curved horizontal line for the mouth. Draw in two more horizontal lines under that to mark where the nose and mouth will go. For instance, draw a vertical line through the middle of the face, then add a horizontal line halfway down to show where the eyes should go. Next, add guidelines to help you figure out where to sketch in the facial features. Connect the shapes with straight or curved lines to make the limbs and neck, and fill in details like the character’s fingers and the outlines of their body. For example, make a large oval or a pair of overlapping circles for the torso, and use circles or ovals to indicate the hands, feet, and joints. Next, fill in the basic shapes of the body. You can make the head any shape you like, but it’s easiest to start with a circle or a square with rounded edges. To draw a character in a cartoony style, start by sketching in the basic shape of the head. This article has been viewed 533,207 times.

There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. She also teaches at the Boca Raton Museum Art School - formerly at SVA in Manhattan. Renée has even painted a portrait of celebrity, Vanilla Ice. She has garnered numerous awards including “Artist of the Year” from The Bloomfield Art League and First Prize from the Boca Raton Museum Artist’s Guild. Renée is featured in over 68 shows and galleries including a one-woman museum show at the Paterson Museum. She has studied under internationally renowned portrait artists John Howard Sanden, David Leffel, Robert Beverly Hale, Clyde Smith, and Leonid Gervits. With over 50 years of experience, Renée specializes in painting realistically in oil and capturing the soul of the person. Renée Plevy is an Internationally Acclaimed Portrait Artist from New York/Palm Beach who has painted The Grand Dames of Palm Beach and various celebrities and community leaders. This article was co-authored by Renée Plevy.

Drawing simple comic characters