Syllabus

Creating Comics Workshop - Poster Track Syllabus

Part 1 - Basics

First we're going to go over foundations, portraits, figurative proportions, and basic composition.  How to get more mileage out of drawing small.

Part 2 - Designing a poster

Choose two between the three types; the classic montage, the double exposure, or the story moment. Our goal is to create a strong high impact graphic read.  I’ll share examples but please look these artists up also.

Type 1 - An example of the classic Collage style is Drew Stuzan.  More recently, you can see Dave Rapoza’s work in this style on the iMax Logan movie poster.

Type 2 – An example of double exposure is Greg Ruth.  Or look at these examples.  

Part 3 - Illustrating a story moment

Good examples are Kazuo Oga, Atey Ghailan, Pascal Campion, and Heikala

Weekly breakdowns

Week 1 - Sketch card bust only

Sketch Cards – 2.5”x3.5” The portrait: aim for likeness, hair shape, clear lighting. Do these in color (these are like close-up covers).  Try a front view,  ¾, and side view (bust only).  Try both males and females.  Think about expression. Make at least 4 cards.  Do these in color.  Try vignetting.

Week 2 - Sketch card 3/4 body

Sketch Cards – 2.5”x3.5” half body.  Think about acting using gesture.  Plan light and dark areas intentionally.  Make at least 4 cards.  Try splattering for texture or using white on black.

Week 3 - Convention Sketch

Thumbnail studies.  Convention Sketch (9x12) half body (use special effects).  Sketch 4 pose ideas, then draw one in black and white, but try to make it clean.  Plan out positive and negative shapes, and use gesture to tell a story.  Focus on construction to make things solid.

Week 4 - Composition

Create 10 thumbnail composition studies from posters and or book covers that you like. Keep these around sketch card size or small digitally and in black and white.  You can use three values.

Week 5 - Poster line drawing

Analyzing other posters for composition inspiration. Creating a rough poster layout.  Finding references and putting everything together.  Create a line drawing.

Week 6 - Poster finish coloring and embellishments

How to approach color and finishing the poster.

Week 7 - Story Moment roughs

Create 4 thumbnails for a story moment limited to three values.  Plan the darks and light areas.  Make sure the first read is clear.

Week 8 - Story moment black and white tones

Draw it out (construction, use reference) make it solid.  Make clean line art.

Week 9 - Story moment painted finish

Coloring.  Make 3-4 color comps, then start with flats and basic gradients

Week 10 - How to create a pleasing presentation

Review.  How to create a web presence?  What to show and what not to show?