Livermore Valley Arts

WORKSHOP

“You have a story to tell and a unique visual style to tell it with! Learn how to develop aone-page comic story from initial idea to your finished black and white artwork! In thishands-on workshop, participants will develop and complete a six to nine panel story fordisplay at the 2025 LVA Comic-Con at the Bankhead Theater (June 28, 2025).”

WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS WILL:● Develop a one-sentence story summary into a one-page comic script.

● Design an inventory of characters and objects to tell their story.

● Modify a preliminary layout (6 - 8 panels) to suit their storytelling needs.

● Explore basic design principles to help stage their story effectively

● Pencil, ink, and clean-up the final artwork.No previous drawing experience is needed, just the desire to learn and create! Materialswill be provided but experienced artists may wish to bring additional self-contained toolssuch as brush pens, Microns or Copic Markers.

Adults and students (grades 9 -12) are encouraged to participate. Ages 16+

WORKSHOP MODULE OVERVIEW

Story Summary » Participants identify the main characters, setting and action of their story orstory scene in a single sentence.

Example: “While the Seven Dwarves are away from their woodland cottage, the wickedQueen gives Snow White a poisoned apple.

”Initial Story Sequence» Next, participants expand their Story Summary in a list of six to eight,present-tense sentences describing the key moments in the story sequence. This list representsthe story panels that will eventually be drawn and provides the core story information for allsubsequent steps of the creative process.

Example:

1. Snow White, surrounded by woodland animals, waves as the dwarves leave thecottage for the mines

2. Disguised as an apple seller, the Queen knocks on the cottage door.

Panel Element Inventory» Visualizing each sentence/panel of the Initial Story Sequenceparticipants list of the characters and objects that need to be represented in each one.

Example:

Panel 1: Snow White, forest trees and bushes, birds, rabbits, deer, 7 Dwarves, picks,shovels, lanterns, 7 dwarves, cottage.

Character and Environmental Development» Using the Panel Element Inventory, participants draw a visual library. This collection of images serves as a reference when drawing the story panels. During this stage, discussion of the design principle of contrast (shape and value) helps ensure story elements are easily differentiated by the reader.

Initial Panel Layout» Participants draw a series of thumbnail sketches, determining each panel’s dimensions based on the action depicted and the desired pace for each story moment. During this stage, the sequence can be altered as needed.

Pencil Breakdowns» After considering methods to direct the reader’s eye and create visualdepth, participants will explore story possibilities. By drawing rough shape and valuerepresentations of their panels. The favored breakdown is then refined into the final pencil drawing.

Final Inks and Cleanup » Participants finalize their artwork by drawing over their pencil drawingswith ink lines of variable widths as well as filled areas and grayscale texture. Pencil lines will thenbe erased and mistakes covered with correction fluid.