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Short courses & CPD
Art & Design

Introduction to Comics and Graphic Novels

You explore the richness and diversity of the comics medium. You discuss significant works and creators, as well as through practical drawing exercises, and develop your own creative practice.

 

Credits: 10, Level: 4

 

Course overview

You will learn the necessary tools to tell great stories in the medium of comics by bringing together storytelling with narrative drawing. Topics include pencilling, inking, text and image relationships, panel/page layouts, dialogue and character development, narrative structures, body language, the passage of time, flow/braiding, perspective, and composition.

You are encouraged to think critically, to expand your understanding of what comics are and can do, and to recognise new examples of the form to inspire, influence and educate your own practice.

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Summer university

Start date: Starts Monday 1 July, Monday and Wednesdays for 4 weeks, 6-9pm

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You can study up to 30 credits at Summer University and you can select up to three modules on the same application form. If you would like to add a module later, or change one of your choices, then please email summer.university@tees.ac.uk.

Age restriction
Due to the content and delivery of our Summer University courses, it is advised that applicants are aged 16+ at the time of enrolment. All applicants under the age of 18 at the time of enrolment must provide a completed parental consent form and those under 16 years of age are required to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. You can download the parental consent form and send to summer.university@tees.ac.uk after you submit your application.

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Where you study

Middlesbrough campus

 

Course details

What you study

- creation, use and purpose of speech bubbles, sound effects and text
- perspective, lettering and drawing in the panel
- anatomy of a comics page
- the purpose of design within comics
- main theories of the comics language, such as those detailed by Will Eisner and Scott McCloud
- narrative drawing styles.

How you are assessed

Portfolio

 

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

Equipment requirements
Pencil, Eraser, Pencil Sharpener, Ruler, Pen for taking notes, Note book, A4 sized sketchbook, Brush pen, Fine liner pen.
Optional equipment
Small ruler, Black eraser, Uni pin fine liner pack, A4 lightbox, Colouring pens, Mechanical pencils, White out pens, Grey brush pen.
Alternatively, you can work with digital tools, such as a tablet with Photoshop, Procreate, or another art and design app.

Access to a photocopy machine is desired but not required. You must be able to share images of your work, so the capacity to take digital photographs is required if you cannot make scans or draw digitally.

International applicants must have an IELTS overall score of 5.5 or higher.

Age restriction
Due to the content and delivery of our Summer University courses, it is advised that applicants are aged 16+ at the time of enrolment. All applicants under the age of 18 at the time of enrolment must provide a completed parental consent form and those under 16 years of age are required to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. You can download the parental consent form and send to summer.university@tees.ac.uk after you submit your application.

 
 

Part-time

2024/25 entry

Fee for applicants:
£50

  • Length: Credits: 10, Level: 4
  • Start date: Starts Monday 1 July, Monday and Wednesdays for 4 weeks, 6-9pm

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