Low Pressure Comics Systems - Course Description

This short series of workshops will explore visual storytelling principles through written and visual experimentation and hands on comics making. Each student will engage with numerous short story experiments over the course of the four sessions, resulting in 10-15 rough comic experiments. At the end of the two weeks, students are encouraged to pick one of their experiments and create a more complete and finished version before sharing their work at the fifth and final class.

Session 01 focuses on the importance of play, text and image relationships and the power of small moments.
Session 02 focuses on how to create meaning and interest in autobiographical comics by exploring visual and narrative patterns, building reader expectations, and the importance of acknowledging complexity.
Session 03 explores the value of non-literal image making through a series of abstract comic exercises and how to utilize abstraction in conjunction with representational imagery.
Session 04 is all about taking advantage of taste by learning to informally analyze and explore the ideas and techniques of our comic idols, promoting a flexible comics practice that is always leaning into the learning curve.

In the 5th and final session (optional), students bring in a more complete version of one of the exercises and receive feedback before the inevitable virtual high fives and tearful goodbyes.