Course Description

In recent decades, graphic novels have emerged as a potentially powerful art form. Graphic novels have taken on weighty subjects like the Holocaust (Maus), the civil rights movement (March), and disability (El Deafo). We'll examine the techniques used by masters of the medium, and then will put them into practice in daily exercises and finished projects. This course will examine the art form, the basic tools of the craft, and fundamental drawing techniques as they apply to comics/graphic novels. Working both independently and collaboratively, we will learn fundamental drawing techniques, the basics of character design, expression and gesture, story development, script writing, panel composition, and page layout through fun, challenging explorations. Each exploration will be designed to inspire creativity and ignite a desire to write and draw stories. Learners will have the freedom to explore genres of their choice, but we will also try our hand at poetry and first-person (autobiographical) comics. Drawing experience is not necessary, but young artists should have a desire to communicate clearly with words and pictures.

Essential Questions

  • What makes comics work? 
  • How can the skills we learn as cartoonists be applied to every day life?
  • How do drawings and words on a page become as “alive” to us as a movie or TV show? 
  • How are graphic novels an interactive art form? 
  • What kinds of stories are being told in graphic novels? 
  • What techniques can make a story more effective and engaging for readers? 
  •  How can comics and graphic novels potentially make a difference in the world?

Who Should Apply

  • Students currently in 5th or 6th grade.

Week Overview

Date Theme/Topic 
Week 1 Imagination Exploration: Graphic Narrative Fundamentals: Character Design basics (faces & expression), figures (gesture & movement); short individual and collaborative story-drawing; intro to story outlining/modified scripting
Week 2 Finding Your Stories/Drawing From Life: Graphic Narrative Fundamentals: Page/Panel Composition; Inking techniques; water colors; Projects: Haiku Comics, Medicine Comics, Personal Origin Stories; Script Writing
Week 3                                  Individual Graphic Narrative Projects: Scripts, character designs, layouts, final pages

Instructors

Details

Cost

  • $1450
    • $1400 (tuition)
    • $50 (registration fee)

Time

9am - 2:30pm

Location

  • University of Washington Seattle Campus
  • Building and Room TBD

Date

  • July 6th-24th, 2026
  • Monday - Friday

Refund and Transfer Deadlines

  • Full tuition refund: April 10th
  • 50% tuition refund: April 11th-May 8th
  • No refund: after May 8th