Developing graphic novels
Time: 18:00 - 21:00
Location: Keeley Street
Comics – once considered lowbrow, or seen as exclusively for children, now occupy a higher cultural domain. Partly thanks to a re-brand, (as ‘Graphic Novels’), no weighty subject is off-limits. A graphic novel has even been nominated for The Booker Prize!
Alongside official publishing channels, exists a lively ‘zine’ culture, where comic and graphic-novel artists can legitimately self-publish and sell their work through a network of independent shops and fairs.
Learn how to create Comics and Graphic-novels with City Lit, and – once you have developed your practice – how to navigate this thriving sector.
Choose a start date
- Course Code: VZ467
- Dates: 23/06/25 - 28/07/25
- Time: 18:00 - 21:00
- Taught: Mon, Evening
- Duration: 6 sessions (over 6 weeks)
- Location: Keeley Street
- Tutor: Stephen Marchant
Course Code: VZ467
Choose a start date
Duration: 6 sessions (over 6 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
This course is an intermediate course, for more experienced learners to develop their practical and conceptual (thinking) skills integral to the discipline of Comics and Graphic Novels. You will also delve deeper into its context - historical and contemporary – and begin to identify which movements or styles you feel have greatest relevance to your own developing creative practice.
What will we cover?
Intermediate level teaching of:
• The key elements of comics/graphic-novels: sequencing, panels, page-layout, captions, direct speech, sound effects - and how to use and manipulate them to tell stories.
• Drawing, painting and mixed-media
• Adobe Creative Cloud software.
• How to use tutor and peer feedback to evolve and improve your work.
• Researching, developing and realising longer comics / graphic novels in response to a brief.
• The different applications of Graphic Design, from print media to digital.
• The key movements and styles within the subject area.
• Identifying which of the sub-areas and movements are most relevant to your developing graphic design practice.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Manipulate sequential images, panels, page-layout, captions, direct speech, and sound effects to create a longer comic / graphic novel.
• Research, develop and realise a longer comic / graphic novel in response to a brief.
• Use tutor and peer feedback to evolve and improve your work.
• Discuss the different applications of graphic design and the key movements and styles.
• Identify which of the applications and movements are most relevant to your developing graphic design practice.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for intermediate learners, e.g. those who have completed an introductory course in Comics and Graphic Novels, or have equivalent knowledge and experience.
English-language competency is required: you should be able to follow verbal and written instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. You may need to take short written notes for your own use and take part in group discussions.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
- Presentations
- Demonstrations
- Practical work
- Individual and group tutoring
- Group discussion
Additional/extension activities may be set for you to complete at home or outside of the course hours. Completion of additional tasks is encouraged to help you get the most out of the course. Where required your tutor will discuss these with you.
This course is supported by Google Classroom as a Virtual Learning Environment. When you log on you will be able to access course material, presentations, and handouts etc. and may be asked to complete learner progress records. You can find help via the student help centre on the City Lit website.
Please note it is important that you sign up and log in to your course Google classroom prior to the first session. Joining detail will be sent to you via email (check your junk/spam folder).
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
At City Lit, access to basic materials and resources are available as part of this course. We advise you to bring a A5/A4 sketchbook for the recording of ideas and an A3 folder and/or a USB drive, to transport work to and from City Lit. Additional materials required as part of the course will be discussed by your tutor if required.
Need art supplies? Our partner London Graphic Centre has everything you need from pencils to printing services, at 15% off.
To get 15% LGC discount, you will need to show proof/ confirmation of enrolment and being a student at City Lit. You can apply in-store or by simply emailing info@londongraphics.co.uk with a scan or photo of relevant confirmation. Student discount does not apply to products that are already discounted or on offer. More information can be found here- https://www.londongraphics.co.uk/student-discounts.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
We recommend looking at the Visual Communication category of our website, to see our full range of courses and specialist workshops within graphic design, illustration, children’s book illustration and graphic novels.¿
Also, you may wish to consider applying to one of our Advanced Programmes in Media and Communications, or a related subject. https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/art-and-design/advanced-practice.
Steve Marchant has taught comic art skills to students of all ages for the last 30 years at sites including City Lit, City University, Birkbeck, The Hayward Gallery, Tate Britain, The Arvon Foundation, The Black Cultural Archive, and is the full-time learning coordinator/senior tutor at The Cartoon Museum – where he is also its comic art consultant. He regularly teaches at schools and libraries across the UK and has taught in Hungary and Latvia for the British Council. Steve has produced numerous educational comics and cartoons for clients including the BBC’s ‘Bitesize’ website, the Learning Trust, Kingston Travel Awareness Unit, Lewisham Youth Service, the Who Cares? Trust, and Africaid, presenting topical information in a fun, accessible format. Other clients have included British Airways, Intel, Kogan Page, ITV, and South London Theatre. Steve is the author/illustrator of two books: The Cartoonist’s Workshop and The Computer Cartoon Kit. His personal work appears in the award-winning online comic Aces Weekly. https://stevemarchantblog.wordpress.com/2016/03/10/the-mighty-world-of-marchant/ www.acesweekly.com Facebook: Comic Creators Project at the Cartoon Museum
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.