Create Your Own Character: A Journey into Character Design & Storytelling

DRAWING

Create Your Own Character: A Journey into Character Design & Storytelling

Name: Create Your Own Character: A Journey into Character Design & Storytelling
Brand: Tanisha Dutta
Price: 425.0 CAD
Availability: InStock

Design an original character from scratch and bring them to life through expressive drawing and visual storytelling. Across four hands-on classes, you’ll use simple shapes, poses, facial expressions and creative prompts to develop a distinct character, then explore comic layouts, panel composition and speech bubbles to tell their story. By the end, you’ll complete a character sheet and a finished one-page comic featuring your own original creation.

All Materials Included

Drawing paper, pencils, erasers, inking tools and coloured pencils are provided.

ART HUB

Hands-on classes at the Urban Art Collective Art Hub.

Small Class Size

6 minimum · 12 maximum

SKILL LEVEL

No Experience Needed

COURSE RUNDOWN

Class 1: Meet Your Character

Explore how simple shapes can communicate personality through drawing games, creative prompts and examples from animation and comics. Develop your first character concept and begin turning a basic idea into a memorable original character.

Class 2: Bring Your Character To Life

Work with facial expressions, body language, poses and gestures to make your character more expressive. Experiment with expression challenges, gesture drawing and props, then develop a multi-view character turnaround.

Class 3: Tell A Story Through Pictures

Explore the fundamentals of visual storytelling, comic layouts, panel composition and speech bubbles. Practise guiding the reader’s eye through quick storytelling exercises, then storyboard your final one-page comic.

Class 4: Create Your Comic

Bring everything together by drawing, inking and lettering a finished one-page comic featuring your original character. Refine composition, pacing and finishing details with hands-on guidance, then wrap up by sharing the finished work with the group.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

By The End Of This Course, You Will:

Design an original character from scratch.
Understand how simple shapes can communicate different personalities.
Use facial expressions, body language and poses to make characters more expressive.
Understand the basics of comic layouts, panel composition and visual storytelling.
Plan and complete a finished one-page comic featuring your original character.
Build greater confidence in drawing, character design and visual storytelling.

YOUR INSTRUCTOR

Tanisha Dutta

Tanisha Dutta is a visual artist and educator who believes art gets more interesting when we bring our own stories, cultures and experiences into the process. You could say every piece has a bit more to draw from.

VIEW FULL BIO →

Folder or Portfolio: Bring something to keep your drawings safe and organized between classes.

Have a question about the course or need to discuss accessibility or accommodations before class? Contact us at learn@urbanartcollective.ca.

Parking is available at 1088 Somerset St W at the UAC Art Gallery, as well as at 50 Bayswater Ave. The parking area at 50 Bayswater is accessed from Somerset St W, not from Bayswater Avenue.

Cancellation Policy

14+ days before the first class: Full refund to your original payment method.
7–13 days before: Full-value UAC LAB credit.
Less than 7 days before: No refund or credit.

Registrations can be transferred to another person at no charge before the class begins. Missed classes or sessions are not eligible for refunds, credits or individual make-up classes.

If UAC LAB cancels a class, you can choose a full refund or full-value UAC LAB credit. If we reschedule and the new date does not work for you, you may also request a refund or credit.

UAC LAB Class Registration, Cancellation & Refund Policy