Every memorable story starts with a memorable character. Have you ever wondered how cartoonists, illustrators, and comic artists create characters that feel unique and full of personality? In this beginner-friendly four-class course, you will learn how to design your own original character from scratch and bring them to life through drawing and visual storytelling.

Using simple drawing techniques, fun creative prompts, and hands-on exercises, you will explore character design, facial expressions, body language, storytelling, and comic layouts. Along the way, you will discover how artists use basic shapes, poses, and emotions to make drawings feel alive.

Each class builds directly on the previous one, and by the end of the course, you will have created a complete character sheet and a finished one-page comic featuring your original character. No previous drawing experience is needed—just bring your curiosity and imagination.

Course Rundown

Format: 4-Class Creative Course

Class 1: Meet Your Character
Discover how simple shapes communicate personality. Through fun drawing games, character generator prompts, and inspiration from animation and comics, you will learn how artists turn simple ideas into memorable characters while drawing your first character sketch.

Class 2: Bringing Your Character to Life
Focus on facial expressions, body language, poses, and gestures. Through an expression challenge, gesture drawing, and prop design, you will learn how small changes in posture or eyebrow position transform your character, finishing with a complete multi-view character turnaround.

Class 3: Telling Stories Through Pictures
Explore the fundamentals of visual storytelling, page layout, and speech bubbles. You will learn how artists guide the reader's eye, practice wordless storytelling through quick creative prompts, and storyboard your final comic page.

Class 4: Create Your Comic
Bring everything together by drawing, inking, and lettering your complete one-page comic. You will receive hands-on guidance on composition, pacing, and finishing techniques, ending with a supportive group sharing session to celebrate everyone's creative work.

By The End Of This Course, You Will:

1. Design your own original character from scratch.
2. Understand how fundamental shapes create distinct character personalities.
3. Draw expressive facial expressions, body language, and poses.
4. Master comic page layouts, panel composition, and visual narrative flow.
5. Plan and complete a finished one-page comic featuring your original character.
6. Develop creative confidence through hands-on drawing and visual storytelling.

Materials Required

• Paper: A sketchbook or drawing paper (A4 or A3 size).
• Pencils & Erasers: Standard HB pencil and eraser.
• Inking Tools: Black fineliner, brush pen, or marker.
• Colouring: A set of coloured pencils.
• Storage: A folder or portfolio to keep your drawings safe between classes.

Course Details

Dates: To be announced
Format: 4 weekly sessions
Location: Urban Art Collective Art Hub, 50 Bayswater Avenue, Ottawa
Instructor: Tanisha Dutta
Level: Beginner (No prior experience required)
Maximum Capacity: 12 students
Minimum Enrolment: 6 students required