DRAWING

Storytelling Through Drawing

Name: Storytelling Through Drawing
Brand: Emily Steckly
Price: 675.0 CAD
Availability: InStock

Learn how to turn a written idea into a clear, cinematic storyboard by working with composition, camera placement, acting and visual sequencing. Across eight hands-on classes, you’ll develop a short script, map scenes, explore blocking and the 180-degree rule, experiment with shot selection and thumbnailing, and use gesture and staging to communicate character and emotion. The focus is on clear visual storytelling rather than polished drawing, and you’ll finish with a complete storyboard sequence that takes your idea from script to screen-ready visual plan.

All Materials Included

Bring a sketchbook and your preferred drawing tools, whether pencils, fineliners or a digital drawing setup.

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

Week 1: Building The Story

Develop your characters, identify the core theme and explore narrative structures such as the Story Circle. Learn the fundamentals of short-form scriptwriting and begin shaping a two-page script that will become the foundation of your storyboard.

Week 2: Directing The Scene

Plan the physical geography of your scene before choosing individual shots. Explore blocking, staging and the 180-degree rule while mapping how characters move, interact and relate to the space around them.

Week 3: Thinking In Pictures

Use fast thumbnail sketches to explore visual ideas without getting caught up in polished drawing. Analyze scenes from film and animation to understand how framing, composition and shot choices communicate story.

Week 4: Building Visual Sequences

Explore how one shot leads into the next and how visual sequencing can create tension, reveal information and keep an audience engaged. Begin thumbnailing your storyboard in sequence while focusing on clarity and continuity.

Week 5: Choosing The Right Camera Shot

Work with establishing shots, medium shots, close-ups and different camera angles to control what the audience sees and how a moment feels. Review your boards and refine shot choices based on their narrative purpose.

Week 6: Strengthening Every Frame

Use background design, camera placement and environmental details to make each panel support the story. Refine composition and staging while making sure important information remains clear to the viewer.

Week 7: Acting On The Page

Explore gesture, body language, clear posing and staging to communicate character emotion and intention. Refine key moments in your storyboard so performances read clearly even without dialogue.

Week 8: Final Polish & Story Review

Bring your full sequence together and review it as a complete visual story. Identify weak or confusing shots, strengthen pacing and continuity, then present your finished storyboard sequence for collaborative feedback.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

By The End Of This Course, You Will:

Develop an original visual story from initial script to completed storyboard.
Use composition, staging and camera placement to guide an audience through a scene.
Understand the 180-degree rule, shot selection and visual continuity.
Create fast, effective thumbnails for exploring and communicating visual ideas.
Use gesture, posing and body language to strengthen character performance.
Build sequences in which each shot clearly connects to the next.
Communicate cinematic ideas through drawing without relying on highly polished artwork.
Leave with a completed storyboard sequence demonstrating your visual storytelling skills.

YOUR INSTRUCTOR

Emily Steckly

Emily Steckly is an animator, tattoo artist, educator and skateboarder who likes bold work, good stories and projects with a lot of momentum behind them.

VIEW FULL BIO →

Drawing Materials: Bring a sketchbook and whichever drawing tools you are most comfortable using, such as pencils, fineliners or a digital drawing tablet and laptop.
Notebook & Pen: Bring something for scriptwriting, notes and planning the geography of your scenes.

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