Things to do · Arts and crafts
Learn to draw comics
A friend has invited you to do this with them.
Comics are a craft of their own, with panels, page layout, speech bubbles and timing doing as much of the storytelling as the drawing. A beginners' course takes you from a first character to a finished short comic or minicomic you can print and share.
Gentle£100 to £500 / $130 to $650A few weeksIndoorsAlone or with othersUK and US
What you learn
Beginners' courses teach how comics tell a story, not just how to draw. City Lit's Introduction to graphic novels covers sequencing, panels, page layout, captions, speech and sound effects, then has you research and produce a short comic from a brief. Brighton MET's 12-week course for adults takes you from script to a finished mini-comic.
Many courses end with something printed. At the School of Visual Arts, Cartooning Basics students make a self-published minicomic, and on the Center for Cartoon Studies' Create Comics week the group self-publishes an anthology.
Ways in compared
| Where | Format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| Center for Cartoon Studies (online) | One-Week Cartooning Workout: self-directed, eight short lessons, about 10 to 20 hours in all | Free |
| City Lit, London | Introduction to graphic novels: eight Monday evenings, 6pm to 9pm (from February 2027); suitable for beginners | £399, or £319 senior and £259 concession |
| Chelsea College of Arts (UAL), London | Graphic Novels and Comic Book Art short course, in person (April and June 2027 starts); includes digital colouring in Photoshop | From £810 |
| School of Visual Arts, New York | Cartooning Basics continuing education course, on campus (June to August 2025 run); inking, panels, comic strips, a minicomic | $550 |
| Center for Cartoon Studies, White River Junction, Vermont | Create Comics: five days, 10am to 5pm (2025 run); beginner and intermediate, age 16 and over; supplies provided | $1,100 |
Chelsea's short course asks you to bring two or three examples of previous work. City Lit asks for an A5 or A4 sketchbook and an A3 folder or USB drive, and basic materials are provided.
How to start
- Try the Center for Cartoon Studies' free One-Week Cartooning Workout online to see whether you enjoy it.
- Then look for a beginners' comics or graphic novel course: an adult education college, an art school short course or a cartooning school workshop.
- Bring a sketchbook, pencils, an eraser and drawing pens; courses usually tell you if you need anything else.
Where to go
- City Lit: Introduction to graphic novels (London) UK
- Center for Cartoon Studies: free One-Week Cartooning Workout (online)
- School of Visual Arts continuing education: Cartooning Basics (New York) US
We opened these links on 12 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
Two ways to plan it.
Plan it yourself Free
The links you need to book it, get there, find somewhere to stay and eat, and see what else there is to do nearby. They are searches for you to run; nothing is saved.
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Plan it with dates
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
Can I learn to draw comics as a complete beginner?
Yes. City Lit's Introduction to graphic novels is suitable for beginners, and the Center for Cartoon Studies' Create Comics workshop is for beginner and intermediate students.
What do I need for a comics drawing class?
Usually a sketchbook, pencils, an eraser, a sharpener, a ruler and drawing pens. Brighton MET's course lists exactly these and gives out a fuller materials list at the start.
Is there a free online comics course?
The Center for Cartoon Studies runs a free, self-directed One-Week Cartooning Workout online, with eight lessons that take about 10 to 20 hours in all.
Do comics courses teach digital drawing?
Some do. City Lit's course includes basic Adobe Creative Cloud software, and Chelsea College of Arts' short course covers digital colouring in Photoshop.
Where this comes from: City Lit, Introduction to graphic novels; Brighton MET, Making comics for beginners; Chelsea College of Arts (UAL), Graphic Novels and Comic Book Art short course; School of Visual Arts, Cartooning Basics; Center for Cartoon Studies, One-Week Cartooning Workout; Center for Cartoon Studies, Create Comics. Opened 12 November 2026.
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