Summer School / Comic Creation

Are you a student or visual artist looking for a way to get into comic creation? In this three-week summer school, you learn how to juggle drawings, letters, layout, storytelling and all the other elements that a comic consists of.

Example of comic creation Example of comic creation

Artist: Clara Alegria Kuntz

The Animation Workshop The Animation Workshop

Student life Student life

Type and duration

Summer School, 3 weeks

Study start and city

5-23 August 2024, Viborg

Course fee

EU-citizens: DKK 10.500 (approx. EUR 1.400), Non-EU citizens: DKK 18.600 (approx. EUR 2.495)

Application deadline

1 May, 2024

ECTS

10

What you will learn

Comics is a complex form of expression using several different features on every single page. Understanding all the tools applied in this medium is decisive to clearly communicate stories or messages in comic form.

The objective of this programme element is for students to become familiar with all the processes involved in creating comics – idea generation, manuscript writing, thumbnailing, layout, sketching, preparing working drawings, finishing, lettering, etc. as well as with all the elements that comics consist of (drawings, pictures, transitions, page layout, etc.) and how to combine all the elements in an optimal way.

The course corresponds to the module “Comic Tools”, which relates to the core area: Sequential Storytelling” of the bachelor in Graphic Storytelling at The Animation Workshop. At the end of the course, there will be a graded exam, based on the topic of the course.

In general, the course is very practical and hands-on. The content of the programme element is executed through a series of exercises training your ability to create comics, consciously using the entire comics creator’s toolbox to make your visual storytelling as interesting as possible and with an ability to plan and structure your process. Combined with lectures and constructive feedback, the exercises are aimed at pushing each student to reach as high a skill level in comic creation as possible.

Daily programme

  • 9-12: Class time
  • 12-13: Lunch break
  • 13-16: Class time

As part of VIA’s summer school programme, additional activities are organised after school hours such as trips or social activities. In addition, the workload of the course is relatively high, so extra work on assignments outside of course hours is to be expected.

Open Education

The summer school in Comic Creation is an Open Education programme, part of the Bachelor in Graphic Storytelling at The Animation Workshop, VIA University College (TAW). Open Education is a wide range of educational programmes in Denmark offered to adults who wish to undergo further training. It is open to anybody who has successfully passed our admission criteria.

 

Ready to apply?

Who can apply?

The course is for students and others, primarily but not exclusively with a visual art background, who would like to add comic creation to their skillset. Applicants must have good drawing and visual storytelling skills.

How to apply?

In order to apply, you need to upload a CV, a motivational letter and a portfolio to our application system. We would like to see your best work in the categories of sequential storytelling, illustration and life drawing. There are no specifications as to how much you should submit in each category. 

We would also like to know about your education and work  experience, both in visual art and other fields. Please mention these in your CV and upload relevant diplomas/certificates.

Apply here!

Please click this link to the application form, where you can also upload your material
Apply here

After the deadline

We will review the applications shortly after the application deadline and within a few days you will receive the result of your application on an e-mail. Please be aware that mails from VIA might land in your spam folder.

Need more information?

  • The Animation Workshop/VIA University College (TAW) reserves the right to cancel the course should there not be enough participants.

    Please note that you will be asked to pay the fee upfront before the course starts.

    Unfortunately, we cannot offer scholarships.

    Course materials:

    Course materials are not part of the fee, so all students are required to bring a computer and a drawing tablet/Cintiq or an iPad or similar device for digital drawing and the necessary analogue drawing materials such as pencils and paper and colours etc. if needed. It is possible to work entirely digitally or with entirely analogue drawing materials, depending on the preference of each student. On campus there is a tiny shop that sells basic things like pencils and paper, but they only have very few items.

  • The course is designed for physically present participants, and we strongly encourage physical presence, since physically present participants will get more out of the course. However, participants who are unable to attend physically may participate online, if they are aware of the fact that the course was not designed as an online course. The teacher will strive to include online participants as much as possible in both lectures and assignments, but the online experience will not be quite the same as the experience of taking the course physically.

  • Housing is not included in the course fee, but here are some suggestions for how and where to find accommodation:

    The student dorm Camp Logos 

    For the duration of the course, one option is to rent a room in the nearby student dorm “Camp Logos”, which is run by the company “Boligselskabet Sct. Jørgen”. They offer various types of rooms furnished with a bed, a table and a chair. You can choose to purchase a duvet and pillow through VIA, so you will only need to bring bed sheets, towels and kitchen utensils. Also, you will need to clean your room very thoroughly before leaving. All tenants are, for hygienic reasons, advised to buy a top mattress (300 DKK / 40 EUR). If you have any questions in relation to housing during your course, please contact taw.housing@via.dk 

    Please note: It is only possible to rent a room for minimum 1 month.

    One-room flat with private kitchen, bath and toilet: 505 EUR (3.760 DKK)

    Single room in a flat shared with one other student (shared kitchen, bath and toilet): 430 EUR (3.200 DKK)

    Please apply for housing at Camp Logos by sending a mail to: taw.housing@via.dk

    Facebook group

    In the Facebook group “Animation Workshop Housing Forum” you can get in contact with other students who might have a free room in their flat for the duration of the course.

    Bed and Breakfast, camping etc.

    Here is a list of other affordable short-term housing options in Viborg:

    Klosterpensionen

    Oasen

    Lisely

    Danhostel Viborg

Contact

Maria Skov Pedersen

  • Maria Skov Pedersen

  • Coordinator and Lecturer at the Talent and Skills Department
  • T: +45 87 55 49 44