Drawing & Painting
Fundamentals for Developing Comic Book Characters
Learn how to develop dynamic and complex designs for your characters in visual media.
Member$220.00 (any noted materials fee included) |
Guest$272.00 (any noted materials fee included) |
Tuition Assistance and Other Policies
Meeting Times
- Wed, 6/11/2025 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
- Wed, 6/18/2025 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
- Wed, 7/2/2025 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
- Wed, 7/9/2025 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
- Wed, 7/16/2025 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
- Wed, 7/23/2025 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Wed, 6/11/2025 - Wed, 7/23/2025
About
Have a story with characters you want to bring to life? Learn how to develop designs for your characters whether you're working in comics, graphic novels, animation, or concept art for live-action film or television.
Over the course of six weeks, you'll learn everything regarding character development and design from shape language to costume design. You'll gain tools to help develop relatable, authentic, and complex visual characters that will resonate with your audiences.
Each session will have a lecture component, class activities, and options for homework. Homework is ALWAYS optional, but highly encouraged to get the most out of the class. There will sometimes be multiple homework activities to choose from (doing all of it is not expected).
We'll review work from homework assignments that people want to share or discuss. Sharing is optional.
Details
- Some experience with drawing and sketching in general is helpful. We'll cover very basic figure drawing in some of the sessions.
- Session 1: Introduction and "what makes a good character?"
- Session 2: Shapes and visual character design basics.
- Session 3: Cartooning the face.
- Session 4: Costuming.
- Session 5: Pose, action, and movements.
- Session 6: Community showcase event: Bring your friends and family to enjoy all of the hard work you put into this course as well as snacks and refreshments. This is a celebration of the work you’ve created and all students are welcome to showcase anything they created during the course, with an emphasis on the final projects.
Project
Materials
- A $10 materials fee, included in the cost of the class, covers the celebration event, and additional paper and drawing supplies the instructor will provide for those who need them.
- You should bring something to draw on, and with, such as loose-leaf paper, sketchbook, iPad or journal, along with graphite pencils, charcoal, colored pencils, markers, or stylus.
Class Policies
BARN Policies
- View BARN's Cancellation and Refund Policy.
- Tuition Assistance is available. Fill out the application before registering.
- BARN is committed to accessibility. We try to make accommodations when requested; the earlier you contact us, the more likely we can help. Fill out the Accommodation Request Form before any class for which you require an accommodation. Email accessibility@bainbridgebarn.org if you have any questions.
- Sensory Statement: Makerspaces like BARN can be noisy and cluttered, smell strongly, and have bright or flickering lights. BARN is not an allergen-free facility. If you have concerns, please email info@bainbridgebarn.org.
Instructors or Guides
JP Powell
JP earned a bachelor's degree in animation from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, with a focus in pre-production design, production management, and 2D animation production. The first official screening of their thesis, the animated short film Afternoon Snack, was at the Bainbridge Island Film Festival in November 2024. It continued its festival run at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in February 2025.
JP is a multi-disabled, autistic, and openly queer artist dedicated to creating safe and accessible spaces within the art industry. Throughout their time in university, JP developed an accessibility branch and code of conduct as president of the Student Animation Organization, completed an in-depth study of autism representation in film and television, and was a contract research specialist to help an arts organization revise curriculum for autistic adults. In 2023, they worked as a teaching artist and intern for Fringe Benefits Theatre and taught workshops on art therapy strategies for college art students. They’ve also worked with a domestic violence shelter in Orange County, Calif., to help teens process dating and domestic violence through film-making projects and community talks from 2017-2019.
JP centers their teaching around fostering environments where artists feel safe to create with rich authenticity and challenge the status quo while developing their crafts and passions.
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