Comics I – Intro to Sequential Art by George Pratt

George Pratt, a veteran comic and fine artist, walks you through the nuts and bolts of sequential art in this 12-week course. Forget theory—this is about learning how to actually break down a story into panels, pages, and spreads. You’ll study layouts, camera angles, and the rhythm of a page, all while looking at how the masters did it.

🎯 What you’ll learn

• How to turn a written story into a visual narrative
• The principles of comic page layout and composition
• How to use reference and photo shoots for authentic storytelling
• Techniques for sketching to improve your visual vocabulary
• The fundamentals of cover art and panel readability

✅ Requirements

• Skills: Basic understanding of drawing and composition
• Tools: Sketchbook, pencils, and a 3-button mouse or drawing tablet
• Hardware: Minimum 8GB RAM for digital workflows

📝 Description

This isn’t a “how to draw” course—it’s a “how to think” course for comics. George Pratt focuses on the sequential art pipeline: from the first rough sketch to the final inked page. You’ll learn why a layout works, how to choose the right moment to illustrate, and how to use photo reference without copying it. The course dives into the vocabulary of comic pages—panels, spreads, camera angles, and tangents—and shows you how to control the reader’s eye.

George also covers the business side of things, sharing stories from his career working on iconic graphic novels. You’ll get a real look at how a professional thinks through a page, from concept to completion. The assignments are practical, pushing you to apply each week’s lesson directly to your own work.

🧑‍🎓 Who this course is for

• Intermediate artists who want to move from single illustrations to full-page storytelling
• Comic enthusiasts looking to understand the mechanics behind their favorite pages
• Illustrators who want to add sequential narrative skills to their toolkit

🧑‍🏫 About the Author

George Pratt is a renowned comic and fine artist with decades of industry experience. He has worked on iconic graphic novels and is known for his powerful, narrative-driven illustrations. His teaching style is direct and practical, drawing from real-world projects and a deep understanding of visual storytelling.

🏁 Final Result

• A portfolio of sequential art pages demonstrating your understanding of layout, composition, and narrative flow
• A completed comic page or spread that applies the principles of panel readability and storytelling