Genre, Line, Character, Prop
3 pages • Assigned story prompts • 10-15 hours
Overview
Draw, letter, and ink three pages of comics continuity combining a genre with a required line, character, and prop. Partially inspired by the
Why this assignment exists
For working adults: Real editorial work often arrives with constraints you didn't choose — a genre, a character, a deadline. This assignment trains you to work creatively inside a box, the way professional comic artists do every single issue.
For portfolio builders: Constraints are a gift. When the genre, character, and prop are given to you, the energy goes into storytelling and execution — exactly the skills editors want to see in a portfolio sample.
What you'll learn
- Working creatively within assigned constraints
- Integrating required story elements without forcing them
- Balancing dialogue-heavy scripts with visual storytelling
- Planning word balloon placement during thumbnail stage
- Maintaining reader flow across three pages
- Full pipeline from thumbnails through production
Workflow
Phase 1: Visual research and thumbnails
This is the fun conceptual phase. Feel free to support your vision with research or work straight from the top of your head.
- Review this year's prompts
- Research genre conventions as needed
- Develop story concept
- Rough out panel breakdowns
- Thumbnail all three pages
- Get instructor sign-off before proceeding
Phase 2: Pencil art and lettering
The story is deliberately wordy to focus on overall storytelling while considering word balloon placement and reader flow.
- Transfer thumbnails to Bristol board
- Pencil all figures and backgrounds
- Place and letter word balloons digitally
- Check balloon placement and reader flow
- Get instructor sign-off before proceeding
Phase 3: Inking
Upon instructor feedback and sign-off, proceed to getting your final art ready for production!
- Ink all figures and backgrounds
- Ink borders and panel gutters
- Clean up and erase pencil lines
- Get instructor sign-off before proceeding
Phase 4: Production
Upon instructor feedback and sign-off, proceed to format your pages per these Photoshop production instructions.
- Scan all pages at correct resolution
- Follow Photoshop production instructions
- Export final files in required format
- Get instructor sign-off before proceeding
Phase 5: Instructor sign-off
You're done!
- Submit final files for review
- Address any final feedback
- Receive instructor sign-off
Requirements
- Minimum page count: 3
- Art dimensions: 9 x 14.5 inches
- Lettering: Digital
- Ames guide: RATIO
Common challenges
- Forcing the prompts: Required elements should feel organic to the story, not dropped in as an afterthought.
- Balloon placement: Plan word balloon positions during thumbnails — retrofitting them into finished pencils causes layout problems.
- Page count creep: Three pages is a tight constraint. Establish story economy early in the thumbnail phase.
Related resources
- This year's prompts
- Genre: Horror Comedy
- Line: "Mom, the house is on fire."
- Character: Knuckles McPherson: Professional Isolationist
- Prop: Stat camera
- Next assignments
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- Artist Presentation
- Research and present a creator's work
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- Full Script
- 3 pages drawn from a provided script