Writing a Wordless Graphic

Novel
A 7th grade exploration in illustrative
storytelling
 Objectives
Students will be able to recognize how illustrators
tell stories through artwork
Students will be able to recognize particular
artists and their work
Students will be able to write their own story or
retell a fairytale or fable through their own
Students will be able to develop their own
cartoon style
Students will be able to draw sequential art that
forms a story without using words
 Panel
PANEL: A distinct segment of the comic,
containing a combination of image and text in
endless variety. Panels offer a different
experience than simply reading text:
The spatial arrangement allows an immediate
justaposition of the present and the past
Unlike other visual media, transitions are
instantaneous and direct but the exact timing of
the readers experience is determined by focus
and reading speed.
 How do you
read this?
 Frame
The Lines and boarders that contain the panel

In the previous comic, what did the author do

to the frame?
Words can be caught in frames, too!
 Gutter
The space in between framed panel
How can you use frames and gutters?
Bleed
An image that extends
beyond the edge of
the page
 Layout of the panel: three-plane
Foreground: closest to the viewer
Middleground: Allows centering of image by
using natural resting place for vision. The artist
deliberately decided to place the image where a
view would be most likely to look first. Placing the
image off-center or near the top can be used to
create visual tension but using the midground
permits the artist to create a more readily
accepted image
Background: Provides additional, subtextual
information for the reader.
 Graphic Weight
A term that describes the way some images
draw the eye more than others, creating a
definite focus using color and shading in
various ways including:
The use of light and dark shades; dark-tones
images or high contrast images draw the eye more
than light or low contrast images do
A pattern or repeated series of marks
Colors that are more brilliant than others on the
page.
 Reading a page without dialogue
Look at the graphic novel pages and answer
the questions.
Try to draw a third page for this comic. It does
not have to have details (stick figure with a
hat is a good substitute for our protagonist).
Do not share it with others or work together-
you will be comparing what you think happens
next.
 3rd page
Is this how you
imagined it? If not
exactly, is it pretty
close?
How can ACTIONS and
drawing our attention
to something give us
clues (foreshadow)
about what will happen
next?
 How will YOU make a graphic
novel/comic?
1. Come up with a short story idea.
1. Use a fairy tale or fable
2. Think of something that happened from your life
3. Come up with something entirely new!
4. Do NOT copy a copyrighted character! They
should be YOURS and you will have to come up
with your own character designs!
5. Think SIMPLE- you only have 3 to 6 pages to
convey it!
 Sketch out your character design
Who is your main character(s)? What makes
them distinct?
Think about their personality while designing
Make it SIMPLE- start with a basic shape
Draw them over and over again- see if you can
duplicate the same character. If you cant, make it
even more simple.
 Character design
Distinct
features
Easily
replicated
expressive
 Layout
How will you
layout the
panels? How
will you help
your reader
follow the
story?
 RULES
3-6 pages long
Demonstrate you understand the 3 planes
(foreground, midground, background)
Must break the panel or use a bleed
technique somewhere in the layout
Must be your own story or a retelling of a
fable, NOT a fan comic
Can be colored or black and white, but must
have contrast!
Final pages will be on 9x12 drawing paper
 Timeline:
Week 1: Ideation
Take notes, research, get ideas
Once youve decided on a story, fill out your story
plan
Draw 5 designs for your main character in your
sketchbook you can change them drastically or
just change little things
Take 2 to 3 computer papers and fold them
hamburger style- this will be your layout plan
 Timeline
Week 2: Rough Draft and Outlining
Complete your rough draft layout
Begin drawing out your pages in pencil on final
paper remember to draw as lightly as possible!
*if you plan on using watercolor, use w.c. paper!
IF you will be coloring it, you will need to go a little
faster! Your goal will be to finish pencil outlines
and go back in with a fine line pen.
GOAL: be completely finished sketching out layout
on your final pages
 Timeline week 3
DEMO: ink techniques for contrast
Use rulers and sharpies to create neat frames
and paneling
Use ink techniques to add contrast OR begin
coloring with markers or watercolors

GOAL: be way done with all your pages!

 Week 4
Finish all work by Wednesday
If you are completed before everyone else
- help create a weebly webpage to host stories
- help create a cover page redrawing
everyones main characters on the front
- scan in a page and try coloring it in on pixlr
 References
http://areyoutryingtodeduceme.tumblr.com/p
ost/31737806966/three-plane-compositions