Visual Storytelling through Comics and Graphic Novels

Students explore visual storytelling techniques, including: Story development, page layout, perspective, camera angles, dramatic lighting, lettering and advanced inking techniques. Both instructor and student artwork are combined in this gallery.

PLEASE NOTE: Instructors David Witt and Bill Hauser head our Visual Storytelling through Comic and Graphic Novels Classes. They are two of the Twin Cities most respected illustrator and have been associated with the school for many years. Before they took the helm, Becky Grutzik and Matt Wendt steered our Drawing Manga, Superheroes and Fantasy Figure Classes, with Marc Johnson and Sam Petersen assisting.

Instructors Mick Kaufer and Lilliah Campagna, who head our Character Design and Development Classes, have been Art Academy students since they were teenagers. When you view their work you are seeing how skills develop through our programs. The same is true of guest instructor Eliza Baker, who began taking classes with us at age 12. Ruby Thompson, whose student work completes this Gallery, also worked at our school. When other students are showcased their ages are always listed.

From Concept to Finish

Learn to tell engaging stories in words and pictures. Begin with a pencil drawing and finish in ink or color.

Rick Bernal, Illustrator, Robin Oink Concept Drawing, Pencil on Paper. This concept drawing was done by our dear friend Rick Bernal to illustrate key principals of character design and basic principles of composition for our school.

Rick Bernal, Illustrator, Robin Oink, This ballpoint ink drawing was done by our dear friend Rick Bernal to illustrate character design, composition, and inking for our school.

Rick Bernal, Illustrator, Dino and Bird Concept Drawing, Pencil on Paper. This concept drawing was done by our dear friend Rick Bernal to illustrate key principles of character interaction, composition, and lighting for our school.

Rick Bernal, Illustrator, Dino and Bird. This ballpoint ink drawing was done by our dear friend Rick Bernal to illustrate key principals of character interaction, composition, and lighting for our school.

Marc Johnson-Pencook, Guest Instructor, "They exited to a vast apartment.", Double Page Book Illustration Concept Art Illustration to The Ant Who Did The Impossible, Pencil on Parchment Tracing Paper

Marc Johnson-Pencook, Guest Instructor, "They exited to a vast apartment.", Double Page Book Final Illustration to The Ant Who Did The Impossible, Pen & Ink on Board

Bill Hauser, Instructor, Wraparound Robot LP/CD Concept Art, Pencil on Paper

Bill Hauser, Instructor, Wraparound Robot LP/CD Cover, Ink and Photoshop

Bill Hauser, Instructor, PURE MIND T-Shirt Concept Art, Pencil on Paper

Bill Hauser, Instructor, PURE MIND T-Shirt Design, Ink and Photoshop

Bill Hauser, Instructor, SEISMA Front CD Cover, Ink and Photoshop

Bill Hauser, Instructor, BANE T-Shirt Concept Art, Pencil on Paper

Bill Hauser, Instructor, BANE T-shirt Design, Ink and Photoshop

Bill Hauser, Instructor, Jack Ratts Concept Art, Pencil on Paper

Bill Hauser, Instructor, Jack Ratts Album Cover, Ink and Photoshop

Bill Hauser, Instructor, LP.CD Concept Art, Pencil on Paper

Bill Hauser, Instructor, LP/CD Cover, Ink and Photoshop

Bill Hauser, Instructor, AIRAX CD Concept Art, Pencil on Paper

Bill Hauser, Instructor, AIRAX CD Cover, Ink and Photoshop

Concept Drawing in Pencil

First creative ideas are documented in pencil, non-photo blue pencil, or red pencil.

Sara Guneratne, Age 13, Pencil Sketchbook Character and Costume Concept Drawing

Sara Guneratne, Age 13, Red Pencil Sketchbook Character and Costume Concept Drawing, finished in Graphite

Sara Guneratne, Age 13, Red Pencil Sketchbook Character and Costume Concept Drawing

Matt Wendt, Guest Instructor, Franken-Hipsters, Pencil Study on Paper

Matt Wendt, Guest Instructor, "Beet?", Pencil Study on Paper

Matt Wendt, Guest Instructor, Chinny Chin Chin, Pencil Study on Paper

Matt Wendt, Guest Instructor, Two Bunnies, Pencil Study on Paper

Bill Hauser, Instructor, SANDWICH #16 Cover Design, Pencil on Paper

Bill Hauser, Instructor, SANDWICH #20 Cover Design, Pencil on Paper

Bill Hauser, Instructor, SANDWICH #17 Cover Design, Pencil on Paper

Bill Hauser, Instructor, SANDWICH #19 Cover Design, Pencil on Paper

Pen & Ink & Brush

It is important that comic-book and graphic novel artists develop pen, ink, and brush skills to create dynamic finished artwork.

David Witt, Instructor, SANDWICH #1 Zine Cover, Pen & Ink & Brush on Paper

David Witt, Instructor, SANDWICH Comic Strip – Part 1, Pen & Ink & Brush on Paper

David Witt, Instructor, SANDWICH Comic Strip – Part 2, Pen & Ink & Brush on Paper

David Witt, Instructor, SANDWICH #4 Zine Cover, Pen & Ink & Brush on Paper

David Witt, Instructor, Comic Strip Page, Pen & Ink & Brush on Paper

Becky Grutzik, Guest Instructor, Batgirl, Pen & Ink on Paper

Matt Wendt, Guest Instructor, Baby Ninjas Comic Strip Page, Pen & Ink on Paper

Matt Wendt, Guest Instructor, PEEP! Comic Strip Page, Pen & Ink on Paper

State Fair Winner! Mason Mongiat, Age 9, Pen & Ink Paper

Marc Johnson-Pencook, Guest Instructor, "A ship docks in the harbor, ready to set sail…", Illustration to The Ant Who Did The Impossible, Pen & Ink on Board

Becky Grutzik, Guest Instructor, Comic Strip Page, Pen & Ink on Paper

Matt Wendt, Guest Instructor, PEEP! Boom Box Comic Strip Page, Pen & Ink on Paper

David Witt, Instructor, Birdolith Daily Comic Strip Page, Pen & Ink & Brush on Paper

David Witt, Instructor, Carrot Comic Strip – Part 1, Pen & Ink & Brush on Paper

David Witt, Instructor, Carrot Comic Strip – Part 2, Pen & Ink and Brush on Paper

David Witt, Instructor, Morning Coffee Daily Comic Strip Page, Pen & Ink & Brush on Paper

David Witt, Instructor, Guitar Hero II Main Menu, Pen & Ink & Brush on Paper

David Witt, Instructor, Newton's Apple? Comic Strip – Part 1, Pen & Ink & Brush on Paper

David Witt, Instructor, Newton's Apple Comic Strip – Part 2, Pen & Ink & Brush on Paper

David Witt, Instructor, Guitar Hero II Career Difficulty Menu, Pen & Ink & Brush on Paper

Marc Johnson-Pencook, Guest Instructor, Skeleton Dance, Pen & Ink on Board

David Witt, Instructor, Famous Last Words – George Harrison, Pen & Ink & Brush on Paper

David Witt, Instructor, Famous Last Words – Sigmund Freud, Pen & Ink & Brush on Paper

Marc Johnson-Pencook, Guest Instructor, "It was a Wolf Spider!", Illustration to The Ant Who Did The Impossible, Pen & Ink on Board

Adding Color

More advanced students are encouraged to add color to their projects.

Sam Petersen, Guest Instructor, Nameless Jumping Gayly, Digital Painting

David Witt, Instructor, Mutant Scorpion, Screenprint

David Witt, Instructor, Halloween, Screenprint

David Witt, Instructor, Coffee Makes Life Livable!, Screenprint

Sam Petersen, Guest Instructor, Nameless Swinging On, Digital Painting

David Witt, Instructor, The Blues, Acrylic Painting

David Witt, Instructor, Jumping Unifish and Friends, Screenprint

Tim Jennen, Guest Instructor, Inflated Ego Self-portrait, Digital Painting

Becky Grutzik, Guest Instructor, Manga Mysteries – The Runaway Puppy, Book Cover

Matt Wendt, Guest Instructor, Twisted Journeys – Escape from Pyramid X, Book Cover

Becky Grutzik, Guest Instructor, Moot, Comic Book Cover

Matt Wendt, Guest Instructor, Twisted Journeys – Escape Alien Incident on Planet J, Book Cover

Becky Grutzik, Guest Instructor, Reluctant Heroes, Digital Painting

Becky Grutzik, Guest Instructor, Manga Mysteries – The Runaway Puppy Comicbook Page, Digital Art

Matt Wendt, Guest Instructor, Twisted Journeys – Escape from Pyramid X Comicbook Page, Digital Art

Matt Wendt, Guest Instructor, KZZOTT!!, Digital Art

Matt Wendt, Guest Instructor, Twisted Journey – Escape Alien Incident on Planet J Comicbook Page, Digital Art

Matt Wendt, Guest Instructor, Twisted Journeys – Escape Alien Incident on Planet J Comicbook Page, Digital Art

Matt Wendt, Guest Instructor, "But wait a second … is that … ?", Digital Art

Bill Hauser, Instructor, Trench Warfare CD Cover, Ink and Photoshop

Bill Hauser, Instructor, PHD Thesis Book Cover, Ink and Photoshop

Bill Hauser, Instructor, War CD Cover, Ink and Photoshop

Matt Wendt, Guest Instructor, Magician, Digital Art

Bill Hauser, Instructor, CD Cover, Ink and Photoshop

David Witt, Instructor, Dogsled Run, Acrylic Painting

Bill Hauser, Instructor, Tyrannosaurus Nebulous LP/CD Cover, Ink and Photoshop

David Witt, Instructor, Famous Last Words – Edgar Allen Poe, Screenprint

Bill Hauser, Instructor, Open Wounds LP/CD Cover, Ink and Photoshop

Matt Wendt, Guest Instructor, Twisted Journey – Escape Alien Incident on Planet J Comicbook Page, Digital Art

Matt Wendt, Guest Instructor, BOOM!, Digital Art

Bill Hauser, Instructor, Tyrannosaurus Nebulous LP/CD Cover, Ink and Photoshop

Student Progress -Lilliah Campagna

Lilliah started taking classes with us at age thirteen. Lilliah typically took two classes per week to improve her skills – one was our Teen Fundamentals class and the other was our Drawing Manga, Superheroes and Fantasy Figure class. Her commitment really paid off. This series of pictures follows her development through her early twenties. Today, Lilliah is an important member of our teaching staff.

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Character Design, Age 13, Pencil on Paper

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Jumping Female Figure, Age 13, Pencil on Paper

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Early Inking Project, Age 14, Pen & Ink on Paper

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Me Versus Him – "One to the Jaw" Action Study, Age 14, Pen & Ink on Paper

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Character Design, Age 15, Pencil on Paper

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Character, Costume and Gesture Study, Age 15, Pencil on Paper

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Sucker's Luck, Age 16, Pen & Ink on Paper

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Night Magic – An Early Foray into Color, Age 17, Ink and Watercolor

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Color Character Design, Age 18, Digital Costume and Character Design

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Wordless Color panel 1, Age 18, Digital Graphic Novel Page

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Wordless Color Panel 2, Age 18, Digital Graphic Novel Page

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Tindlewick, Age 18, Digital Costume and Character Study

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Diagnosis, Age 19, Two Panel Digital Painting

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Storytelling Moment Inside a Yurt, Age 20, Digital Painting

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Assemblage of Heroes, Non-Photo Blueline Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Color Costume Design 1, Age 20, Digital Costume and Character Design

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Kivrin, Age 21, Digital Character Design Sheet

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Iron Matron, Age 21, Digital Black and White Illustration

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Goddess 2, Age 21, Digital Black and White Illustration

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Sendaya Neru, Age 21, Digital Character Design Sheet

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, 2-D Perspective Study, Age 22, Digital Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Color Costume Design, Age 22, Digital Costume and Character Design

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, S'en, Age 23, Digital Illustration

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Raezul Portrait, Digital Painting

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Color Comic Page, Digital Painting

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Character Doodle, Digital Redline Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Instructor, HeartCradle, Age 23, Digital Painting

Student Progress – Mick Kaufer

Mick began attending classes at The Art Academy when she was fifteen. She took two classes per week, investing a total of four weekly student hours to improve her skills. This sequence charts her development into her early twenties. Today, Mick is a vital member of our teaching staff.

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Character Study, Age 15, Pencil on Paper.

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Two Superheroes, Age 15, Pencil on Paper

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Outfit Design Lineup, Age 16, Black and White Digital Drawing

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, In The Woods, Age 16, Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Head Studies with Different Hair Style, Age 17, Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Beat Up and Battered, Age 17, Digital Portrait

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Wonder Woman, Age 18, Digital Character Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Valkyrie, Age 19, Digital Character Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Mads, Age 19, Digital Character Design Sheet

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, 18th Century Dandy, Age 19, Digital Character Design Sheet

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Cyborg Woman, Age 20, Digital Character Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Grey Warden, Age 20, Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Evil Ways, Digital Illustration

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Kill of the Night, Age 22, Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Oh, And Down We Go, Age 21, Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Mercy, Age 22, Digital Painting

Student Progress – Eliza Baker

Eliza, Lilliah Campagna's older sister, started taking classes with us at age twelve. Like Lilliah and Mick, Eliza also took two Art Academy classes per week. This sequence charts her development into her mid-twenties. Eliza has a great affection for Loki Laufeyjarson, the cunning trickster of Norse legend. You can see his impish mischievousness in Eliza's character designs. For years Eliza was on our teaching staff; now she is a Guest Instructor.

Eliza Baker, Guest Instructor, Visual Swearing, Age 12, Sketchbook drawing in Pencil

Eliza Baker, Guest Instructor, Character Design, Age 15, Digital Character Design

Eliza Baker, Guest Instructor, Luuk with a Cliff Racer, Age 16, Digital Painting

Eliza Baker, Guest Instructor, Broken Lappy, Age 17, Digital Painting

Eliza Baker, Guest Instructor, Tea Time, Age 18, Digital Character Design

Eliza Baker, Guest Instructor, Mr. Magick Character Design, Age 18, Pencil on Paper

Eliza Baker, Guest Instructor, Come Take a Drink, Age 19, Pencil on Paper

Eliza Baker, Guest Instructor, Kindred Spirits, Age 19, Watercolor

Eliza Baker, Guest Instructor, Zouch, Age 20, Digital Character Design

Eliza Baker, Guest Instructor, Gidget, Age 20, Digital Costume Design

Eliza Baker, Guest Instructor, Rockasaurus, Age 20, Digital Character Study

Eliza Baker, Guest Instructor, Blue Mage, Age 20, Digital Character Design

Eliza Baker, Guest Instructor, Renfest Costume Design, Age 20, Digital Self-Portrait

Eliza Baker, Guest Instructor, Jargo and the Pheonix, Age 21, Digital Painting

Eliza Baker, Guest Instructor, Arinel, Age 21, Digital Painting

Eliza Baker, Guest Instructor, The Mad Muse, Age 21, Digital Painting

Eliza Baker, Guest Instructor, The World Serpent, Age 22, Digital Painting

Eliza Baker, Guest Instructor, Dirtmen, Age 23, Digital Painting

Eliza Baker, Guest Instructor, Femme Ragman, Age 24, Digital Painting

Student Progress – Ruby Thompson's 'Til Death

Ruby Thompson began taking classes at The Art Academy when she was nine years old. When she turned seventeen Ruby decided to take all that she had learned at our school and create her first graphic novel, which she self-published at age eighteen. 'Til Death tells the story of four folk tales from around the world. Each story is told in a distinctive visual style that pays tribute to its place of origin. It is a masterpiece of Ruby's high school years. Most significantly, Ruby did it without any of our input, as she wanted it to be a very personal work. In fact, she presented it to us as a surprise when she went off to college.

We were amazed; what an achievement!

Ruby's 'Til Death proves that learning traditional art skills is an ideal way to help kids develop technical and aesthetic abilities. Then they can take those skills and express themselves visually in very intimate ways.