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Character Design and Comic Art Certificate Program


interlochen online character design and comic art certificate program

Develop the technical and creative abilities to bring original characters to life through your original drawings. From building a strong foundation in drawing fundamentals and designing characters to crafting emotional expression, you’ll gain the skills to create compelling characters throughout a story arc.

Taught by a world-class faculty of artists, illustrators, and animators, our Character Design and Comic Art certificate program offers a unique opportunity to deepen your craft, earn a valuable credential, and receive college credit, high school credit, or both. This program is designed for both adults and teens and consists of three four-week courses that can be taken in any order.

Drawing Basics

✔Set up a drawing space with suitable lighting, positioning, and drawing materials
✔Create a wide variety of marks and effects using pencils and erasers
✔Apply the principles of one, two, and three-point perspective drawing
✔Use rulers and guidelines to produce accurate and convincing perspective drawings
✔Create drawings that tell stories and make meaningful artistic choices

Designing Animated Characters

✔Design characters that resonate with audiences by understanding their role in storytelling
✔Develop practical research and ideation skills to inform and inspire your designs
✔Apply fundamental design principles such as shape, color, and form to create visually appealing characters that communicate personality and emotion effectively
✔Gain hands-on experience in character expression and presentation techniques

Drawing Comics

✔Recognize that comics are a form that allow you to tell any story using words and images
✔Render facial expressions, body poses, and visual abstractions to convey a wide range of emotions
✔Use various panel transitions and the concept of closure to control the pace and feeling of a story
✔Draft and refine your own comic stories, incorporating scripting, thumbnailing, and understanding story arcs

Tuition

$ 1197   $999

Ages

Teens: Grades 6-12

Adult Learners: Ages 18+

 

For all students:

✔ A respected credential from Interlochen Online
✔ Physical and shareable digital certificate
✔ A portfolio of completed, polished projects
✔ A strengthened résumé, college application, or LinkedIn profile

For middle school and high school students:

✔ An official Interlochen transcript awarding 0.5 high school credit
✔ Accreditation by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS)
✔ Credit that may transfer to hundreds of high schools nationwide

For adults and high school students:

✔ An official college transcript awarding 3 college credits
✔ Accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
✔ Credit that may transfer to hundreds of college and universities nationwide

Eligible high school students may earn both high school and college credit through the same certificate program.

Yes, Interlochen Online certificate programs are accredited for both high school and college credit.

High school credit is available to teens and accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS).

College credit is available to adults and current high school students and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Accreditation from Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) and the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) are widely recognized and accepted by thousands of institutions across the country. However, we encourage students and families to consult with their school counselor or registrar in advance to determine how the credit may be applied toward graduation requirements.

No, course sections are designed for their respective age groups, either for adults (students 18 and older) or young people (students under 18).

Yes, there are eight sessions of courses per year. View the academic calendar for more session dates.

Meet the Faculty

Our faculty of accomplished visual artists bring a wealth of expertise and passion to guide aspiring artists on the journey of creativity and self-discovery. With our faculty’s mentorship, students unlock their potential and refine their craft in a dynamic environment, resulting in polished creative works.

Conor Fagan

Conor Fagan

Instructor of Visual Arts

Matthew Clinton

Matthew Clinton

Instructor of Animation

Amy Kurzweil

Amy Kurzweil

Instructor of Creative Writing

Questions? Speak with an Advisor.

Email: online@interlochen.org 

Phone: 231.276.5990 

You can also schedule an appointment.

Sharpen Your Artistic Skills

Get access to How to Fine-Tune Your Perspective Drawings, an exclusive guide developed by Interlochen Online faculty.

A hand drawing a building with a pencil