One-Page Comic and Artist Statement

Year 7 English • Comic Creator • Week 5 • 3-4 lessons • Independent

Make a complete one-page comic, then explain the choices a reader might not notice. Your page should work as a story; your statement should work as an argument about your own design.

The task

Create an original one-page comic of six to eight panels. It must tell a complete short story with a clear beginning, turn, and ending. Then write a 250-300 word artist statement explaining how your panel, character, colour, and lettering choices shape the reader's experience.

How do your visual choices make the reader feel, infer, and follow the story?

Requirements

• Original characters and story. Do not use published characters, logos, or traced art.
• Six to eight panels with a clear reading path.
• At least one meaningful gutter inference.
• At least one character design choice that reveals personality or role.
• At least one colour or symbol choice that carries meaning.
• Legible lettering with clear speaker tails.
• A title and a finished page presentation.
• A 250-300 word artist statement.

Content boundaries

• No graphic violence, hate imagery, or real-person caricature.
• No copyrighted characters or traced published art.
• If you use licensed assets, credit them.
• If your school permits AI images, disclose and cite them. The default is original work.
• Use a teacher-approved genre. Horror can be suggested rather than shown.

Planning frame

Artist statement structure

1. Opening judgement: What is your page about, and what should the reader feel or understand?
2. Panel and gutter choice: Explain one sequence. Why did you choose that panel size, angle, or gap?
3. Character design: Explain one silhouette, costume, or expression choice.
4. Colour, symbol, or lettering: Explain one choice that carries meaning.
5. Evaluation: What works best, and what would you change in a second draft?

Artist statement frame

My comic, [title], tells the story of [character] who [want]. I wanted the reader to [effect]. In the sequence where ..., I used [panel size / angle / gutter] to [effect]. The gutter between panels ... and ... asks the reader to infer .... I designed [character] with [silhouette / costume / prop] because .... The [colour / symbol / lettering choice] appears when ..., which suggests .... The strongest part of the page is .... If I revised it, I would ... because ....

Submission checklist

• My comic has six to eight panels and a complete story.
• The reading path is clear without explanation.
• At least one gutter requires the reader to infer action.
• My character design is consistent across panels.
• My lettering is legible and the speaker tails are clear.
• My artist statement is 250-300 words and explains specific choices.
• I have included a title and my name.
• I have checked the content boundaries and image permissions.

Marking

Submit a PDF, PNG, or clear photograph of the page plus your statement. Keep a copy of your draft and planning sheets.