[Course]comicartist,maf Details
Intro
Class Intro
Comic Artist, MAF
"From panel layout to visual direction, we'll explore
sequential storytelling methods that will ensure clarity
& flow across scenes."
sequential storytelling methods that will ensure clarity
& flow across scenes."
Make Comics That Move—And Keep You Going
What if comic-making didn’t feel like an endless uphill climb, but something fun, doable, and completely your own?
This class helps you simplify the process without sacrificing your creativity—making comic creation not just possible, but genuinely fun. You’ll learn to build characters using shape language and anatomy, keep them consistent across panels, and compose pages that read clearly and flow with intention. From stylized figure drawing to panel layout, this toolkit is built for clarity, speed, and storytelling. Whether you're tackling a webcomic or long-form series, you’ll develop a sustainable workflow that supports both consistency and creativity.
Taught by an artist whose comic reached over 19 million views while balancing a full-time job, this class blends practical, real-world insights with a storyboard-friendly approach—so you can bring your ideas to life without burning out along the way.
Taught by an artist whose comic reached over 19 million views while balancing a full-time job, this class blends practical, real-world insights with a storyboard-friendly approach—so you can bring your ideas to life without burning out along the way.
Class Preview
Still Not Sure?
Check Out MAF's Class Preview!
Chapter 30.
Full Page Art
1. Create a full (small)
comic page (excluding
lettering).
Class Perks
Special Gift from MAF
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Class Slides and Exercises- Get annotated key images and reference files used throughout the class
- Practice with tailored exercise sheets that include helpful examples
- Review summarized learning points to reinforce your understanding -
In-Class Working Files- Access annotated Clip Studio Paint files of final illustrations and in-class assets
- Includes comic page templates for hands-on practice -
Detailed CSP Specs and Asset Pack- Comprehensive list of CSP tools used in class—from brushes to gradient maps and workspace setups
- Includes detailed specs and downloadable assets (when distribution is permitted), so you can recreate the same workflow
Expert Comic Artist MAF's Portfolio
Why Take This Class?
A Streamlined Approach to Drawing What You Love
This isn’t a class about perfecting every pixel or chasing hyper-detailed art—it’s about clarity, speed, and emotional punch. Made for storytellers with too many ideas and too little time, this course helps you simplify your workflow so your vision and voice stay strong, even under pressure.
You’ll learn how to create artwork that reads clearly, flows naturally, and resonates with your audience—whether it’s a single panel or part of a longer sequence. Each lesson and exercise is thoughtfully shaped by the artist’s years of passion and experience, guiding you through core fundamentals that actually move your work forward.
If you’ve ever felt stuck between perfectionism and progress, this class helps you cut through the noise and build comics that are meaningful, readable, and sustainable. With a real-world approach rooted in creative challenges, you’ll leave with the tools, mindset, and momentum to keep making work that matters—to you and to your readers.
21 Class Exercises
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Anatomy Reference BoardCreate a personalized board of anatomical references to build foundational visual knowledge. -
Musculoskeletal Outlines Over ReferencesStudy and trace bones and muscles directly over reference images to reinforce your understanding of body structure. -
Original Face Design (2–3 Angles)Design an original character’s face from multiple angles to build consistency and believability. -
Facial Expression SketchesSketch your original character with a variety of expressions to explore emotional range and nuance. -
Original Body Design (2–3 Angles)Develop your character’s full-body design from different angles, with attention to anatomical structure and design clarity.
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Pose SketchesSketch your character in a variety of dynamic poses to improve gesture, balance, and storytelling through movement. -
Head Design with Hairstyle VariationsExplore 1–3 different hairstyles for your original character to define personality and enhance visual impact. -
Full Body Design with Outfit VariationsDesign 1–3 outfits for your original character to expand on the full-body design and support worldbuilding through clothing choices. -
Character with Flat-Colours and Base PaletteApply flat colours and create a custom colour palette to solidify your character’s overall design. -
Character with Flat Colours and Lighting VariationsAdd basic shadows to your coloured character and explore 1–3 light directions to understand form and lighting interaction.
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Sketch of a Panel-like IllustrationCreate a rough sketch of an illustration framed like a comic panel, with attention to composition and layout. -
Lineart for Panel-like IllustrationApply clean linework to your panel sketch, focusing on clarity, depth, and professional polish. -
Background for Panel-like IllustrationDesign and finalize a background that complements your scene and enhances storytelling. -
Fully Coloured Panel-like IllustrationComplete your panel with colours and lighting, integrating your character and background into one unified scene. -
Final Panel-like IllustrationPut together your full panel illustration with all visual elements and final touches.
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Scene Thumbnails (1–3 Versions)Create 1–3 thumbnails for a comic scene to explore different compositions and pacing approaches. -
Comic Page Integration (No Text/VFX)Place your completed panel into a full comic page or strip, focusing on flow and visual storytelling—no text or VFX yet. -
Final Comic Page with Text & VFXFinalize your comic page with dialogue and VFX to complete your storytelling. -
Setting & World DescriptionWrite a brief setting or world description that complements your character and comic scene. -
Character Background & TraitsDefine your character’s backstory and personality traits in a concise profile. -
Simple Plot SummaryWrite a short plot overview that ties together your world, character, and comic page into a cohesive narrative
*Above are sample images for a better understanding
Final Products
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Character Sheet -
Panel-like Illustration -
Comic Page
Instructor
Comic Artist
MAF
Hello, I'm Alex, also known as MAF in the online artist sphere. I'm an independent comic creator and illustrator and former Webtoon Originals creator. My main body of work includes original character illustrations and both short and long form comics, often with fantasy and cinematic undertones.
Creating comics on tight deadlines and with a lot of story to cover has influenced my art greatly, and I've optimised my process to be able to work as fast as possible without sacrificing the impact the final product has or the message it conveys. Plenty of tools, tricks, thought processes and knowledge factor into it, and I love sharing them when I get the chance.
In this program, I'll be focusing on what I believe are the most valuable things I myself have learned and how I apply them to my work, be it full length comics or simple quick illustrations. My goal is to be able to give you at least some new tools you can integrate into your own creation process to take it to a new level.
Comic Artist, MAF
[Current]
Independent Comic Creator & Illustrator
[Previous]
Webtoon Original Creator
Freelance Illustrator
Worked with Electronic Arts, Celsys, Class101, and more
Software Developer
Projects & Awards
[Projects]
"Stray Souls" – Original series on Webtoon
"The Under Garden" – Self-published comic shared via Patreon and Webtoon
"The Grey Zone" – Comic published by Kudos Editore
"Digital Art for Comics: Work Smarter, Not Harder" – Online class with Class101
Collaborations with Sudio, Clip Studio Paint, XPPen, and TourBox
Highlights
Class Highlights
Design Characters That Feel Alive
Understand anatomical building blocks, functions, and volumes is fundamental—especially for character-heavy work like comics. The same goes for clothing, hair, and every element that goes into a character’s design. In this class, you’ll learn how to break them down and turn them into stylized characters that move, emote, and stay consistent across the page.
Turn Blank Panels into Page-Turning Stories
How many panels do you need to tell a story? Where should the reader’s eye go? How many ways can you orchestrate the same scene? We’ll explore the tof sequential storytelling—plus tools and tricks to build scenes with clarity, flow, and just the right amount of visual rhythm, no matter how simple or complex your scene requires.
Make a Comic—Without Burning Out
Creating a comic doesn't need to be a daunting endeavor. This class shares real-world, hard-earned strategies—like how to approach page formats, plan your story without overthinking, and move between writing and art with enough structure to finish strong and actually enjoy the process.
Class Details
You'll Learn
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Human Anatomy and StylizationExplore the essential elements of human anatomy and how to break them down into digestible parts. Learn to simplify and stylize them to suit your artistic goals. -
Character Design and ConsistencyBuild how to create compelling characters by understanding anatomy, hair, and clothing—and keep their designs consistent across pages. -
Volume, Shading, and ColouringDiscover simple yet effective techniques to render form, approach shading and colours with confidence, and give your work a strong 3-dimensional feel.
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Comic Panels: Start to FinishGo through the complete process of creating a comic panel or panel-style illustration—from concept to final touches. -
Comic Pages: Start to FinishUnderstand comic page formats and structure, and walk through the full process of bringing a multi-panel comic page to life. -
Planning, Executing, and Publishing Your Own ComicLearn what to consider when developing a full comic—how to plan, execute, and publish your work, from pre-production to final release.
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Interview with
Comic Artist MAF
Question.01
What makes your class different from other classes?
As someone with no formal art education and loose ties to the industry at a large, I feel like I can offer a somewhat unique insight to people who feel underprepared or overwhelmed when considering their art goals. I'm a storyteller at heart, and my drive to work on long form comics paired with time and resource constraints has taught me a lot in terms of efficiency and perfectionism (or how to be rid of it) - lessons that sometimes can be learned in a sentence or two. Aside from art-specific technicalities, this is something I hope to convey every time I create educational content. Throwing back to my dev days, "simple is better than complex, complex is better than complicated".
Question.02
Is there a specific reason why you chose this specific topic/themes?
My body of work, be it comics or illustrations, is heavily reliant on character art. My character art is heavily reliant on my understanding of anatomy and shape language, as well as the tools I use to constantly improve it and learn to convey expressions more effectively. As much as my main work is in comics, I feel like I can't properly talk about that side of things without going over the fundamentals that are the most relevant to it. That's why I decided to dedicate a big portion of this course building up character work and design, to then transition more smoothly into how I use it for everything, from casual illustrations to full length graphic novelling.
Question.03
Is there anything else you would like to share with your students?
There isn't a right or a wrong way to go about doing art, whether it's professionally or as a hobby. Different techniques, themes and advice will work better for different people, and I think that's important to keep in mind as you go. Whether it's from a course, a tutorial, something another artist did or said, it's good to look at your own position and preferences first, and then see if there's something you can learn from it or incorporate into your work. Sometimes there isn't, and that's alright! The most important thing you can do for your art journey is make sure you still enjoy it.
Required Programs
This course will use Clip Studio Paint (Pro or Ex), v1.0 or higher.
Please purchase and install these program(s) for an optimized chapter experience.
*These programs and/or materials will not be provided with the chapter.
