Cartoon & Comic Drawing for Beginners
Learn drawing and cartooning in Sydney with this beginner-friendly short course. From newspaper editorial cartoons to street art and comic strips, cartoons are everywhere. This course demystifies drawing and helps you create simplified, iconic cartoons while developing visual storytelling techniques such as comedic pacing, dramatic tension and clear flow for the reader.
Over six weeks, you will work from your own ideas, jokes, stories, characters and style, developing them through guided exercises and practical techniques. The course also introduces basic caricature for political cartooning, though caricature as a stand-alone form is not covered in depth.
Course Content
- Cartoon history, formats, comics versus cartoons, and visual storytelling principles.
- Idea generation, iconic cartooning, figures, faces, character design, words and images.
- Composition, panels and page layout, basic form, perspective, line quality and materials.
Schedule & Pricing
- Active session: Thursdays, 6 August to 10 September 2026, 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM.
- Planned session: Thursdays, 5 November to 10 December 2026, 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM, currently inactive.
- Course fee: $449; class capacity: 12 participants.
Additional Information
- Students are encouraged to bring images or copies of cartoon styles they are interested in.
- Content may vary slightly depending on class pace, participant interests and instructor approach.
Details
You will learn
- Develop a cartoon idea into a finished strip or series of single panels.
- Use visual storytelling, pacing, composition and panel layout to create humour or drama.
- Design characters, faces and figures using simplified drawing, line, form and perspective.
You will get
- Six weekly evening classes focused on beginner cartoon and comic drawing techniques.
- Practical guidance to develop your own stories, jokes, characters and cartoon style.
- Hands-on exercises covering cartoon formats, materials, composition and visual storytelling.
Appropriate for
This course is for beginners, as well as those with some prior experience who would like to develop their cartoon drawing techniques and skills.
Preparation
What to bring
- A3 sketchbook.
- HB and 2B pencils with a pencil sharpener.
- Eraser; any additional project materials will be discussed in class.
What to wear
Casual
Your Teacher
Sydney Community College
38 reviewsSydney Community College is a registered charity with a voluntary Board of Directors.
The College has a mission to offer innovative continuing adult education and training programmes that support individual efforts and facilitate sustainable social change.
We do this by:
- Providing quality continuing adult education opportunities for people to build practical and theoretical skills and develop knowledge;
- Leveraging from and developing community capacity and inclusivity;
- Developing innovative affordable and accessible skills training programmes;
- Partnering with like organisations to deliver learning opportunities for disadvantaged individuals and communities;
- Partnering with all levels of government to deliver education policy objectives.
Cancellations & Refunds
If the organiser cancels the class:
You are entitled to a full refund.
If you can't attend the class:
You’re welcome to send someone in your place.
OR
- A refund can be requested 10 days before class starts. An admin fee of AU$45.00 applies.
Terms & Conditions
At Sydney Community College, we know that plans can change unexpectedly. Whether it’s a shift in your schedule, a family emergency, or just a change of heart, we want to support you in the fairest way possible.
At the same time, we’re a not-for-profit organisation that commits resources to running each class—so last-minute cancellations can significantly impact our ability to offer quality, affordable programs.
That’s why we’ve created a simple, transparent policy that balances your need for flexibility with our need to plan and deliver courses sustainably. Our cancellation policy offers two clear options, depending on when you notify us:
Cancel More Than 10 Days Before the Course Starts – You can choose to receive a full refund, minus a $45 administration fee OR a non-refundable credit note valid for 12 months for the full value you paid for the course. This credit can be used towards any future course at the College.
Option 2: Cancel Within 10 Days of the Course Starting - You’ll receive a credit note valid for 12 months for 50% of the course fee you paid for the course. This credit can be used towards any future course at the College.
Please note that both refund and credit options are only available before the course begins. Once the course has started—or if you decide to withdraw after it has commenced—no refunds or credits can be issued. If you need to cancel your enrolment, just email us and we’ll take care of it based on the timelines above.
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Cartoon & Comic Drawing for Beginners
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