Collect material for creating your comic
Collect materials and ideas to create your own comic: gather paper, pencils, markers, sticky notes, character sketches, and simple storyboard panels before drawing.
About this activity
Collect materials and ideas to create your own comic: gather paper, pencils, markers, sticky notes, character sketches, and simple storyboard panels before drawing.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Pick a clean flat spot to be your comic workspace.
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Step 2
Put a stack of blank paper on your workspace.
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Step 3
Place your pencils and eraser next to the paper.
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Step 4
Put markers and colouring materials within easy reach.
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Step 5
Put a pad of sticky notes and a pen on the workspace.
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Step 6
Take a sheet of scrap paper and draw one quick character sketch.
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Step 7
Take another scrap sheet and draw three simple storyboard panel boxes.
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Step 8
Write your main idea or one-sentence story on a sticky note.
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Step 9
Arrange your character sketches next to your storyboard panels so you can see them while you draw.
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Step 10
Share your finished creation on DIY.org.
Fun facts
How do I collect materials and plan my own comic?
Start by clearing a work surface and gathering paper, pencils, erasers, markers, sticky notes, and a ruler. Brainstorm a short story idea, sketch characters on separate sheets, and use sticky notes or index cards to map a simple storyboard with panels. Make thumbnail sketches to plan pacing, then choose final paper and trace or ink your panels. Leave time to color and add speech bubbles—adjust as you test the flow.
What materials do I need to create my own comic?
Gather basic supplies: plain or comic-grid paper, pencils and erasers, fineliner pens or markers for inking, colored pencils or markers for coloring, sticky notes or index cards for story ideas, a ruler for panel lines, and a sketchbook for character concepts. Optional items: light box or tracing paper, white gel pen for highlights, scissors and glue for mixed-media, and a tablet or drawing software if you prefer digital comics.
What ages is this activity suitable for?
Collecting materials and planning a comic works for many ages. Preschoolers (4–6) can join with simple drawing and stickers with adult help. Ages 7–9 can sketch characters and arrange sticky-note panels with guidance. Ages 10+ can plan storylines, create detailed thumbnails, ink, and color independently. Adjust complexity, provide supervision for sharp tools, and encourage storytelling at every stage.
What are the benefits of collecting materials and planning before drawing a comic?
Planning and gathering materials before drawing boosts storytelling, sequencing skills, and creative confidence. Using sticky notes and thumbnails helps children test pacing and jokes, reducing frustration during final art. Character sketches encourage consistent design and fine motor control; organizing supplies teaches responsibility. The process also invites collaboration, revision, and problem-solving, making comic creation a low-pressure way to develop literacy and artistic skills.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can I use if I don't have markers or sticky notes?
If markers are missing, use colored pencils or crayons for the 'Put markers and colouring materials within easy reach' step, and if you don't have a pad of sticky notes for 'Write your main idea...' use a small folded scrap of paper or an index card placed next to your storyboard.
My storyboard panels look uneven or messy—how do I fix the 'three simple storyboard panel boxes' step?
Use a ruler or the straight edge of a book to draw the three simple storyboard panel boxes on your scrap sheet, sharpen your pencil from the pencil pile, and clean up stray marks with the eraser next to the paper so the panels look neat.
How can I adapt this activity for different ages?
For younger children simplify the task to two large panels and help them with a quick character sketch using stickers or traced shapes, while older kids can draw more panels, create detailed character sheets on extra scrap paper, and use fine-tip markers for coloring.
How can we extend or personalize the finished comic beyond sharing on DIY.org?
Personalize by adding backgrounds and speech bubbles on sticky notes before inking, numbering pages to make a short series, and scanning or photographing each page to create a digital slideshow to share on DIY.org.