Nobody Listens to Me: A Graphic Medicine Workshop | Beyond Text

Important Notice  

This programme/event is open to members of the National Library Board, Singapore. Please ensure you have your myLibrary username on hand before proceeding with the registration. If you do not have a myLibrary username, you can create one here: https://account.nlb.gov.sg/.  

About the Programme:

Comics are a powerful medium for storytelling; the genre of graphic medicine expands what kind of stories we can tell with them.

In this Beyond Text workshop, participants will explore how to effectively combine visuals and text to convey their stories, and discover how this engaging art form can express their own experiences with health, caregiving and sickness. By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to draft 1-4 pages of health-related comics based on the theme of feeling unheard.

Basic drawing materials will be provided. Participants are also encouraged to bring their own favourite art materials, if any, to create their comic. This programme is open to participants aged 18 and above.

Course Overview:

1. Introduction to Graphic Medicine: Participants will learn about the genre and discover related books and resources
2. Basics of Comic Making:
   • Comic panels: Participants will learn about panel layout, sequencing, and visual storytelling techniques.
   • Character design: Creating relatable characters is essential. Participants can experiment with character traits, appearances, and personalities.
   • Words and images synergy: Understanding how dialogue, captions, and visuals complement each other is crucial for effective storytelling.
3. Planning and Execution:
   • Thumbnails: Participants will sketch out rough drafts or thumbnails to plan their comics’ layout and flow.
   • Final comic creation: From refining sketches to adding details, participants will bring their stories to life in the final comic format.

Deliverable:

Draft a 1-4 pages of health-related comics based on the theme of feeling unheard.

About the Instructor:

James Tan is an illustrator, comic artist, and art educator. Some of his published works include All That Remains, a graphic novel on dementia, and All Death Matters, focusing on end-of-life care and palliative care. He also wrote and illustrated The World is So Big: An Artist’s Sketchbook about his travels around the world. 

About Beyond Text:

Explore Beyond Text, an NLB literary arts series delving into the multisensory experience of reading. Discover how creators and industry professionals tell stories on wellness, sustainability, and careers through comics, theatre, and more.

Join the conversation on how we encounter words and images in today's world! To sign up for the other Beyond Text sessions, click here!

Host or Publisher GoLibrary | National Library Board, Singapore