Make your own 4-panel comic

A workshop turned into a tutorial!

May 04, 2026

I wrote recently about some fun things I’m doing with the Melbourne City of Literature office. As part of my virtual residency with Nottingham Women’s Centre, I ran a 1-hour workshop on turning everyday moments into a 4-panel comic.

AND IT WAS SO MUCH FUN! We had a packed room at the centre in Nottingham. I dialled in digitally, while Rebi from the centre facilitated on the ground. Hybrid workshops can be a real challenge. I find that either entirely online or entirely in-person usually works best. However, I think we managed to create a good experience for those who showed up.

Here’s a summary of the workshop, with the exercises at the end if you’d like to have a go at making your own comic.

Why make comics? For some, it’s a tool for activism. You can talk about political issues (such as the NSW Water Department responsible for the deaths of hundreds of turtles or our politicians getting rich off big gas companies) in a way that captures attention and tells a story.

Others comic artists use it as a journalling tool, or a mode of self-expression. But one of my favourite styles of comics are the ones exploring the funny little moments throughout the day. Since becoming a mum, I feel like the days bleed into each other and suddenly my tiny baby is a massive child who speaks in full sentences. Making little comics are one way for me to create a keepsake of this time in my life… plus I can throw them together quickly in the small snatches of time I have to myself.

Anyone can make a comic!

The workshop was beginner-friendly as I firmly believe that anyone can make a comic, regardless of ability to draw or what materials you have to hand.

Some advice I gave to the participants:

Commit to making some BAD art. Trying to make something good can create unnecessary pressure. Trying to make something BAD means whatever you end up with was a success.
Done is better than perfect, so keep your pen moving on the page.
Use a pen instead of a pencil to avoid the temptation of erasing.
Embrace WOBBLY. Wobbly art is fun and unique, just like you!
You don’t need a fancy tablet and an Apple pencil to make a comic; you can use a ballpoint pen and the back of your grocery list. Don’t let medium be a barrier to creating.
If you get stuck, just move onto the next panel and come back to the hard stuff later.
Some of the timings below might seem fast, but this is on purpose. Having constraints (such as 1 minute on the timer) can be a useful tool to unlock creativity.

Want to make a comic?

Here are the activities to lead you through making your own comic. You can work on a tablet, your computer, with a paper and pen.

Download the worksheet here:

Comic Worksheet By Lisette Charlotte

647KB ∙ PDF file

Download

Activity 1: Brainstorming some ideas (6 minutes)

Put on a timer and write down at least one thing for each of these questions. Don’t think too hard, just write down whatever comes to mind.

Question 1 (2 minutes): What’s something that happened recently that made you LAUGH?

Question 2 (2 minutes): What’s something that happened recently that made you STOP AND THINK?

Question 3 (2 minutes): What are some small moments of JOY you experience throughout your day?

Once you’ve written at least one answer for each question, read back over what you’ve written.

Do any of your answers stand out at you?
Do any of them compel you more than the others?
If you get stuck, pick 4 little moments of joy from question 3 and draw one per panel. Boom! You’ve got a comic.

Activity 2: Planning your comic (4 minutes)

Now we need to split your idea into 4 different panels. For each panel, we’re going to make a short note with what text and what images are going to be included.

Put on your timer for 1 minute per each panel (4 minutes total). When the timer sounds, move onto the next panel. If you’ve found at the end you haven’t finished all four, put your timer on for 1 additional minute and fill out any missing panels.

Here’s an example of how your 4 notes might look:

Panel 1: Today I went to the park with my son (image: Auguste in the car).
Panel 2: We had a little picnic… (image: picnic blanket and food).
Panel 3: Until the MAGPIES showed up (image: bunch of magpies looking menacing).
Panel 4: Speech bubble with “oi mate give us your lunch” (image: magpie holding a knife).