Draw Your Story: Comics, Illustration & Mini-Zine Making

Description

Course Description:

Students will learn how to use line, light and shadow, color, composition, and sequential images to communicate ideas and tell stories. Through drawing, comics, and illustration projects, students will develop original ideas, experiment with materials, and begin building their own visual style.

Anacostia Creates Connection:

Students will create visual stories inspired by their experiences, ideas, and surroundings. A final artwork, comic, or mini-zine can reflect how they see Anacostia and the stories they want to share through art.

Meet Your Teaching Artist:

Ann Gill is a visual artist, illustrator, muralist, and designer born and raised in Washington, D.C. Working across digital illustration, acrylic painting, pencil, mixed media, and large-scale murals, she creates artwork that communicates stories with clarity, warmth, and purpose.

Her work is shaped by her faith, the culture and architecture of Washington, D.C., Japanese art and design, public art, and both urban and natural environments. Drawing from influences such as anime, fashion design, and everyday life, she uses bold color, expressive line work, and strong composition to create pieces that are both approachable and memorable.

Ann has collaborated with authors, musicians, government organizations, technology companies, nonprofits, and local businesses to develop illustrations, murals, branding, packaging, and environmental graphics. Her work has appeared in public spaces, exhibitions, retail environments, digital platforms, and community projects throughout the Washington, D.C. region and beyond.

Notable projects include public art for the DC Department of Transportation, storefront murals for Common Wealth Joe, packaging illustration for Black Girl Vitamins, retail artwork distributed through Giant Foods, and exhibition installations with International Arts & Artists and Brentwood Arts Exchange.

She approaches every project with intention, craftsmanship, and the desire to create work that is meaningful, timeless, and brings beauty into the spaces and communities it serves.

In-Person Instruction

Cost - Free