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Assessed multi-course certificate · non-accredited

Illustration & Sequential Art

Progress from observation and construction to original characters, readable comics and six finished advanced projects.

3 courses. One defined path.

Follow the required courses in order. Audit study is available with Academy membership; assessed enrollment adds evidence review and the program’s progression rules.

  1. Drawing Studio: From First Lines to Advanced Illustration

    Course 1 of 3 · Beginner · 125 lessons · about 183 h

  2. Manga Workshop: Characters, Animals and Comic Pages

    Course 2 of 3 · Intermediate · 72 lessons · about 107 h

  3. Advanced Manga Studio: Six Finished Projects

    Course 3 of 3 · Advanced · 36 lessons · about 73 h

What you’ll work toward

  • Illustration: construction through revision
  • Original short comic
  • Six finished studio projects
  • Integrate the course evidence in a reviewed capstone.

Assessment & pacing

Each assessed lesson opens at least 2 days after the previous lesson is completed. Required assessment checkpoints also need approval before you continue.

Plan for about 73 weeks at 5 study hours per week, based on approximately 363 hours of course study. Allow extra time for revisions.

The minimum assessed practice period is 68 weeks. Studying faster does not bypass lesson waits or required approvals.

The assessed enrollment has a 660-day completion window from its recorded start. The clock pauses while submitted work waits for review. You can request a free extension if you need more time. Membership study remains self-paced while access is active. Paying or marking a lesson complete does not prove proficiency.

How an assessment passes

Each skill is scored from 0 to 4. You need at least 3 on every essential skill and at least 80% overall. Missing evidence must be resolved before approval. Feedback explains what to improve, and you can submit a revised attempt.

To earn the program award, complete the whole course bundle, required quiz passes, approved assignments, final project, and practice period. The school confirms the award separately.

Assessment 1 · portfolio

Illustration: construction through revision

Draw the forest-journey scene from Drawing Studio. Send the finished picture, your drawing stages and a before-and-after change.

Detailed assignment instructions

Submit the actual forest-journey illustration with figure, environment and story. Retain observation/construction, line, value and color stages, identify a weakness and show the revised result.

See assessment criteria
  • Required result (35%) · essential
    The finished illustration combines the authored figure/environment/story brief.
  • Sound decisions (30%) · essential
    Construction, perspective, value and composition support readable form.
  • Evidence and checks (25%) · essential
    Supply process stages and before/after evidence.
  • Explanation and revision (10%)
    Explain a purposeful revision.

Assessment 2 · portfolio

Original short comic

Make an original short comic. Send your character studies, page plan, finished pages and notes about a revision.

Detailed assignment instructions

Submit the Manga Workshop original short comic: character studies, page plan, ink/color/lettering stages and revised sequence. Show how continuity, panel order and readable balloons support the story.

See assessment criteria
  • Required result (35%) · essential
    An original short comic meets the production brief.
  • Sound decisions (30%) · essential
    Characters, panel sequence and lettering are consistent and readable.
  • Evidence and checks (25%) · essential
    Supply planning, production stages and a documented revision.
  • Explanation and revision (10%)
    Explain a storytelling decision.

Assessment 3 · portfolio

Six finished studio projects

Finish the six Advanced Manga Studio projects. Send each finished piece, its drawing stages and one correction you made.

Detailed assignment instructions

Submit all six actual Advanced Manga Studio projects with construction, foreshortening/action, ink, light/color stages and one correction per project. Identify sources and any permitted reference use.

See assessment criteria
  • Required result (35%) · essential
    All six authored studio projects are complete and reviewable.
  • Sound decisions (30%) · essential
    Structure, light and staging support each project brief.
  • Evidence and checks (25%) · essential
    Show process evidence and one documented correction per project.
  • Explanation and revision (10%)
    Explain reference use and remaining limits.

Assessment 4 · capstone · portfolio

Portfolio sequence and live revision

Put your illustration, comic and six studio pieces into one portfolio. Explain your choices and revise one piece after feedback.

Detailed assignment instructions

Present the three course projects as a coherent portfolio: the forest journey, original comic and six advanced pieces. Explain how observation/construction informs character consistency and sequential storytelling. Respond to a reviewer critique by revising one image or page and submit before/after evidence. Human portfolio review is required.

See assessment criteria
  • Required result (35%) · essential
    The portfolio demonstrates the actual progression across all three courses.
  • Sound decisions (30%) · essential
    Visual decisions support both illustration and readable sequential storytelling.
  • Evidence and checks (25%) · essential
    Process stages and reviewer-requested revision establish the development of the work.
  • Explanation and revision (10%)
    Defend choices and identify a specific next practice goal.

School recognition, clearly defined

A non-accredited Cloud Forest school award based on reviewed evidence. It is not a degree, professional license or guarantee of employment. Martial rank requires the authorized examiner's approval.

Historical completion awards remain part of a student’s record. New assessed recognition requires the program’s reviewed evidence and approval.