Comics art has long been a gateway to imagination, storytelling and creativity. The Telegraph Online recently organised Edugraph Workshops: Summer Edition where students between the age of 8 to 18 years were provided the opportunity to engage in fun-filled learning process on this much loved art form titled 'Unleash your Imagination: An Introduction to Comics Art'. The three-day journey was guided by Harsho Mohan Chattoraj, a distinguished graphic novelist and illustrator based in Kolkata.
From June 7 to 9, budding artists between the age of 8 to 18 years gathered to learn the intricacies of comic creation. The workshop began with fundamental skills: creating and drawing characters. Under Chattoraj's expert guidance, participants not only sketched but also delved into character development, exploring how personalities and traits can shape a story.
A cornerstone of the workshop was story planning and writing. Students learned how to structure narratives, laying out plotlines and dialogues essential to comic storytelling. This phase was crucial as it bridged character creation with the art of visual storytelling, ensuring that each character's journey was rich with depth and meaning.
Practical sessions on crafting comics followed, where participants brought their characters and stories to life on paper. As the workshop progressed, students were encouraged to expand their narratives, adding new characters and subplots to enrich their stories. They even had the opportunity to act out scenes from their comics, bringing a dynamic, theatrical element to their creative process.
“"It was really nice interacting with the young kids from different schools at the Edugraph Workshops. Students participating at the workshop are slowly learning the process. It is a growing industry. If we can make the students understand the process of story-telling through pictures and text, the students can venture into the industry in future," said Chattoraj.
The culmination of each participant's hard work was in finishing their own comic. From initial character sketches to final inked panels, each student developed a unique piece of visual storytelling, showcasing their newfound skills and imaginative prowess.
Harsho Mohan Chattoraj's influence extended beyond the workshop, inspiring students with his own journey into the world of comics. With a portfolio that includes graphic novels like "Ghosts of Kingdoms Past" and "Kolkata Kaleidoscope", ‘Chakrapurer Chakkare’, ‘Hyderabad Graphic Novel’, ‘Kolkata Kaleidoscope’ and ‘Dhyanchand’, he exemplifies how passion and dedication can transform artistic vision into compelling narratives. Beyond his contributions to the world of comics, Chattoraj has also excelled in various roles including journalism, visualisation, storyboarding, voice-over artistry, and promo production.