Sequential Art

Term from Comic Book Creation industry explained for recruiters

Sequential Art is the professional term for telling stories through a series of connected images, most commonly seen in comic books and graphic novels. It's like creating a movie on paper, where artists arrange drawings in a specific order to tell a story. This skill is essential for comic book artists, storyboard artists, and graphic novel creators. When you see this term on a resume, it typically means the person has formal training or experience in creating comic-style storytelling, rather than just drawing single illustrations. It's different from regular illustration because it focuses on how images flow together to tell a complete story.

Examples in Resumes

Created three issues of an original comic series using Sequential Art techniques

Developed storyboards for animated films applying Sequential Art and Visual Narrative methods

Taught Sequential Art and Comic Book Design at local art school

Typical job title: "Sequential Artists"

Also try searching for:

Comic Book Artist Storyboard Artist Graphic Novel Creator Comic Artist Visual Narrative Designer Sequential Storyteller Comic Book Illustrator

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How do you approach managing a team of artists while maintaining consistent style across a graphic novel project?

Expected Answer: A senior artist should discuss experience in creating style guides, reviewing other artists' work, providing constructive feedback, and maintaining quality while meeting deadlines. They should mention experience with project management and team coordination.

Q: Can you explain your process for developing a long-form narrative through sequential art?

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate knowledge of story pacing, page layouts, character development across multiple scenes, and how to maintain reader engagement throughout a lengthy narrative. Should mention experience with full graphic novel or multi-issue comic series development.

Mid Level Questions

Q: How do you ensure clear visual storytelling in your sequential art?

Expected Answer: Should explain their approach to panel layout, scene transitions, character positioning, and how they guide the reader's eye through the page. Should mention experience with both action scenes and dialogue-heavy sequences.

Q: What's your process for adapting a script into sequential art?

Expected Answer: Should describe how they break down a script into panels, create thumbnails, and make decisions about pacing and dramatic moments. Should mention experience working with writers and understanding script formats.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What basic principles of sequential art do you follow in your work?

Expected Answer: Should be able to explain basic concepts like panel flow, page composition, and simple storytelling techniques. Should demonstrate understanding of how one panel leads to the next.

Q: How do you approach character consistency in your sequential art?

Expected Answer: Should discuss their process for maintaining character appearance across multiple panels and pages, including the use of character sheets and reference materials.

Experience Level Indicators

Junior (0-2 years)

  • Basic panel layout and composition
  • Character design and consistency
  • Understanding of basic storytelling principles
  • Digital art tools proficiency

Mid (2-5 years)

  • Advanced page layouts and compositions
  • Effective visual narrative techniques
  • Speed and efficiency in production
  • Collaboration with writers and editors

Senior (5+ years)

  • Team leadership and art direction
  • Complex narrative development
  • Project management
  • Industry standard workflow expertise

Red Flags to Watch For

  • No portfolio or examples of sequential storytelling
  • Unable to maintain consistent character designs
  • No understanding of panel flow and page composition
  • Lack of experience with industry standard art tools