In this workshop, you will uncover the magic behind character creation by mastering the art of lines, expressions, and movements that make comic characters jump off the page. From a sly smile to a bold posture, learn how simple visual cues can instantly reveal a character’s mood, personality, and story — all without a single word. 

But the fun does not stop there. We will also dive into the imaginative world of personification, where abstract ideas and inanimate objects take on human traits. By the end of the workshop, you will have a book of vibrant, original characters and a deep understanding of how to make your visual storytelling captivating and unforgettable. 

Students will: 

• Grasp the significance of basic lines, expressions and movements of characters in comics 

• Explore personification 

• Conceptualise stories 

• Arrange scenes and illustrations 

• Learn colouring techniques 

• Complete the book based on instructor feedback  

Tutor 

Ma Sing Yuen 

Ma is a renowned comic and Chinese ink painting artist in Hong Kong, with a wide range of interests and a diverse creative scope. His repertoire includes political cartoons, historical comics, biographical comics, humorous lifestyle comics, and children's educational comics. In 2004, he founded the publishing house ‘Century Culture’ with his wife Fong She-mei, focusing on the creation of children's educational publications and publishing over 800 titles to date. In addition to his own comic brand ‘White Cat Black Cat’, Ma also illustrated the ‘Fun with Classical Chinese’ series that has effectively combined education with entertaining comics.  

Cartoon statues of his character, Q the White Cat, appear in Kowloon Park and the Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai, and are recognised as an iconic ‘Hong Kong comic character’.   

Ma’s Chinese ink paintings have featured in various solo and group exhibitions. His solo shows include Daily Life of Zen (2017), Glimpses of the Bygone (2018), and Happy Ink Paintings (2024). Group exhibitions include the Hong Kong Visual Arts Society 43rd Annual Exhibition, Visions Present and Future (2017), and In Memory of the 105th Anniversary of Master Hongyi’s Ordination: The Li Lijuan-Ma Singyuen Ink Painting and Calligraphy Joint Exhibition (2024). 

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