Comics 101
Through the sharing of six experienced comic artists, this course is a practical how-to guide for local creativity. This season’s programme features the success stories of Miloza, who works across both two-dimensional and three-dimensional creations, as well as experienced comic creator and producer Dick Kwong discussing different scales of publishing models. Integrating creation with education is Little Cloud, and the whimsical Mandycat, who brings endless joy through comics and cats, and will explore storytelling techniques for fantastical and everyday themes. Globally popular Bonnie Pang and multi-award-winning rising star Pen So will break down the secrets to getting their works in front of more readers.
With their diverse backgrounds, experiences, and creative themes, six comic artists will share their perspectives on the potential challenges they face in their work from creation to production to promotion. The dialogue will provide insight on various aspects that include screenwriting, character design, and cross-media collaboration. Understanding that the art has to co-exist with the business side to ensure success, the comic artists will analyse the current market situation and guide participants in finding their personal positioning and breakthrough points. Participants will learn unique methods and ‘tricks of the trade’ in navigating their creative journeys.
This season introduces the special treat of a visit to an artist studio, immersing participants in the creative spaces and ‘vibes’ where comics are developed.
The course is a solid foundation for those wanting a career in the comics industry and opening the path to creative work. More importantly, it is an invaluable meeting of like-minded comic enthusiasts that stimulates exchange of creative insights and opens up the door to building industry connections.
Lessons 1 & 2:
Overview of Hong Kong Comics and Animation — Creative and printing models of large-scale publishers as well as small-scale publishing and extended creations
Lessons 3 & 4:
Themes in Comic Creation — Original fantasy stories and diverse, everyday themes
Lessons 5 & 6:
Survival and Promotion Strategies for Comic Artists — Secrets to expanding into local and overseas markets (includes exclusive Artist Studio Visit in Lesson 6*)
*Participants are responsible for arranging their own transportation to the artist studio. Visit details will be provided prior to the lesson. Dates and times are for reference only and may change depending on weather conditions.
Assisted by planning from Hong Kong Arts Centre Comix Home Base.
Lesson 1: Miloza Ma
Illustrator and toy designer, Miloza Ma is a diversified creator. Her three-dimensional work won two awards in the Artidol design competition that took place during ACGHK. Her toy series has been exhibited at the Taipei Toy Festival, Shanghai Toy Show, Beijing Toy Show, Thailand Toy Exhibition and Wonder Festival Japan. In January 2016, she held her first solo exhibition “The Axis of Life” and launched her first personal zine “Axis Of Life”. In March of the same year, she was selected as one of the illustrators of the comiX eXchange – Comic X Cross-Media Creative Exhibition Series 5. In December, her “The Fairy Twins” exhibition was held in Taipei. In July 2017, Joint Publishing published her first illustrated storybook “The Life of Empty Life”, and she was invited by Hong Kong Arts Centre to participate in PLAY! – Hong Kong Comix Touring Exhibition Helsinki (Finland) Station in September. In December of the same year, she returned to promote the fantasy story zine “Ribbon Lady – Escaping Wonderland”. The manuscript was later displayed in a Taiwan Gallery in 2018. In 2019, Miloza launched the collaborative zine and toy project “Beautiful Land” together with eight local creative units. It is now mainly being promoted in Japan, Taiwan, Shanghai, Beijing, alongside trend toys series Angel Cat and Lady.
Lesson 2: Dick Kwong
Dick Kwong is a comics devotee. His career began in 1981 with scenery drawing, then developed to character design, cover colouring and comics production. He is now an executive committee member of the Hong Kong Comics and Animation Federation.
Kwong has supervised the production of bestsellers, such as “Legend of Emperors”, “Yi Yong Men”, “Weapons of the Gods”, “Saint”, “The Four and Oriental Heroes”, etc. He also served as chief editor for “Legend of Wang Xiao Long” and “Legend of Wang Feng Lei”.
Lesson 3: Little Cloud
A graduate of the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Department of Fine Arts, Little Cloud is now a comics artist, illustrator, advertising graphic designer and university lecturer. She works in a wide range of mediums including comics, novel illustrations, game character design and fashion design. Her painting styles run the gamut of colour hand-drawing, watercolour and Chinese ink painting.
Little Cloud has been publishing her works in Hong Kong and China since she was in secondary school. Her works have won many awards and are recognised for their pureness, delicate painting style and magnificent framework of the stories. Signature works include “Dragon Axiom” and Little Cloud’s Art Collection “Cloudland”.
She is a current member of The Hong Kong Comics & Animation Federation, and lecturer for universities’ watercolour and comics courses. She is also a speaker and judge at various comics programmes.
Lesson 4: Mandycat
A Hong Kong illustrator and comics artist. A Pisces, cat lover, and believer that cats are soulmates.
Mandycat has been passionate about drawing since childhood, with a love for observing the mundane details of life and expressing feelings through simple lines. After graduating from university, she worked in the magazine industry and had her comic works featured in various publications and digital media.
Mandycat became a full-time artist in 2011, creating works that cover everything from cat stories to relationships and office life and even launching a range of personal merchandise. Her most well-known works are the picture book series “He, She, and It”, which depicts cohabitation between men, women, and cats, and the office comic strips compiled from “Mandycat Office”. To date, she has published more than 30 books.
In February 2015, she was invited to participate in the international comics event Angoulême International Comics Festival in France. Mandycat received the Hong Kong Golden Book Award in 2017 and was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Communicator Award by the School of Communication at Hong Kong Baptist University the following year. In 2019, she received the Hong Kong Publishing Biennial Award for illustrated books from the Hong Kong Publishing Professionals Society. In 2021, she was named the Hong Kong Pop Illustrator by MetroPop.
Lesson 5: Pen So
Pen So is an illustrator and comics artist. In 2013, he attended the Comics Master Class presented by Hong Kong Arts Centre (Comix Home Base) and has been creating comics since then. He published the comic book “See You In Memories” in 2022, winning the Silver Award at the 16th Japan International MANGA Award and the Bologna Ragazzi Awards 2024 in the New Horizons Category as well as being selected for Singapore Book Illustrators Gallery (BIG) 2024. In 2024, “Dali Libreria” received the Gold Award and the Best Comics Story Award in the 3rd HK Comics Support Programme and the Silver Award for Best Comics Book at the 21st China Animation & Comic Competition Golden Dragon Awards. His picture book “Guiding Light” was recognised with a Merit Award at the 3×3 International Illustration Show No.21. His works have been exhibited in Belgium, Germany, Japan, France and Italy.
Lesson 6: Bonnie Pang
Illustrator and comics artist from Hong Kong, Bonnie graduated from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2012 with a major in Geography and Resource Management and a minor in Fine Arts. She then obtained a master’s degree in Fine Arts at the Academy of Arts University, majoring in Illustration. Upon graduating, she was signed by the artist agency Astound and began illustrating children’s books in Europe and the US.
In 2015, Bonnie’s heartwarming everyday webcomic “Roar Street Journal” won 3rd place in Line Webtoon’s Webtoon Contest and became a featured webtoon on the platform for three years. She then started creating the webcomic “IT Guy & Art Girl” and published a comic book “IT Guy & Art Girl’s Love Adventures” in 2020. In 2023, Bonnie created the graphic novel Chronos Express — which was given the Gold Award and Best Story Award in the 2nd Hong Kong Comics Support Programme, and the Silver Award in the 17th Japan International MANGA Award.
Bonnie is currently a freelance artist working under the supervision of her cat Ciri.
| Period | 23 March to 4 May 2025 (every Sunday) No class on 20 April |
| Time | 2:00-4:00pm |
| No. of Lesson | 6 (Total of 15 hours) |
| Fee | HK$3,590 |
| Level | Beginner |
| Language | Cantonese |
| Course Code | ASSC-2215B-F |
| Age | 16+ |
| Entry Requirement | N/A |
| Venue | 10/F / 15/F, Hong Kong Arts Centre |
