Comics are a unique medium combining all manner of visual and textual resources to tell exciting stories. In this course, we learn how to employ these resources in order to enhance skills in story‑telling and in visual dramaturgy. The focus is on the development of individual comics, with the aid of theory, practical exercises and feedback. We will examine comics from various epochs and genres, in order to become familiar with and understand formal tools of the medium in its manifold forms. Our examination will include analysis of mainstream, indie and underground examples.
In practical application, students' own concepts will be developed, using the three-act structure and alternative narrative models. In addition, we will use indispensable pillars of story-telling, such as character design, tension build-up, punch lines and escalation, visual atmosphere, layout, lettering and much more.
This two-week course is aimed at interested comic artists and story-tellers.
key data
- Venue
- Festung Hohensalzburg
- Date
- 4. – 16. 8. 25
- Teaching language
- English (German possible)
- Participation fee
- 670 Euro (reduced 495 Euro)
- Requirements
- None
- What to bring
- Drawing materials, pens, paper
- Maximum number of participants
- 20
Elizabeth Pich
Elizabeth Pich is a German-American comics author. She is the author of Fungirl and co-author of War and Peas. Her books are published in English, French, Italian, Spanish and German. Her latest book Fungirl Forever was published in March 2026 in German by Edition Moderne. Pich lives and works in Saarbrücken (DE).
Website
Exhibitions
Solo exhibitions
2026 Fungirl Forever, Gallery Arts Factory, Paris.
2025 Spooky Season, Erika Fuchs Haus, Schwarzenbach (DE).
2024 Fungirl, Comic Festival Hamburg, Hamburg (DE).
Fungirl, Comic Salon Erlangen, Erlangen (DE).
Fungirl, Fumetto Festival, Luzern (CH).
Group exhibitions
2024 Von der Seite in den Raum, Klingspor Museum, Offenbach (DE).
Publications
Fungirl Forever, Edition Moderne, Zürich - CH, 2026.
Fungirl–Zwei neue Abenteuer, Edition Moderne, Zürich - CH 2025.
Fungirl, Edition Moderne, Zürich - CH, 2024.
Publisher's text Edition Moderne:
‘Elizabeth Pich's character Fungirl is one thing above all: unpredictable.
Fungirl is a young woman with no prospects who spends her days at home masturbating, eating take-away pizza and watching old sitcoms. She runs from one affair to the next and is uninhibited and extreme in everything she does. Her new job at a funeral parlour brings new chaos - her life is a series of absurd, politically incorrect, slapstick situations. With Becky, her flatmate and ex-girlfriend, and Becky's friend Peter, Fungirl experiences bizarre adventures full of alcohol, sex and humour. Their behaviour is inappropriate, vulgar, opportunistic and yet (or precisely because of this) surprisingly human and charming. An ode to screw-ups with a heart of gold.’
