COMPARE EVERY PLAN.
Exactly what you get in each tier of the Academy.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
ESSENTIALS
LIVE
PRO
Price
$197 one-time
$29 / month
$439 / month
Full lesson library (100+ hours, downloadable)
New lessons added every week
Comic Layout Generator app
Live drawing classes with real-time demos
—
Join me in the live studio: ask questions and share your screen
—
Weekly Studio Sessions
—
Critique Sessions with personalized feedback & draw-overs
—
Academy community
—
Four 1-hour one-on-one mentoring sessions per month
—
—
Priority feedback
—
—
Request lesson topics
—
—
Comic Creator Project Management app
—
—
Billing
Pay once, keep forever
Monthly or yearly, cancel anytime
Monthly, 5 spots only
Money-back guarantee
7 days
7 days
—
What if I have no experience in drawing comics?
No problem! Our course starts from the basics, so even if you're new to drawing, you'll find lessons tailored to beginners. We guide you through the entire process from conception to completion.
Which plan is right for me?
Academy Essentials is the full lesson library, yours to keep for a one-time payment. Academy Live adds the live side: weekly classes, feedback on your own work, studio sessions where you can come on camera with me, and the forums. Academy Pro is everything in Live plus four one-on-one mentoring sessions with me every month. Not sure? Send me a message and I’ll tell you straight.
Can I pay for Academy Live yearly?
Yes. Academy Live comes monthly or yearly. Yearly is one payment of $290 a year, which works out to two months free, and you get exactly the same things as the monthly plan. It renews once a year until you cancel, and the 7-day money-back guarantee applies.
How does the learning process work?
Learning at How to Draw Comics Academy involves:
• Live Classes: Real-time instruction with step-by-step guidance.
• Video Lessons: Pre-recorded tutorials you can watch at your own pace.
• Personalized Feedback: Critiques and draw-overs to help improve your work.
• Community Support: Interaction with other artists for mutual growth.
What if I can’t make the live sessions?
That’s fine. Every session is recorded and the replay goes into the library, so you can catch up whenever it suits you. The Live Classroom shows every session in your own time zone, so you can see which ones you can make.
Do I have to be on camera?
No. You can watch in the Live Classroom, draw along and ask your questions in the chat. If you’d like me to look at your page, you can come into the studio and share your screen, but only when you’re ready.
What do I need to get started?
A pencil and paper is enough. The lessons work just as well for traditional and digital drawing, so if you have a tablet and a drawing app, use that. A computer is best for the live sessions, but you can watch the lessons on any device.
Are the lessons downloadable?
Yes, our lessons are downloadable. You can access all video lessons from the Lesson Library, where you can download them for offline viewing.
Can I access the Academy Course on any device?
Yes, the Academy Course is designed to be accessible on various devices, including desktop computers, tablets, and smartphones, ensuring you can learn from anywhere.
Do you offer one-on-one coaching?
Yes. Academy Pro includes four one-hour, one-on-one mentoring sessions with Clayton every month, booked straight into his open time slots, plus priority feedback and the chance to request lesson topics. Pro is limited to five artists at a time. On Academy Live, the live classes give you real-time interaction and the critique sessions give you personalized feedback on your art.
Is there a community aspect to the Academy?
Yes, there's a supportive community of like-minded artists where you can share your work, get feedback, and collaborate. This community helps keep you motivated and accountable.
What if I'm not satisfied with the Academy?
Academy Essentials and Academy Live come with a 7-day money-back guarantee: email me at claytonbarton@howtodrawcomicsacademy.com within 7 days of joining and I’ll refund you. No hard feelings. And whatever plan you’re on, if something isn’t working for you, tell me and I’ll do my best to fix it.
Can I unsubscribe at any time?
Yes, you can unsubscribe from your membership at any time. Just go to your account settings and follow the cancellation process.
What is How to Draw Comics Academy?
How to Draw Comics Academy is an online learning platform dedicated to teaching aspiring artists how to master comic book illustration. Founded by Clayton Barton, a veteran in comic illustration, it offers step-by-step drawing tutorials, live classes, personalized feedback, and a supportive community of artists.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
WHY MEMBERS STAY
What Academy members and pro comic artists say about learning with Clayton.

“The critiques are life-changing. I’ve never improved this fast — worth every second!”
Jamie
Academy Member
★★★★★

“Best value out there. The live classes and community make it one-of-a-kind.”
Brent Woodroof
Academy Member
★★★★★

“The Academy is where it’s at. Clayton changed how I looked at my approach to drawing everything.”
Ed Foychuk
Comic Art Instructor
★★★★★
ENDORSED BY COMIC ART PROS
“There’s no way you could be following comics and not know about How to Draw Comics Academy. It’s a phenomenal website, with all sorts of tutorials.”

David Finch
Pro Comic Artist at DC Comics
“The How to Draw Comics Academy is where it’s at. Clayton changed my approach to drawing everything, and lead me to become an art instructor myself.”

Ed Foychuk
Comic Art Instructor
“Clayton is extremely committed to the comic art community and his lessons are a valuable resource for anyone looking to level up their work.”

Robert Marzullo
Comic Art Instructor
“Clayton’s Academy is packed with crystal-clear, in-depth lessons, an absolute amazing resource for any comic artist wanting to level up.”

Mike Van Orden
Comic Art Instructor

TAUGHT BY PRO COMIC ARTIST CLAYTON BARTON
LEARN TO DRAW
COMICS
LIKE A PRO.
Step-by-step video lessons, live classes and honest feedback on your own pages, from someone who’s spent 20+ years drawing, editing and teaching comics. Build the skills to finally draw the comics you keep imagining.




JOIN 250+ COMIC ARTISTS
Endorsed by pros like David Finch (DC Comics)
100+ HOURS OF LESSONS
Step by step, at your own pace
LIVE CLASSES
Learn, ask questions, get answers live
FEEDBACK & CRITIQUE
Draw-overs that show what to fix
STUDIO SESSIONS & MENTORING
Draw together, one-on-one on Pro
SOUND FAMILIAR?
WHY MOST ARTISTS STALL
It’s rarely talent. Most artists stall because nobody shows them what to fix in their own work, or what to practice next.
THE ACADEMY GIVES YOU A CLEAR PATH.
Lessons that tackle each of these in order, live classes where you can ask questions, and draw-overs on your own pages.

STIFF, UNNATURAL POSES
Figures feel rigid and lifeless without a solid understanding of form, movement and anatomy.

FLAT, UNINSPIRING DRAWINGS
Characters lack depth, expression and impact without the right construction and design skills.

CONFUSING PERSPECTIVE
Environments and complex scenes feel overwhelming without a clear, structured approach.

UNFINISHED PAGES
It’s easy to get stuck, lose momentum and never turn your ideas into finished stories.
SIX WAYS TO LEARN
WHAT YOU GET INSIDE
THE ACADEMY
Every plan includes the full lesson library. Academy Live adds the live classes, Studio Sessions, feedback and community, and Pro adds one-on-one mentoring.

VIDEO LESSON LIBRARY
ALL PLANS
100+ hours of step-by-step lessons, from fundamentals to finished pages. Watch online or download them to keep, with new lessons every week.

LIVE CLASSES
LIVE · PRO
Draw with me in real time. I demo a topic from start to finish while you follow along and ask questions, in the chat or right there in the studio with me. Every class is recorded, so you can catch the replay.

STUDIO SESSIONS
LIVE · PRO
A weekly virtual studio where we sit down and work on our own projects together. Accountability, company and a few hours set aside for your art.

FEEDBACK & CRITIQUE
LIVE · PRO
Submit your work and get an honest, constructive critique, with draw-overs that show exactly what to fix and why. Pro members get priority feedback.

THE ACADEMY COMMUNITY
LIVE · PRO
A private community of comic artists at every level. Share your work, join the monthly challenge and stay motivated between classes.

ONE-ON-ONE MENTORING
PRO
Four private one-hour sessions with me every month: portfolio reviews, career advice, project planning or a deep dive into whatever you’re stuck on.
FOUR LEARNING PATHS
FOLLOW A CLEAR PATH FROM
FUNDAMENTALS TO FINISHED PAGES.
New to drawing? Start at 01 and work through in order. Already drawing? Jump straight to the path you need.

01
FUNDAMENTALS
Build the core skills every great artist needs: lines, forms, perspective and construction.
Start with the basics →

02
FIGURE & ANATOMY
Draw the human figure with confidence, energy and believable proportions.
Explore figure drawing →

WHY IT WORKS
DON’T JUST DRAW MORE.
DRAW BETTER.
Drawing more won’t fix mistakes you can’t see. The Academy gives you a path to follow, a monthly challenge to draw, and feedback that shows you what to fix next.
LEARNING PATHS
Lessons in order, from the basics up.
MONTHLY CHALLENGES
A new brief to draw every month.
WEEKLY STUDIO SESSIONS
Draw alongside other members.
THE COMMUNITY
Share your work and get eyes on it.

WHO IT’S FOR
IS THE ACADEMY
FOR YOU?
It works best for artists who’ll put in the practice.
You want a clear learning path, from fundamentals to finished comics.
You need accountability to keep drawing and make consistent progress.
You want honest feedback from a professional artist and a supportive community.
You want to improve your anatomy, your pages and your storytelling.
You’ve got comic ideas you want to actually finish.
PLANS & PRICING
CHOOSE YOUR WAY INTO
THE ACADEMY.
Every plan includes the full, downloadable lesson library and the Comic Layout Generator app.
ACADEMY ESSENTIALS
Lifetime access to the full lesson library.
$197
one-time
Lifetime access to 100+ hours of downloadable video lessons
Weekly updates with new lessons
Comic Layout Generator app
Self-paced, no recurring fees
7-day money-back guarantee
GREAT FOR SELF-PACED LEARNERS
MOST POPULAR
ACADEMY LIVE
The full Academy experience, live every week.
$29
/ month
Billed once a year. That’s about $24 a month.
100+ hours of downloadable video lessons
Live drawing classes with real-time demos
Join me in the live studio: ask questions and share your screen
Weekly Studio Sessions
Critique Sessions with personalized feedback
Academy community access
Every new lesson while you’re a member
Comic Layout Generator app
7-day money-back guarantee
CANCEL ANYTIME
ACADEMY PRO
Everything in Live, plus one-on-one mentoring.
$439
/ month
Everything in Academy Live
Four 1-hour one-on-one mentoring sessions every month
Priority feedback
Request lesson topics
Comic Creator Project Management app (downloadable)
ONLY 5 SPOTS AVAILABLE

STUDENT PROGRESS
JAMES FONDREN,
BEFORE AND AFTER.
Here’s where he was at, and where he got to.


BEFORE

AFTER
★★★★★
“After not drawing for 20 years, I found Clayton Barton’s How To Draw Comics Academy. In just four months I have seen results in my drawing that have inspired me to continue to develop as an artist. If you follow the program, do the practice, and attend the live sessions with Clayton, I promise you will see results in your artwork that will amaze you.”
— JAMES FONDREN, ACADEMY MEMBER
LIVE, EVERY WEEK
COMING UP IN
THE STUDIO.
Live classes, feedback sessions and studio sessions with me, every week. Times are shown in your time zone.
THU
15
OCT
FEEDBACK SESSION
1:00 AM UTC · 1 hr 30 min
Feedback and Critique: Session 113
Members share their art and get honest, constructive critique with live draw-overs…
SAT
17
OCT
LIVE CLASS
1:00 AM UTC · 1 hr 30 min
Live Lesson: Spotting Blacks
Where to place solid blacks to add depth, contrast and focus to your pages.
MON
19
OCT
STUDIO SESSION
1:00 AM UTC · 1 hr 30 min
Studio Session
Dedicated drawing time with Clayton. Show up, put your head down and get pages done.
WED
21
OCT
FEEDBACK SESSION
1:00 AM UTC · 1 hr 30 min
Feedback and Critique: Session 114
Members share their art and get honest, constructive critique with live draw-overs…
Every session is recorded, so if you can’t make one live, the replay is waiting for you in the library.



