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Introduction.
What are some the aspects that both fine art and comic art have in common? They are both
capable of showing expression, either from the artist or in the art itself. Both are used as a form
of communication, narrative or otherwise. However, one of the biggest aspects that both fine and
comic art have, (as well as any field of art), is discipline.
These three aspects create the essence of what a piece of art carries. Even so, between the
two art forms, comics and comic art is often considered the “lower art form”, despite having
some of the same disciplines and basic fundamentals of creating art that fine art teaches. Fine art
is described as “art for art’s sake”, while comics are sequential stories that uses both images and
text. So why is one form more well regarded than the other?
History tells a different story. While both art forms are separate branches of a larger tree,
they are nevertheless rooted at the same source. From the earliest known used brushes and
pigments of the Prehistoric cave paintings that are still used in modern day, to tales printed on
Greek pottery through a complex process, and Michelangelo’s narrative masterpiece that is the
Sistine Chapel ceiling, fine art and comic art are two sides of the same coin.
The following presentation is a visual representation of sequential art through the ages,
using various mediums and styles to tell its story and utilizing as much expression,
communication, and discipline as I can muster. (Can’t feel my hands).

This has been both a fun and challenging venture. This project has given me the opportunity to
experiment in a variety of art styles, some of which I have never attempted to try up until now.
This project, in many respects, challenged my current level of art skills, what I’m capable of, and
that comics can be art pieces in-of-them-selves.
Enjoy!

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Olivia Roberts. Your friendly neighbourhood comic artist. 2022.

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Historical Art References.
PG. 7 Panel 4: Hall of Bulls. Lascaux, France. Original cave, 16,000-14,000 BCE. 6 inches and 11 feet.
PG. 8 Second Layout: A fusion of Bull Lyre with Inlay Panel. Tomb of Queen Pu-abi, Muqaiyir, Iraq.
ca. 2600 BCE. Panel 12 ¼ inches × 4 ½ inches. University Museum, University of Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia and the
Royal Standard of Ur, Ca.2600 BCE, Royal Cemetery of Ur, Muqaiyir, Iraq. The British Museum,
London, England.
PG. 8 Panel 4: Stele of Naram-Sin, ca. 2254-2218 BCE, 6’ 6”, Musee du Louvre, Paris, France.
PG. 7 Panel 5: The Code of Hammurabi and Relief, ca. 1760 BCE, Diotrite. 7 feet. In height. Musee du
Louvre, Paris, France.
PG. 9 Panles 1 and 2: Palette of Narmer, ca. 3150-3125 BCE, Hierakonpolis. Front and back sides, 25
inches in height. Egyptian Museum, Cairo, Egypt.
PG. 9 Panel 3: Book of the Dead of Hunefer, ca. 1285 BCE, 19th Dynasty, Thebes, Egypt. The British
Museum, London, England.
PG. 10 Panel 1: Toreador Fresco, 1550-1450 BCE, Palace Complex of Knossos, Crete. Archaeological
Museum of Heraklion, Crete.
PG. 10 Panel 2: Pylos Combat Agate, Late Minoan Early Mycenaean,( ca.1405 BCE), 1.4” long,
Discovered in Tomb of the “Griffon King” in Pylos, Greece. University of Cincinnati Archaelogical
Team.
PG. 10 Panel 3 and 4: Greek red-figures and black figures pottery. Charun and Vanth. Tomb of the
Anina Family, 3rd century BCE. Tarquinia, Italy.
PG. 11 Panel 2: Column of Trajan. Ca. 106-13 CE. 125’ height. Rome.
PG. 12 Layout 1 (4-Panels): Quedlinburg Itala. Ca. 425-450 CE. Early Christian. Tempura on vellum.
12×18”. Staatliche Bibliothek, Berlin, Germany.
PG.12 Scroll Layout: Battle of Hastings portion of the Bayeux Tapestry. Ca.1066-1083. Wool
embroidery on linen. Centre Guillaume le Conquerant, Bayeux, France.
PG. 13 Panel 1 and Layout: Michelangelo. The Creation of Adam. Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. 15081512. Fresco. Vatican City.
PG. 14 Panel 5: Francisco Goya. The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters-The Caprices.ca. 1799.
Etching. 8”×6”. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
PG. 15 Panels 3-8: Frans Masereel. Passionate Journey. 1919. Woodcut print.
PG. 16 Panel 1: Reference to The Shadow. Created by Michael Kaluta and Walter B.Gibson, with Street
& Smith Publications, Inc. First appearance in print The Living Shadow, April 1st, 1931.

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Edition.
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States. 2011. Last Accessed June 12th, 2022.
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2016. Last Accessed June 12th, 2022.
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W.W Norton and Company. New York. 2008
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November 7th, 2017. Last Accessed June 12th, 2022.
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Dove Publications. United States. 2006.
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15. Lawrence, Christopher. The Art of Painted Comics. Dynamite Entertainment. 2016.
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12th, 2022. https://smarthistory.org/hall-of-bulls-lascaux/
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1994.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JO9YxZYd0qY
21. Smarthistory. Victory Stele of Naram-Sin. YouTube. October 1st, 2011.
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22. Strange Brain Parts. The Underground Comix Movement. YouTube. March 5th, 2020.
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23. The Art Institute of Chicago. Launch-Pad: Ancient Greek Vase Production and the Black-Figure
Technique. YouTube. April 15th, 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpLPx_Akl7Y
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