-Digital painting techniques
-Composition and Storytelling
-Lighting and Rendering
-Colour and texture
-Design theory
-3D Kitbashing
-Lighting, Value and Colour of hair and flesh
-Interaction of the figure with costume and associated hard surfaces and props
-Character projection to an audience through costume, props and pose
-Dynamic sketchbooks looking at student sources and real world characters outside the studio.

Assessment Component 1: Coursework 80%

Students will produce a portfolio of coursework which explores painting, life drawing and design, both digitally and traditionally.

The coursework focuses on visual communication and exploration of visual abstraction, including a variety of subject-agnostic studies, from portraiture to vehicle design. Evidence should be primarily visual, using breakdowns of professional work, 1:1 copies and original concept work.

The coursework will document a broad exploration of subjects and themes, including:

Colour and light
Optical and Conceptual Drawing
Composition and Storytelling
Anatomy

You may use technical drawing, digital painting and 3d modelling/rendering as tools to explore visual communication. You will be encouraged to experiment with software of their choosing to deliver a variety of results for complex visual problems.

Written content should be limited to headings, labels and short captions that support visual clarity. Extended written commentary or reflection is not required and will not be assessed as part of this component.

Assessment Component 2: Presentation 20%

You will produce 10 minutes of recorded presentation, referring to work you have produced throughout the module as evidence of learning. You will make a critical assessment of your own artistic progress and development.

This component is the sole location for critical assessment of artistic progress and reflection, and should include:

Explanation and justification of design decisions
Reflection on tutor and peer feedback
Evaluation of challenges, experimentation and iteration
Critical reflection on personal development
Consideration of best practice moving forward into other modules

Learning and teaching activities will be delivered through a structured blend of scheduled and independent study designed to support a coherent learning journey. Scheduled sessions will typically include Traditional life drawing sessions, digital-based workshops/tutorials that allow students to learn and apply techniques, engage in facilitated discussions, and undertake activities focused on problem solving and peer learning. Independent study will involve research tasks, assigned creative drawing or digital painting tasks, and ongoing development of assessment work supported by the resources provided.

1. Critically evaluate the composition of a piece of study reference and demonstrate an advanced understanding of how composition impacts visual communication and storytelling in art and design.

Knowledge and Understanding

2. Complete painted studies showcasing a high level of artistic proficiency using a wide variety of art styles and advanced techniques.

Application & Problem Solving

3. Appraise and adapt completed studies and utilise them as a basis for original concept designs towards a brief.

Digital Literacy

4. Present and critically evaluate the creation and iteration of studies and resulting concepts through engaging digital media, enabling effective critique, assessment and reflection on artistic development.

Communication
Reflection

Software & Tools:

Digital Sculpting Tools (e.g. ZBrush or Blender)
3D DCC tools (e.g. 3ds Max or Blender)
3D Material Creation Tools (e.g 3D Coat or Substance Painter)
Digital Painting Software
Wacom Tablets
Games Development Workstation
Video editing software
Digital Academy Forum
Digital Academy Upload System
Data Projection Resource

Gurney, J. (2010). Color and light : a guide for the realist painter. Kansas City, Missouri: Andrews Mcmeel Publishing. ISBN 0740797719

Park, J From Study to Concept app.gumroad.com. (n.d.). Gumroad. [online] Available at: https://app.gumroad.com/d/c4cdd57d535a6b00bdd1506342d8f91a [Accessed 23 Jan. 2023].

Skinner, A. (2006). Concept design 2 : works from seven Los Angeles entertainment designers and seventeen guest designers. London: Titan Books. ISBN 978-1933492032

Lilly, E. (2015). The big bad world of concept art for video games : an insider’s guide for students. Culver City, Ca: Design Studio Press. ISBN 978-1624650208

Simblet and Davis, Anatomy for the Artist, , Hardcover – 2 Jan. 2020, DK press ISBN-13 978-024142645

Patricia Beckmann Wells, Face It: A Visual Reference for Multi-ethnic Facial Modelling, 2013 CRC press ISBN-13 978-1138428577

B Hogarth Drawing Dynamic Hands Paperback – Illustrated, 1 April 1988, Watson-Guptill Publications Inc.,U.S. ISBN-13 978-0823013685

Walt Stanchfield, Drawn to Life: 20 Golden Years of Disney Master Classes: The Walt Stanchfield Lectures - Volume 1 Paperback – Illustrated, 23 Mar. 2009 Routledge ISBN-13 978-0240810966

Stan Prokopenko, Proko TV, YouTube, retrieved 23/01/23 from https://www.youtube.com/@ProkoTV/about

Mastering Study to Concept is where you level up from “I can paint that” to “I can use that.” This module builds advanced skills in observation, composition, and visual communication, helping you turn high-quality studies into original, brief-led concept work that reads clearly and tells a story.

You’ll produce a wide-ranging body of studies across subjects and styles, exploring colour and light, anatomy, optical and conceptual drawing, and composition-driven storytelling. Working both traditionally and digitally, you’ll analyse professional work, create 1:1 copies to decode technique and intent, and then adapt what you’ve learned into fresh designs and concept outcomes.

You’ll be encouraged to experiment with tools and workflows that suit your goals, digital painting, technical drawing, and even 3D modelling/rendering where useful, while keeping written content minimal and your visuals doing the heavy lifting.