Portfolio (100%)
A portfolio exploring drawing processes, comprising:
• Evidence of your experimental use of a wide range of media, including traditional and digital
• Individual annotated research of historic and contemporary artwork illustrating different creative intentions
[Learning outcomes 1, 2 and 3]

In this module you will be expected to participate in a structured programme of demonstrations and workshops resulting in the production of a portfolio that demonstrates a wide use of media and drawing techniques using both traditional and digital technologies. The module will require you to research around the subject and practise your drawing skills outside of taught sessions in order to develop a portfolio that has depth and breadth and will be useful in underpinning your future practice. You will be encouraged to develop a sense of independent responsibility for your learning and to critically evaluate your progress as a means to ensure you make the most of each opportunity.

You will investigate how other people have communicated ideas visually, with consideration for the historical, cultural and social contexts in which they are presented. You will explore the ways in which imagery can communicate multiple messages and meanings, evoke particular audience responses, generate emotion and engage the viewer. By looking at other people’s work you will develop skills to be able to purposefully communicate your vision to fellow artists, programmers, producers, marketing staff and others within the game development process.

You need to be informed about a wide range of visual communication styles and practices to inform and widen your own skills. Your competence in these areas will impact on your employability. For example it will improve your observational skills, help you to translate other people’s ideas for different target audiences and communicate your own ideas quickly and effectively.

Representing three dimensional objects including people is fundamental to the success of games artists and animators. Whether your creative intentions are based on reality or fantasy, your visual representations must be structurally and/or anatomically credible. These skills will be developed through observational drawing such as in life class. You will have the opportunity to develop practical drawing skills which will include an understanding of what you are observing, while incorporating formal elements into drawings to show the use of line, shape, form, colour, pattern and texture.

The games art and animation sector is highly competitive; in order to be successful your work needs to be of a high standard and recognisable for its originality whilst not alienating its target audience. This requires insights into the target audience and precedents in the games sector. By looking at other people’s work you will extend your own range and build a vocabulary to discuss your own work and that of other people in an evaluative way.

What you learn in this module will inform your work in other modules and improve your ability to evaluate the requirements and respond in a meaningful and visually successful way. You will learn to appreciate the ways in which traditional observational drawing can translate to art and animation within a computer through the application of industry relevant software typically used by games artists and animators.

Learning strategies in this module will be predominantly practical and learning will be facilitated through demonstrations and hand-on practical workshops which progressively build knowledge and practical skill. In-class your will receive instruction on materials, techniques and processes and your own experimentation will be supported by tutor feedback and 1:1 support. There will be an expectation that you extend your knowledge and reinforce your understanding through independent research, and refine your practical skills through self-directed practice outside of timetabled sessions. Assessment in this module considers your process as well as your product. Activities will typically include:
• Drawing techniques such as gesture, shading, perspective, composition, and colour.
• Observational technique such as; shapes, spaces (Positive, Negative), light and shade, scale, proportions and movement.
• Media Experimentation
• Supervised planning meetings
• Practical work
• Group tutorials and critiques with formative feedback
• Individual tutorials

Sketchbook.
Drawing Board.
Mix Drawing Materials.
Paper, Printers, Scanner.
Computer.
2D Editing Software.

Civadi, G. (2002) Drawing Portraits: Faces and Figures: Search Press Ltd
Civaldi, G. (2005) Drawing Hands and Feet: Form, Proportions, Gestures and Actions: Search Press Ltd
Civaldi, G. (2006) Drawing Light and Shade: Understanding Chiaroscuro: Search Press Ltd
Hart, C. (2014) Figure It Out! Human Proportions: Sixth & Spring
Lidwell, W. Hoden, K, & Butler J. (2010) Universal Principals of Design Revised and Updated: 115 Ways to Enhance Usability, Influence Perception, Increase Appeal, Make Better Design Decisions and Teach Through Design: Rockport
Murray S. (2014) Sketching from Imagination: Fantasy: 3DTotal Publishing
3DTotal (2013) Sketching from the Imagination: 3DTotal Publishing
3DTotal (2015) Sketching from the Imagination: Sci-fi: 3DTotal Publishing

1. DEMONSTRATE KNOWLEDGE OF CORE DRAWING TECHNIQUES, OBSERVATIONAL TECHNIQUES AND WORKING PROCESSES.
[Knowledge and Understanding]

2. DEMONSTRATE THE ABILITY TO EVALUATE DRAWING, ART AND CONCEPT ART AND DISCUSS THE IMPLICATIONS OF DIFFERENT VISUAL COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES
[Analysis; Reflection]

3. SELECT AND USE DIVERSE DRAWING TECHNIQUES AND MEDIA COMPETENTLY IN THE REPRESENTATION OF 2D AND 3D FORMS. USE OBSERVATIONAL TECHNIQUES AND WORKING PROCESSES TO GENERATE CREDIBLE OUTCOMES.
[Application]

In this module you will be expected to participate in a structured programme of demonstrations and workshops resulting in the production of a portfolio that demonstrates a wide use of media and drawing techniques using both traditional and digital technologies. The module will require you to research around the subject and practise your drawing skills outside of taught sessions in order to develop a portfolio that has depth and breadth and will be useful in underpinning your future practice. You will be encouraged to develop a sense of independent responsibility for your learning and to critically evaluate your progress as a means to ensure you make the most of each opportunity.