Art Degrees Online

Illustration is an art form. It’s a demanding medium of expression and communication. CVA illustration majors direct their creative intentions within a demanding curriculum that prepares them for professional practice and a lifetime of art making.

A sequence of six successive courses defines the illustration core curriculum. A three-semester immersion in digital, interactive and new media technology compliment these offerings and bring illustration majors up to speed with an ever-changing profession. Each illustration course builds on the skills and knowledge developed in its predecessor.

After completing their foundation year, illustration majors begin a specialized study of the basics. Emphasis is placed on improving drawing skills and exploring a variety of traditional and digital media. Process is stressed and students are challenged to find creative solutions to problems involving space, medium and content.

Advanced, digital and applied illustration courses encourage students to experiment in many disciplines and to become innovators with their own art making. They explore the connections between illustration and graphic design, typography and printmaking, painting and photography, and personal expression.

A studio practicum, internship opportunities, and a course in professional practice augment the curriculum. Combined with liberal arts coursework in illustration history, art history, aesthetics, math, humanities, and the natural and social sciences, these courses anticipate a final year capstone experience that includes a demanding studio and seminar thesis and professional portfolio development.

Students can customize advanced course content and the capstone experience to reflect their interest in a variety of creative mediums, among others, that include cartooning and character development, graphic novels, merchandising, animation, and editorial, publication, and book illustration.

Course overview
Illustration and Animation looks to the interaction between the two disciplines to develop a strong authorial voice. At the heart of both disciplines is visual communication, and this is underpinned by the development of a personal visual language. Experimentation is seen as paramount in achieving this. A keen interest in the visual world should inform this experimentation and there is a strong emphasis on drawing as a means of exploring the visual environment. The development of sequential narratives through animation allows students to use structure and composition as a key ingredients and this feeds back into illustration work, while elements of autographic mark-making and the use of text and image developed through illustration practice feed into the visual language of animation.
Course Structure
In the First Year, students spend around one third of their studio time on animation projects and two thirds on illustration. In the Second Year this ratio is reversed, while in the third year students are expected to negotiate their practice. The illustration modules in first and second years are run jointly with students form the B.A. (hons) Illustration course. Throughout the programme a number of contextual studies modules are run culminating in a Research Seminar in Third Year

Level 1 (Year 1)
llustration Practice 1 (both semesters)

Illustration in the round (first semester)
This module examines the possibilities of using sequential images to create the illusion of a 3D space. Ideas of movement, parallax, on and off screen space, and timing are at the heart of this module. Students are expected to develop a reduced visual vocabulary to develop drawn animation.

Texture, Light and Surface (second semester)
This module introduces students to 3D animation software. In particular it looks at how sequential lighting, camera movement and framing can be used to create atmosphere and meaning. Students are expected to draw from the work of cinema and theatre direction to inform their own work.

Level 2 (Year 2)
Animation Practice (both semesters)
Students are expected to build on their previous animation experience to develop more complex and challenging films. The module runs over the whole academic year allowing students to create a number of animated pieces. Teamwork is a vital part of the animation industry and one of the briefs in this module will be a group project.

Drawing Studies (first semester)

Ideas Through Design (second semester)

Level 3 (Year 3)
Depending on the direction their work and career aspirations take them, students are expected to decide whether to concentrate more on illustration or animation in their final year. In Semester 1, students can chose between Showreel and Portfolio Presentation modules, while in Semester 2, the Major Project is self driven in negotiation with the teaching staff.

Showreel Preparation (first semester)
The third year sees the student consolidating practice within a professional framework. The Showreel Preparation module allows students the space to think holistically about animation and illustration and develop the means of presenting their work for different audiences.

Portfolio Preparation (first semester)

Major Project (second semester)
Students are expected to negotiate a programme of study in accordance with their career aspirations

Module guide
Year one core modules:
Illustration Practice 1
Illustration in the Round
Texture, Light and Surface
Illustration:Contextual Studies
Modern and Contemporary Illustration
Anglia Language Programme Module
Year two core modules:
Animation Practice
Ideas Through Design
Drawing Studies
Censorship in Text and Image
Contemporary Film and Video
Forms and Themes in Artists? Film and Video
Identities
Islamic Visual Culture
Issues in Contemporary Design
Traditions of Art
Visual Theories
Writing for Images
Anglia Language Programme Module
Year three core modules:
Showreel Preparation
Portfolio Preparation
Major Project
Research Seminar
Associated careers

There is a growing demand for illustrators, fine artists and graphic designers who have exposure to both 3D design and animation. Graduates from this course should certainly have the right skills to help meet that demand.
Assessment

Through written work and practice.
Links with industry

This course was written with the kind assistance of personnel from Nexus Productions, StudioAKA and Th1ng.
Other areas of interest

Each year our second year and third year students enter the D & AD awards. Students will be encouraged to take part in 3D animation and motion graphics events such as Resfest and OneDotZero, and both the London and Norwich International Animation Festivals.