Undergraduate Course: Natural History Illustration (DESI08060)
Course Outline
| School | Edinburgh College of Art |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course will give an introduction to the visual interpretation of texts, themes and concepts relating to flora & fauna, habitats, and the natural environment. Possible sources of inspiration and reference for Illustration projects will be explored through various observational drawing trips and visits to Natural History Collections and landscapes surrounding the city of Edinburgh. |
| Course description |
This course explores the artist's relationship to the natural environment. In doing so, it examines both examples of art historical and contemporary approaches to Illustration. The course involves students creating resolved illustrations in response to a number of set briefs. Through a series of field trips and visits to relevant collections, students will be introduced to observational drawing and other methods of in-depth exploration of natural history motifs as a source for design inspiration.
During field trips students will study shape and form of plants and anatomy and behavior of animals and microorganisms. Through applying a variety of research methodologies students will form personal drawing collections that will serve as a basis to develop resolved Illustration projects with a clearly defined purpose.
This course is taught in a series of lectures, seminars and workshops that foster skills in drawing, sequential image-making, character design, surface pattern design, interpretation of literature, museum and location study and field work. It also provides a very basic introduction to Photoshop and relief printmaking.
Through the practice of observational drawing, journal keeping and imaginative storytelling, the projects set during the course will strengthen student¿s visual vocabulary and support their development of a personal visual language. Assessed course outcomes will include surface pattern design, printmaking and book arts.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | This course is open to ALL STUDENTS and enrolments are managed on a first come first served basis until the course is full. The course will be open to enrolments from Wednesday 11th September at 11.00 am. Please sign up for the course through your own School (they will advise if this is done via your PT, SSO or Teaching Office). We do not currently keep a waiting list. |
| Additional Costs | Basic drawing materials. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Analyse relevant themes in Natural History through in-depth observational drawing and associated research.
- Develop practical Illustration skills and experimentation with a range of materials to plan your line of enquiry.
- Resolve imagery to an appropriate level of skill and finish by applying research and selecting suitable formats of presentation.
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Reading List
K. Blossfeldt, WORKING COLLAGES, MIT Press 2001
T. O'Malley, THE ART OF NATURAL HISTORY: ILLUSTRATED TREATISES AND BOTANICAL PAINTINGS, Yale 2010
W.J. Strachan, HENRY MOORE, ANIMAL, Aurum Press 1983
L. Geddes-Brown, ANGIE LEWIN, PLANTS AND PLACES, Merrell 2010
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Research and enquiry:
Ability to carry out independent research into art, design and other fields of knowledge
Ability to develop imaginative projects on the basis of location-based investigation
Development of authorship through creative writing and sequential narrative projects
Personal and intellectual autonomy:
Be reflective practitioners
Be independent learners
Personal effectiveness:
The ability to plan, organize and manage their time
Communication:
Communicate verbally through presentation and the explanation of ideas.
Communicate in written form both formally and through sketchbooks.
Have interpersonal skills that allow peer review which is sensitive and useful. |
| Keywords | Natural environment,flora & fauna,drawing,applied illustration |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Mrs Kasia Matyjaszek
Tel:
Email: kmatyjas@exseed.ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Georgia Dodsworth
Tel: (0131 6)51 5712
Email: georgia.dodsworth@ed.ac.uk |
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