The course introduces observational drawing in a studio environment to enable students to develop and apply an understanding of the principles and foundations of life drawing through a range of techniques and concepts to support future specialised practice-led research. The course has a focus on the study of the human body and employs professional life models. Each week students are presented with different tasks and approaches to seeing and drawing observationally by identifying space, shape, form, line, gesture, expression, movement, colour, tone, and composition. The experience of drawing is broadened by testing a variety of drawing mediums and processes through haptic exploration. In class students build up a substantial portfolio of work for assessment and extend their drawing skills through take-home, guided, and self-directed activities. A deeper knowledge of drawing in context of historical and contemporary art and design practices is furthered through weekly tutorial slide presentations, written and oral critical reflections. This observational drawing course is relevant to students with any level of experience and from all visual arts and design disciplines. This course is fun, challenging and rewarding. Observational Drawing is designed to build confidence and provide invaluable foundational drawing skills that are applicable to all disciplines in new media, visual art, design and art history and theory.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- apply a range of processes, techniques, materials and creative approaches to the principals and practice of observational drawing of the human figure;
- critique and engage with a range of social, cultural, historical and theoretical traditions of observational drawing relevant to art practices;
- employ observational drawing strategies, concepts and core skills independently and collaboratively for use in art practices;
- recognise and reflect on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and First Nations contributions in context of art practices; and
- describe and discuss the studio-based outcomes and independent research by one’s self and others.
Other Information
Classes are delivered in a studio environment using professional life models. All classes are expected to be attended in person as there are no recording of lessons online.
This course will have a Materials Fee. At the ANU School of Art & Design, each workshop sources appropriate specialist?materials,?which are made available to students?to facilitate their working?effectively,?efficiently and safely?within our programs. The School of Art & Design is able to supply materials that don’t compromise ANU obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS), and that have been assessed as suitable for each course. The Materials Fee ?is payable for the School of Art & Design to supply consumables and materials that become your physical property. You can choose to pay the Materials Fee and have these materials supplied to you through the School of Art & Design, allowing you to take advantage of the GST-free bulk purchasing power of the ANU.?These materials are also WHS compliant. The exact cost of the Materials Fee will be updated in the Class Summary for each semester in which the course is offered. The full SOAD policy can be read here: https://soad.cass.anu.edu.au/required-resources-and-incidental-fees.
Indicative Assessment
- Portfolio of in-class studio work (12 weeks x 4 hours) (45) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
- Guided independent drawing projects (12 weeks x 4 hours) (30) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
- Research and critical reflections (2,000 words embedded in independent projects) (25) [LO 2,3,4,5]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
130 hours of total student learning time made up from:
a) 48 hours of contact over 12 weeks: lectures, tutorials, critiques and supervised studio practice; and
b) 82 hours of independent studio practice, reading and writing.
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
None
Preliminary Reading
All texts and resources required for the course will be available on the online course learning platform
Indicative readings include;
- Weekly slide show in context of that week's learning outcomes
- a focus on an artist to support that week's learning outcomes
- a reading specific to the themes and concepts specific to that week's learning outcomes
Assumed Knowledge
No previous knowledge or skill in drawing required. Recommended to students of all levels of experience.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 12
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8485 | 21 Jul 2025 | 28 Jul 2025 | 31 Aug 2025 | 24 Oct 2025 | In Person | N/A |
