Higher Certificate in Drawing.

1 YEAR - FULL TIME - NQF 5 

  • Higher Certificate in Drawing:

    Drawing is seen as a fundamental skill for those entering the creative educational sectors or industries. The ability to see, imagine and visualise is a core skill to bring the world and new imaginative ideas to life. Being able to draw is like having the magical ability to record and transform reality in innovative ways.

    "I have learned that what I have not drawn, I have never really seen, and that when I start drawing an ordinary thing, I realise how extraordinary it is, sheer miracle." –Frederick Franck

    The Higher Certificate in Drawing is a one-year programme that gives students a solid foundation in techniques, practice and theoretical aspects of drawing. It focuses unashamedly on traditional, mostly observational, drawing and the theory that underpins this practice. As such, design principles and elements will be explored through figure, object, constructional and digital drawing. In this process ways of looking, seeing, understanding and rendering are developed.

    This programme is viewed primarily as wonderful preparation for degrees in the Visual Communication such as Design, Illustration, Animation, Multimedia, etc. However, the Higher Certificate could also allow students to gain access to entry-level employment in various sectors of the visual communication industry such as animation, storyboarding, concept art, book publishing, infographics and design studios. They could also embark on an artistic career.

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  • The curriculum:

    The practical section of the curriculum has been divided into four parts, namely Figure Drawing, Constructional Drawing, Object and Conceptual Drawing, and Digital Drawing, while the more theoretical aspects will be dealt with in History of Drawing. Additionally, Methods and Techniques is a combination of both practical and theoretical aspects which explores the different drawing materials and substrates (i.e. paper). The following section will give a brief overview of each subject.

  • Figure Drawing will focus on understanding the human form and drawing the body in various poses. Consequently, the understanding of anatomy and proportion is essential to this practice. Most of these sessions will entail drawing from life and will include drawings of gesture, action, rhythm and flow as well as longer more sustained anatomical studies and rendered poses. Other important aspects are the figure-ground relationship, foreshortening as well as tonal/light rendering and mood. This subject aims to give students an understanding of the human form and allows them to draw a believable visual impression thereof.

  • Constructional Drawing will deal with the structural understanding of organic and geometric objects and shapes and their relationship within space and perspective. In this subject students will be taught how an understanding of the underlying and internal structure can be used to draw objects and spaces. This process will involve working from core shapes and forms to more complex objects. Additionally, the understanding of space and the relationship between perspective and objects placed within this space (architectural or other) is of fundamental importance. The constructional understanding will also inform the use of light to achieve mood and atmosphere.

  • Object and Conceptual Drawing will initially focus on drawing static forms. As such, the copying and rendering of 2D and 3D reference material will be the focus. Basic still-life drawing will be used to explore aspects such as composition, tone, light and texture. Thereafter a more experimental approach in terms of making and materials will be explored. Additionally, the rendering of conceptual ideas will form part of this subject. In this context a student will in the latter half of the year develop a self-initiated brief.

  • Digital Drawing is primarily concerned with using technology and software as a drawing tool. Initially, some of the exercises and drawing done in the other subjects will be recreated on a digital platform. Once students are more familiar with the technical aspects, the unique aspects of the digital medium will be explored.

    While these three subjects are primarily practice orientated they will be informed by the theoretical aspects of image-making such as design elements and principles, perspective and anatomy theory. Additionally, an exploration of material practice which deals with the methods, techniques and materials involved in drawing will form part of these subjects. As such, this will involve the explanation of different mediums and paper and the best use thereof.

  • History of Drawing will trace the historical developments of drawing as a discipline. In this context the drawn image and the process of drawing will used as a catalyst to explain how we came to understand the world and our place in it. Important concepts will be memory and myth, negotiating religion, exploration, scientific understanding and conceptualising the future.

  • Methods and Techniques will explore both the practical and theoretical aspects of drawing materials and substrates. Students will be made familiar with the different qualities and production methods of these material and substrates and explore the traditional and experimental use thereof. Additionally, students will be introduced to gallery functioning and practice and the use of social media to create an online presence.