The Drawing Academy: Classical and Visual Storytelling Foundation

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• Housing

  Student accommodation

  In Denmark, on-campus student accommodation provided by universities and colleges is not available, as is the case in many other countries. This means that students are responsible for finding housing on their own.

  Dorm rooms in Viborg typically cost between 2500-3500 DKK (250-470 EUR) per month depending on size and whether you are willing to share facilities. Utility expenses, like electricity, internet and heating, are often paid separately and cost around 600 DKK (80 EUR) per month.

  For further information and great tips for finding student accommodation in Denmark and Viborg check out our student accommodation page

• Practical Info

  Course materials

  You will receive a material kit to cover most of your material needs during the course, but you are welcome to bring additional material – especially during the illustration workshop you will get the chance to use colours, paint, special paper etc. 

  You are also encouraged to bring a digital device like a drawing tablet (iPad or similar) or a laptop with connected drawing tablet to use during the visual storytelling workshops. We don’t teach specific software, so any drawing software that you have is fine (Krita and ClipStudio are examples of affordable drawing software). Also, the device does not have to be the newest and most expensive, as long as it can run the software that you work in. However, you can also participate in the workshops without having a digital device.

  Scholarship

  The school does not offer scholarships.

  It is not possible to get SU (public education support).

  Cancellation

  You will be required to pay the full tuition fee around the time of course start. If you have applied to the course, but have to cancel, e.g. because you are admitted to another programme, you will not have to pay, as long as you cancel before the course starts. If you have started the course, but wish to leave before completion, The Drawing Academy must be informed of this in writing. Please be aware that you must pay for an extra four weeks of tuition after leaving.

  The Animation Workshop/VIA University College (TAW) reserves the right to cancel the course should there not be enough participants.

  NON-EU students

  PLEASE NOTE: Students from outside the European Union can stay in Denmark for a maximum of 90 days on a tourist Visa. Please contact the school to get a special arrangement regarding the fee, due to your limited ability to stay the full semester.

  Course hours

  Mondays - Thursdays

  • 9-12 Morning module
  • 12-13 Lunch break
  • 13-15 Afternoon module

  Fridays

  • 9-12 Morning module

  During course hours, a teacher will be present most of the time, but sometimes there are self-study assignments. E.g. the visual storytelling workshops are often structured so that a workshop consists of all mornings of a week with lectures, practical exercises and feedback with the teacher present, while the shorter afternoon modules Monday – Wednesday, either in the same or the following week, are reserved for a self-study assignment, which is then evaluated Thursday afternoon by the same teacher who taught the mornings. Also during classical drawing classes, a little bit of self-study is to be expected.

  Tuesdays and Thursdays 17:30 – 19:30 we offer (optional) extra life drawing sessions.

  After course hours, a considerable amount of homework is to be expected. Homework could be classical studies or assignments for the visual storytelling workshops. Especially the homework related to classical drawing is often carried out at The Drawing Academy’s facilities, which the students have access to at all times. Thus, there is also a social element to the homework, and we recommend dedicating all or most of your time to the course. 

• About The Drawing Academy

  The Drawing Academy (TDA) is the drawing department of The Animation Workshop/VIA University College. At The Drawing Academy, we approach drawing as a craft with reference to baroque and renaissance masters, as well as to more recent artists working with representing and interpreting reality.

  During the courses at TDA, we train your ability to draw the human body and the world around it. We often draw a live model in a variation of both very short and longer poses depending on the purpose of the exercise. Many of the exercises aim at teaching you how to understand, draw and construct the actual shapes that objects, bodies, heads etc. consist of, so that you can work with values, tones and light. Other very important topics are movement and mood. In TDA Classical Drawing & Painting, we expand into the area of colours.

  At TDA, we are interested in giving you a deep understanding of form, construction and movement rather than how to make a nice and glossy surface. This understanding is relevant, not only for animation, but for all kinds of artistic disciplines. Thus, the semester course is an excellent base for further visual studies. It is also relevant for visual professionals wishing to improve their drawing skills.

  If your main area of interest is classical art, we encourage you to take a look at TDA Classical Drawing & Painting. For that course, some experience with classical drawing is an advantage. However, we also welcome students with limited classical drawing experience, if they are highly motivated to learn. For students of TDA Classical & Visual Storytelling Foundation, who wish to continue developing their classical drawing skills and learn how to paint, the course is well suited as a top-up course.

  Studying at The Animation Workshop

  You will study in a highly ambitious environment that cultivates an extensive international network of skilled professional guest teachers. You will also get access to many extracurricular activities such as inspirational talks by artists, illustrators and animators, evening life drawing, sports and social events.