Do you want to seriously improve your drawing skills?

Apply now

TDA Classical

The Drawing Academy

Do you want to seriously improve your classical drawing skills in and immersive and creative environment? In the TDA Classical course everything is about drawing - and you'll learn the basic principles of classical drawing with a strong focus on the human body.

About TDA Classical

  • Facts

    Title: TDA Classical (The Drawing Academy Classical)

    Language: English

    Credits: The course is not accredited with ECTS-points

    Duration of the program: 19 weeks. Daily schedule from Monday-Thursday: 9:00 am-3:00 pm and Friday: 9:00 am-noon

    Program start: Every year in January and August

    Next program start:
    Spring 2022: January 10 – June 10  - Apple now

    Application deadline
    October 24, 2021

    Fee: 34,000 DKK (approx. 4533 EUR). This covers both teaching and materials. Students from outside the European Union can stay in Denmark for maximum 90 days on a tourist visa. Please contact the school to get a special arrangement regarding the fee due to your limited option for staying the full semester.

  • Structure and content

    TDA Classical is 19 intense weeks of classical drawing. 

    In TDA Classical, everything is about drawing

    Focus is especially on the human body - one of the most challenging and interesting subjects to draw. Additionally, you may participate in a variety of art and study related extracurricular activities.

    Class hours are Monday-Thursday 9-15 and Fridays 9-12.

    We base our teaching on your individual drawing level designed to provide you with suitable challenges that enable you to evolve at your own pace.

    Solid drawing skills are fundamental for a career in visual arts, especially in the applied arts such as animation, computer games, design, comics and illustration so TDA Classical is the perfect preparation to apply for the bachelor programs at The Animation Workshop/VIA University College and similar programs.

    You will be educated in different elements of classical drawing:

    • observation
    • composition
    • dynamics and movement
    • proportions
    • light and shadows
    • anatomy
    • construction and volume

    As a part of the regular curriculum, there will be 3-4 weeks of guest teacher workshops in themes related to animation, comics and illustration.

    We have a rich student life and lots of activities

    You will be part of the highly professional study environment of The Animation Workshop/VIA University College that cultivates an extensive international network of skilled professional guest teachers. You get access to many extracurricular activities such as:

    • inspirational talks by artists
    • illustrators and animators
    • evening life drawing
    • sport
    • social events

    All extra activities are generally free of charge for students of The Drawing Academy.

    Read more about our student life here.

    Additionally, you can attend a number of extracurricular activities that will help you make a good portfolio application for the bachelor educations of The Animation Workshop. These include a mentor café, where you can get portfolio feedback sessions and there will be 4-5 weekend workshops per semester in relevant subjects.

  • Our approach to classical drawing

    At The Drawing Academy we see drawing as a craft.

    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 semester course TDA Classical, we train your ability to draw the human body and the world around it in different ways. We often use a life model, where the student have 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, practiced both with the life model and through sketches in town.

    At The Drawing Academy we are interested in teaching 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.

  • How to apply

    There are no prerequisites  for applying to TDA Classical. However, you should be highly motivated and willing to learn. 

    Online application

    Spring 2022: January 10 – June 10 - Apply now

    After the application deadline you will be invited to an admission interview with the purpose of giving the Drawing Academy a sense of your ability to draw, your commitment, responsibility and self-discipline. Prior to the interview, you will conduct in a small drawing test. The drawings will be part of the interview. You are also welcome to show a selection of other work of your own. If you are prevented from taking part in the interview at the point suggested, an alternative date can be found. Applicants not living in Denmark will be interviewed over Skype, and the drawing test can be scanned and sent per email or uploaded online.

  • Teachers

    Artem Alexeev teacher at The Drawing Academy

    Artem Alexeev

    Teacher, The Drawing Academy

    T: +45 87 55 49 43

    E:

    Artem Alexeev has a ph.D. in Fine Arts from St. Petersburg Stieglitz State Academy of Art and Design. Artem has taught at The Drawing Academy since 1997, and has taken part in shaping the Academy as we know it today. Parallel to teaching, he has a career as a fine artist.

    Maja Vendelbo teacher at The Drawing Academy

    Maja Meisner Vendelbo

    Teacher, The Drawing Academy

    T: +45 28 15 46 52

    E:

    Maja Meisner Vendelbo is Bachelor of Fine Arts (Painting) from I. Repin St. Petersburg State Academy Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture. Maja has taught at The Drawing Academy since 2015. Parallel to teaching, she has a career as a fine artist.

  • Fees and finances

    TDA Classical is 34,000 DKK (approx. 4533 EUR). This covers both teaching and materials.

    The school does not offer scholarships.

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

     

    Applicants from Denmark will be asked to pay the fee in three installments, while required to pay the full tuition fees upfront. Applicants from outside Denmark will be required to pay the full tuition fees upfront. If students wish to leave the course before completion, the Drawing Academy must be informed of this in writing. Please be aware that you will be obliged to pay for an extra four weeks of tuition after leaving.

     

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

     

  • Housing

    Students can choose to live in student dormitories or private housing arrangements. TAW's role is to assist with this.

    TAW itself has no accommodation. The school's role is to provide various opportunities for housing and help create contact between housing providers and new students - and to assist with language barriers if necessary. 

    Camp Logos

    The dormitory Camp Logos  is located across the street from the school and houses many of our students. Rooms at Camp Logos come with furniture. The availability in Camp Logos is very limited at this point. However, a new wing is under development and expected to be completed in late 2017 or 2018.

    The Merkur dormitory 

    Merkur Kollegiet (The Merkur dormitory) is located in a newer residential area in Viborgs eastern district, 3.8 km from The Animation Workshop. All rooms are furnished with bed and desk and all have cable TV and free internet access. Each room has a storage room.

    Shared apartments

    It is our experience that the majority of our students prefer to move into a shared flat in the city. Join our Facebook Housing group to team up with other students looking for roommates and new tenants for the apartments, they are leaving themselves.

    These websites may also be helpful:

    • Boligselskabet Sct. Jørgen(Camp Logos and various rentals across city) 
    • Boligselskabet Viborg(Merkur Kollegiet and various rentals across city)
    • Danhousing (many large apartments in the city – suitable for sharing) 
    • BoligPortal
    • Boligdeal.dk 

    Cost of Living

    Dorm rooms in Viborg typically cost between DKK 2300 and 3500 (250 - 470 EUR) per month depending on size and whether you are willing to share facilities. Utility expenses, like electricity, internet and heating, are not included and usually cost around DKK 600 (80 EUR) per month. Private rooms in shared apartments can range depending on size, location and other factors, but aren’t drastically different from the cost of student accommodation.

    If you have questions about housing or need language assistance, please contact taw.housing@via.dk. 

  • Contact

    Please, don't hesitate to contact us with any questions you might have.
    Gry Lindebjerg Director of The Drawing Academy and Visuel HF

    Gry Lindebjerg

    Director of The Drawing Academy and Visuel HF

    T: +45 87 55 49 42

    E:

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