Friday, December 27, 2002

Academy Students Learn to Draw Animals From Life

Academy Students Learn to Draw Animals From Life

Top art school Academy of Art University to host animal illustration day on March 25, 2008. Students in Tanya Ericson's Wildlife Drawing class and Terri Whitlatch's Creature Design class will get a close-up examination of their subjects when the Academy hosts three different-sized horses.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) March 16, 2008

Academy of Art University is known for their world-class illustration and animation classes, providing students with the most cutting-edge tools and resources. Instructors at this top art school (http://www. academyart. edu/ep/top-art-school. html) show students techniques they cannot find in any other classroom or in any textbook and provide an interactive approach to learning. Students in Tanya Ericson's Wildlife Drawing class and Terri Whitlatch's Creature Design class will get a close-up examination of their subjects when the Academy hosts three different-sized horses.

On March 25, 2008, students will gather in the parking lot of the 601 Brannan building to study and sketch a Saddlebred show horse, a pony and a miniature horse. It is extremely useful for animators and illustrators to learn how to draw the form of a horse since they have such large and complex muscle and bone structures. Since these horses are used to being around people, students can touch them and get an idea of how their bodies are shaped.

"Large horses are so inspirational to draw," said Ericson, who owns horses herself. "Students don't have the time to go out and study these animals on their own."

In the past, Ericson has brought in her own miniature horses for students to sketch. Miniature horses are slightly bigger than a large dog and thus very accessible to study. They also enjoy being around people, which makes miniature horses the perfect live model for a class.

Because dogs and horses are the most frequently drawn animals in an art career, both are incredibly important to study. Ericson encourages her animation students to draw the animals as if they are in motion, making them more lifelike.

For many years, the Academy has hosted a number of live animal models including a lion, pigs, dogs, snakes and more. Students in animal illustration classes also take field trips to the San Francisco Zoo, Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Lindsey Wildlife Museum to learn how to illustrate different species of animals. Academy of Art University aims to offer an expansive curriculum in animal biology coupled with creature design and animal animation.

The collaboration between the animation school (http://www. academyart. edu/animation-school/index. html) and illustration school (http://www. academyart. edu/illustration-school/index. html) demonstrates the Academy's multi-disciplined approach to education. Located in the heart of San Francisco, Academy of Art University is one of the foremost educational and artistic institutions in the world, providing students with the advantage they need in the art world. The supreme faculty of working professionals and state-of-the-art facilities give Academy students a competitive edge when they enter the art and design industries upon graduation.

The list of companies that hire Academy animation and illustration graduates reads like a who's who list of art and design - Pixar, Warner Bros., Industrial Light and Magic, Activision, Electronic Arts and more. Academy graduates have worked on hit films, such as Ratatouille and have had their work showcased in advertisements for companies such as H&M.

About Academy of Art University, San Francisco
With nearly 12,000 students, Academy of Art University is the nation's largest private art and design university. Established in 1929, the school offers accredited AA, BFA, M. Arch and MFA programs, as well as continuing art education with classes in copywriting, fashion merchandising, interior design, new media, computer animation, sculpture, graphic design, cinematography, industrial design, digital photography and car design. Students can also enroll in a flexible online degree program in art and design.

Academy of Art University is an accredited member of WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges), NASAD, Council for Interior Design Accreditation (BFA-IAD) and NAAB (M-ARCH).

For more information visit www. academyart. edu or call 1-800-544-2787.

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