Overview
We're delighted to have you join us at Arts University Bournemouth
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We're delighted to have you join us at Arts University Bournemouth, and hope that your time here will be rewarding, challenging, creative and enjoyable.
Welcome to the MA Illustration course
This welcome pack is designed to give you an idea of what to expect during the first weeks of your course. Please take the time to read it carefully and take particular note of the pre-course preparation. We hope that you'll enjoy a happy and productive time with us, and we look forward to meeting you.
A message from your Award Leader
Hello!
I would like to welcome you to Arts University Bournemouth as a postgraduate student for this academic year. The nature of the course offers significant opportunities for you to think beyond your chosen discipline of Illustration to draw out connections with other areas of art and design, as well as wider discourses and debates. The cultural and social diversity of our student cohorts within the Graduate School, enriches the sharing of ideas and experience.
I hope that you are excited by the prospect of the challenges and rewards such a period of advanced study will bring. There is no specific pre-course project set but I would encourage all new students to be drawing, taking photographs and producing imagery on a daily basis over the vacation. We value creative risk-taking, open-mindedness and curiosity. Come ready to immerse yourself from the outset by engaging in the full breadth of learning activities and embracing the rich community of practice our course supports.
- Lisa Richardson, Award Leader
Before you join us
There's no specific Pre-course Project set, but we'd encourage all new students to be drawing, taking photographs and producing imagery on a daily basis over the vacation.
In preparation for your period in Postgraduate Study and as a means to introducing you to the approaches for research at this level, we suggest that you read the following:
- Brazell, D., & Davies, J. (2013). Understanding Illustration. London: A. & C. Black.
- Kress, G. (2010). Multimodality: A Social Semiotic Approach to Contemporary Communication. London: Routledge.
- Rees, D. (2014). How to be an Illustrator. 2nd ed. London: Laurence King.
- Zeegen, L. (2011). The Fundamentals of Illustration. 2nd ed. Lausanne: AVA Academia.
- Varoom Magazine
If you read one thing before you arrive, we recommend...
Becoming a Successful Illustrator
What to bring on your first day
Notepad, pens and any enrolment requirements.
You may wish to equip yourself with the following prior to arrival:
- Hard drive
- Smartphone
- Digital Camera
- Drawing paper – A3 or bigger (above 120 gsm) (Seawhite, Daler Rowney)
- Sketchbooks ranging from A6 to A3. Aim for paper over 100 gsm. (Seawhite, Fabriano, Daler Rowney, Moleskine).
- Drawing pencils ranging from B to 9B (Derwent Graphic)
- Charcoal sticks - mixed box of thicknesses (not compressed)
- Paintbrushes in different thicknesses (Winsor & Newton, System 3)
- Selection of paints e.g. Gouache, watercolour, acrylic (System 3, Daler Rowney, Winsor and Newton)
- A range of markers of different thicknesses and colours (eg. Posca pens)
- Drawing inks
- Tracing paper – A3
The Studio is equipped with a range of basic materials and equipment including paper, paints, inks, pencils, brushes, cutting mats, guillotine, scanners, printer and Apple Macs.
Explore more
Next Steps
Find out the useful dates and contact before you start here
Arrival
We are looking forward to welcoming you to MA Illustration this year in just a few weeks!