Entertainment Art
In art, technology changes but core skills remain the same. This is true in today’s entertainment field, where the most interesting and challenging jobs are reserved for designers who can create convincing environments and imaginative characters. Although these artists rely on digital tools, they must have advanced traditional skills to use these tools effectively. Digital Artists with these traditional “skill sets” become visual development artists, art directors, character designers, environment designers, production designers, or any of the other plethora of designers in the entertainment community.
LAAFA is well known internationally as a premier institution for training in the traditional skills needed for illustration and entertainment art. LAAFA’s Entertainment Programs offer a balanced education that starts with traditional drawing and painting skills and ends with the application of these skills to software appropriate for the visual development of movies, games, and animation.
Our graduates will leave our program equipped with a well rounded education and the required skills needed to take on the challenging and competitive job market in the entertainment field.
The three-year certificate program includes the same balanced curriculum without the general education and philosophy requirements.
BFA Degree in Entertainment Art (180 credits)
The required credits are comprised of the following:
- Studio – 102
- Anatomy/Ecorché – 6
- Business – 6
- Art History – 18
- Arts, Non-Visual – 15
- Electives – 9
- General Education – 24
Certificate in Entertainment Art (156 credits)
The required credits are comprised of the following:
- Studio – 102
- Anatomy/Ecorché – 6
- Business – 6
- Art History – 18
- Arts, Non-Visual – 15
- Electives – 9
LAAFA’s Entertainment Art curriculum is built on essential traditional skills and their important application to digital production. Although this curriculum focuses on a general knowledge of entertainment art, we know that true success lies in an artist’s ability to specialize in a single aspect of the many facets of entertainment design. We have tailored our elective classes to address this need specifically. We offer our students the opportunity to supplement their education by choosing classes that focus on their specific area of interest in the entertainment industry. In their final quarter of study, students will focus on learning the software programs required to succeed in their area of specialty. Here at LAAFA, you will be sure to find the well rounded education expected by the entertainment industry.
The curriculum listed below does not include the required general education courses.
Year 1
- Drawing 1, 2, 3, 4
- Figure Construction 1, 2, 3, 4
- Anatomy 1, 2 (This includes lab hours where a student has the opportunity to draw and study from a dissected cadaver.)
- Sculpture 1, 2
- Composition 1, 2
- Perspective 1
- Art History 1, 2, 3, 4
- Electives
Year 2
- Painting 1, 2
- Composition 3
- Color theory
- Methods and Materials
- Art History 5, 6
- Dynamic Sketching
- Short Pose Analytical Life Drawing
- Perspective 2
- Composition for Film and Animation
- History of Film and Animation
- Head, Hands, and Costume Drawing
- Life Drawing for Entertainment Visual Development
- Digital Life Painting
- Character Design Basics
- Digital Painting for Entertainment Art
- 18th and 19th Century art and Cultural History
- Project Assemble and Research
- Uninstructed Drawing Lab
Year 3
- Project Class 1A
- Project Class 1B
- Project Class 2A
- Project Class 2B
- Project Class 3A
- Project Class 3B
- Project Class 4A
- Project Class 4B
- Life Drawing for Animation 2
- Creature Design
- Intermediate Digital Painting
- Portfolio Presentation
- Business of Entertainment Art 1, 2
- Electives
The Entertainment Art Program provides students with a comprehensive education and development of the philosophical, conceptual and practical skills necessary in the professional fields of illustration, concept art for film and games, and visual development for animation. Combining traditional studio practice with innovative digital technologies, the program imparts a professional education in drawing, painting, digital media, composition, style and complex visual storytelling. Entertainment Art students will develop the ability to create work that is challenging, engaging and innovative; preparing them to meet the demands of a constantly evolving Entertainment Art field. It is LAAFA’s intention that the purposes, goals and outcomes of an education in the Entertainment Arts program are consistent and compatible with the parent mission statement.
