Drawing with Anatomy (FINA20035)

Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

Availability(Quotas apply)
Summer Term
February
Winter Term
July
FeesLook up fees

This practice-based drawing subject focuses on developing skills and techniques in figurative drawing. It is designed for students who have little or no experience in visual art making.

Students will be introduced to specialist figurative drawing techniques through working from both life models and from anatomical specimens within the Harry Brookes Allen Museum of Anatomy and Pathology in the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience.

Lectures and writing tasks that explore the human figure in historic and contemporary visual art will complement the drawing program. By the end of the subject, students will have developed a comprehensive folio of exercises and finished works exploring the body in both its living and preserved states, highlighting the ways in which artistic practice can be used to examine these conditions.

Additional Costs

Additional costs will apply for the purpose of purchasing materials as relevant. Details will be provided to students approximately 1 month prior to the first class.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  • demonstrate drawing skills required to effectively represent the figure in both living and preserved states from direct observation;
  • discuss how the human body has been represented in both historical and contemporary art and in the field of anatomy;
  • use pictorial and technical experimentation to explore visual and conceptual ideas relevant to the representation of the human body;
  • show technical development and proficiency in manipulating a range of media through practical experimentation and set tasks;
  • demonstrate independent research in the field of figurative art;
  • critically evaluate drawing processes, creative outcomes and their own development.

Generic skills

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  • display an awareness of the graphic possibilities of a variety of concepts, materials and practices;
  • exhibit evidence of skill development both pictorially and technically as a means of independent image making;
  • indicate evidence of individual research in the relevant area of practice;
  • demonstrate capacities for artistic imagination, creativity, transformation and interpretation;
  • demonstrate practical skills in respect of critical analysis, problem solving; and
  • demonstrate an open, independent and inquiring attitude towards contemporary cultural developments and new ideas.

Last updated: 9 April 2025

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None

Non-allowed subjects

None

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.

Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home

Last updated: 9 April 2025

Assessment

DescriptionTimingPercentage

Folio, requiring approximately 75 hours of work to complete, including all projects, finished drawing and paintings, trials, all life drawings, support work, visual diary, research and notes created throughout the subject.

  • 75 hours (of work required)
During the assessment period75%

Written Assignment

  • 1000 words
During the assessment period25%
Hurdle requirement: Students must attend a minimum of 75% of all scheduled classes.Throughout the teaching periodN/A
Hurdle requirement: Students must submit all elements of assessment to be eligible for a pass in this subject. For the purposes of meeting this hurdle requirement, each submitted assessment must be complete and constitute a genuine attempt to address the requirements of the task. Submitting only part of an assessment (e.g. only the title page) or an assessment on an irrelevant topic will not meet this hurdle requirement.N/A

Additional details

Ongoing feedback is provided to students through the subject's duration via individual and group discussion. Additionally, a progress review will take place midway through the subject, taking into account the following criteria: course engagement; work development.

Last updated: 9 April 2025

Quotas apply to this subject

Dates & times

  • Summer Term
    CoordinatorColleen Ahern
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hours36 hours, comprising 6 hours of on campus lectures and workshops per day for 6 days.
    Total time commitment136 hours
    Teaching period22 January 2024 to 30 January 2024
    Last self-enrol date23 January 2024
    Census date 2 February 2024
    Last date to withdraw without fail 9 February 2024
    Assessment period ends23 February 2024

    Summer Term contact information

    vca-breadth@unimelb.edu.au 

  • February
    CoordinatorColleen Ahern
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hours36 hours, comprising 6 hours of on campus lectures and workshops per day for 6 days.
    Total time commitment136 hours
    Teaching period 1 February 2024 to 8 February 2024
    Last self-enrol date 2 February 2024
    Census date 9 February 2024
    Last date to withdraw without fail16 February 2024
    Assessment period ends 1 March 2024

    February contact information

    vca-breadth@unimelb.edu.au 

  • Winter Term
    CoordinatorColleen Ahern
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hours36 hours, comprising 6 hours of on campus lectures and workshops per day for 6 days.
    Total time commitment136 hours
    Teaching period24 June 2024 to 1 July 2024
    Last self-enrol date25 June 2024
    Census date 5 July 2024
    Last date to withdraw without fail12 July 2024
    Assessment period ends26 July 2024

    Winter Term contact information

    vca-breadth@unimelb.edu.au

  • July
    CoordinatorColleen Ahern
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hours36 hours, comprising 6 hours of on campus lectures and workshops per day for 6 days.
    Total time commitment136 hours
    Teaching period 3 July 2024 to 10 July 2024
    Last self-enrol date 4 July 2024
    Census date12 July 2024
    Last date to withdraw without fail19 July 2024
    Assessment period ends 2 August 2024

    July contact information

    vca-breadth@unimelb.edu.au 

What do these dates mean

Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:

  • Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
  • And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
       -  Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
     

    Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.

Additional delivery details

Quota

This subject has an enrolment quota of 44 students per availability, and places are limited. Places will be allocated until the quota is reached. Enrolment in this subject is not guaranteed.

Breadth Studies at the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music

Breadth studies at the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music allow students from a variety of backgrounds to continue their interest in the arts or develop new skills and passions alongside their undergraduate degree at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music and the Victorian College of the Arts. Read More >

Enquire about this Breadth subject: vca-breadth@unimelb.edu.au 

Last updated: 9 April 2025

Further information

Last updated: 9 April 2025