Foundation Drawing for Textile Art, Design and Fashion

What will I study?

This course is divided into five parts, each of which addresses a different approach to drawing for textiles. Within each part are between two and five topics that break the subject down into focused projects

Part One: Line and Image 

Line drawing is highly versatile technique encompassing precise and accurate methods as well as more gestural and playful techniques. You’ll explore ways to draw objects, as well as experimenting with ways to translate non-visual information into lines and marks. 

Part Two: Surface and Tactility 

Textiles is an inherently tactile subject, so this section explores ways to draw from and with texture. You’ll be introduced to a range of drawing media and techniques, from more formal, traditional approaches to expressive methods, such as creating your own drawing tools. 

Part Three: Objects and Spaces 

Observational drawing assists the practitioner in rendering accurate depictions on paper, communicate ideas and encourages skilled and purposeful looking. You’ll be introduced to the various methods and guided to create your own observational drawings. 

Part Four: Drape and Silhouette 

You’ll focus solely on drawing fabrics in this section, capturing the pattern and texture of textiles as they are draped, bundled and worn on the body. 

Part Five: Movement and Sound

To highlight the diversity of drawing, this part of the course focuses on capturing the ethereal elements of movement and sound. The resulting work will be abstract, possibly very large and transient in nature.

By the end of this course you should be able to: 

• demonstrate a greater understanding of the possibilities of drawing 
• show inventiveness and creativity 
• display an awareness of contemporary approaches to drawing 
• have gained an understanding of where drawing sits in the wider creative process 
• have more confidence in your potential as an artist, designer or maker 
• show an improved ability in looking at and interpreting what you see 
• demonstrate a more mastered approach to drawing media and materials 
• be in a better position to decide on the nature and direction of your future studies.

• Access a set text of course materials and resources on our virtual learning platform, OCA Learn.
• Enhance your core learning by signing up for additional webinars, workshops, and study groups through the Textiles Department, available on OCA Learn.
• Submit an assignment at the end of each section of the course for review by your tutor, and receive either written or spoken feedback.

• A minimum of 10 study hours per week. 
• Access to a laptop or desktop computer with internet access.
• Good standard of writing, listening, reading and speaking English language skills*.
• Good IT literacy.
• Notebook

*Please note, if your nationality does not feature on the majority of English speaking countries list you will need to provide evidence of your English language skills. 

Here’s a general list of what you may need for this specific course unit:

• A3 sketchbook 
• Sheets of A2, A3 and A4 cartridge paper 
• Masking tape
• Graphite pencils (2B to 8B)
• Graphite stick
• Selection of black pens: biros, fibre tips, fineliners, brush pens, etc.
• Willow and compressed charcoal sticks
• Various kinds of eraser
• Fixative spray
• Dip pen
• Water-soluble ink (black and white)
• Gluestick/PVA glue
• Craft knife and cutting board

OCA Accessibility Statement

The OCA Accessibility Statement covers the OCA website, which you may use to access course or unit information, or OCA policies.

Mode of study

All of this unit’s study materials are available online. 

Online materials

Online learning materials set out the unit’s content and activities. These comprise of text, images, documents, links to external resources and videos. These can be accessed via a PDF document.

Visual content

The learning materials for this unit contain some diagrams, illustrations, photographs and audio video content (15 minutes in length). We provide descriptions for all visual content and transcripts for videos.

Library resources

You will be required to access library resources as part of your unit. Any essential reading is provided electronically.

Projects

This unit contains reflective writing activities and practical making tasks. These can be submitted digitally as written documents.

Tuition strategy 

Support is provided by academic staff through formative feedback. Tutorials are delivered through online video conferencing with optional captioning and/or recordings. Feedback is provided through written documents or as a tutorial with notes, depending on student choice.

Working with Others

This unit does not encourage working with others.

Assessment

Assessment is not required for this foundation unit, a summary appraisal is provided by the tutor.

Study tempo

Students are able to define a part-time study tempo that works for them within the overall timeframe deadline for the unit. Guidance and support on study skills and time management is available online through the OCA Student Handbook on the VLE. 

You have 12 months to complete the course from the start of your Induction. 

Understandably, sometimes there are unexpected mitigating circumstances that affect your ability to study. In these instances, students can apply for an extension or deferral. We encourage students to seek support as early as possible in such circumstances.

On completion of the course you should have gained sufficient skills and enough confidence to go on to further study with the Open College of the Arts, as well as have begun to create a portfolio of work, and be able to decide on the nature and direction of your future studies and art practice. 

Review our undergraduate courses here.

Foundation courses are not accredited, meaning the courses are studied for personal development and they do not carry any UCAS points, however upon receiving your final assignment feedback you can request a certificate of completion.

Please review the Foundation courses fees linked here. 

Eligible students are welcome to apply for a Learner Support Scheme bursary to help with the cost of course fees and resources. Information on eligibility and how to apply is linked here.

Foundation courses are not eligible for Student Finance.

There are several intakes throughout the year students can join. The intake dates and deadlines linked here.

Submit an enrolment form below to select your intake. Once submitted, your enrolment form will still need to be reviewed and confirmed as eligible to progress. Please allow 10 working days for your enrolment to be reviewed once submitted.