The University of Staffordshire’s Games Institute boasts a dedicated life drawing team that equips students with essential skills tailored to industry needs, including traditional anatomy, lighting, and colour. Through a diverse range of immersive sessions, our games students build dynamic portfolios that showcase their versatility and industry readiness. Whether sketching medieval knights in armour, capturing the motion of a hawk, or exploring museum artifacts, our students graduate with more than just technical skills - they gain the invaluable ability to observe, interpret, and translate real-world subjects into artwork, a key asset for any artist in the creative industries.
Men at Arms
In this exclusive session, students have the rare opportunity to sketch experts dressed in medieval armour, wielding weapons, and sharing insights into ancient combat tactics. Students use a variety of tools, from traditional pencils and watercolours to digital slow-motion capture, to fully engage with the historical context. This hands-on experience is invaluable for students working on historically inspired projects, as well as those wanting to focus on futuristic designs, like robotics and hard-surface models.
The Raptors Day
Our Raptors Day offers students an extraordinary chance to study the anatomy and movement of large birds of prey. Working closely with a professional falconer, students handle hawks, owls, and eagles, gaining first-hand experience in how these magnificent creatures behave, sound, and interact. This immersive session goes beyond visual observation, giving students a deeper understanding of texture, weight, and motion, all of which are essential for translating nature into art.