Ecole Emile Cohl > Formations > Drawing foundation year – Angoulême

Drawing foundation year - Angoulême

The goal of this Preparatory class is to acquire the fundamentals of drawing, to spark curiosity, and to confirm the decision to pursue art studies.

Keys Informations

Number of Teaching Hours

Face-to-face teaching hours with an instructor: 740 hours per year.
Program Highlights
- This foundation course prepares students for the programs offered by Émile Cohl School as well as those of other top art and animation schools.
- The Angoulême Drawing Foundation Year is taught by a team of experienced professional artist-instructors. It offers intensive drawing practice to prepare for art studies, introductory workshops, and exposure to cultural institutions.
- Students receive a certificate of completion at the end of the program.

Program Overview

Foundation Skills

This one-year preparatory drawing class focuses on foundational training in drawing from observation and in developing visual perception. Artistic instruction, delivered in studio settings, forms the core of the program.

The Drawing Foundation Year also aims to build artistic knowledge, develop creative skills, and introduce students to the basics of animation, storyboarding, and comics. Students acquire the foundational techniques essential for creating any still or animated image.

Objectives

Acquire academic drawing fundamentals

Clarify career and academic goals

Develop artistic culture, observational skills, and curiosity

Prepare for admission into higher-level programs, notably those at Émile Cohl School (e.g., Storyboard & Layout, Applied Drawing, or 3D Drawing programs)

The program is offered in Lyon and Angoulême.

You are an international student and would like to join a French as a Foreign Language foundation program? Discover our FLE Foundation Course.

Admission

Prépa Angoulême

année

This one-year foundation program in Angoulême helps students acquire the fundamentals of drawing, expand their artistic knowledge, and make informed choices about their future studies.

The fundamentals of drawing are taught through studio-based courses focused on observational drawing, helping students develop their visual understanding. They learn essential techniques and vocabulary needed for constructing any type of image.

The program also fosters cultural awareness and artistic knowledge. Students take part in off-site workshops, guided visits to major cultural institutions—such as the International City of Comics and Image Museum—and attend major events like the Angoulême International Comics Festival.

Meetings with professionals, including visits to animation studios, offer students their first direct experience of the professional world.

In Angoulême—an international hub for animation and comic art—students also receive instruction in animation and comic storytelling. These courses give them the tools to confidently choose their future path, whether it’s continuing their studies at Emile Cohl School in Angoulême (Storyboard & Layout), in Lyon (Professional Illustrator, 3D Designer), or at another art school.
- Tuition for the 2025/2026 Academic Year
  
  €5,580 (+ €900 annual administrative fees)
  This includes 740 hours of face-to-face instruction with a teacher, equivalent to 25 hours per week.
- Courses
  Documentary drawing
  
  Storyboard
  
  Character drawing
  
  Comics
  
  Digital sculpture
  
  Lide drawing
  
  Background sketches
  
  Character sketches
  
  Portfolio development support
  
  Dessin de plâtre
  
  Object drawing
  
  3D Worskhop
  
  Animation Workshop
  
  Storyboard Workshop

Admission

Application Requirements

This program is open to students who have completed a high school diploma or equivalent (required), and is available only as a full-time onsite course.
Prerequisites
- A strong motivation to pursue drawing practice
- A portfolio of drawings from real-life observation
The same portfolio is required to apply for the Drawing Foundation Year, the first year of the Applied Drawing program, or the first year of the 3D Drawing program.
The Art Portfolio
The portfolio must consist of drawings from real-life observation.

Prepare 4 boards, each containing 2 or 3 drawings:
- Board 1: Views of buildings (interior or exterior)
- Board 2: Full-body life drawings of people
- Board 3: Tools, fruits, or vegetables
- Board 4: Observational drawings – subjects of your choice
Each board must include the date of the drawing, the techniques used, and the time spent on the drawing.

Tips for preparing your portfolio:
Selection Process
- Selections take place from November to July.
  Admission is handled outside of the Parcoursup platform, and is based on a motivation interview and the presentation of an art portfolio to our academic staff.
  The interview can be conducted remotely.
  Applicants will be notified of their admission status (accepted or rejected) immediately after the interview.
Please note: You may also submit your drawing portfolio via the Parcoursup platform by applying to the first year of the Applied Drawing Artist program.
How to Apply

Call the school office at +33 (0)5 54 72 00 01 to book a free admission interview.
Your portfolio must be scanned and sent by email several days before the interview, whether it is conducted online or in person.

Applicants who have applied via Parcoursup to the first year of the Applied Drawing program may also be admitted to the Drawing Foundation Year if they have been ranked. Once the rankings are published, they may enroll in the foundation program without an interview, subject to available spots.