Drawing Foundation Year - Lyon

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 instruction with a teacher: 800 hours per year

  • Program Highlights

    This program prepares students for the courses offered by the Émile Cohl School, as well as for programs at other top art and animation schools. 

    Students benefit from personalized support to acquire academic drawing fundamentals, engage in sustained artistic practice, take part in introductory workshops in illustration and animation, and explore cultural institutions. 

    The Lyon Drawing Foundation Year is taught by a team of experienced professional artist-instructors. 

  • Certificate

    Students receive a certificate of completion at the end of the program.

Program Overview

Foundation Skills

This one-year foundation course focuses on strengthening drawing from observation and training the eye. It is designed for students who need to reinforce their drawing practice. Artistic instruction, delivered in studio settings, forms the core of the program. Students learn the basic techniques required to construct any type of image.

The Drawing Foundation Year also aims to develop artistic knowledge and creative skills. Students carry out personal projects inspired by visits to museums, partner cinemas, and major performing arts venues.

They also take part in multi-day introductory workshops covering various media such as Illustration/Comics, Animation, and 3D.

The goal is to prepare students to successfully enter the highly selective first year of the Applied Drawing program, accessible via Parcoursup. The Drawing Foundation Year can also lead to other Émile Cohl School programs: 3D Drawing and Storyboard & Layout.

Please note:

  • A Drawing Foundation Year is also offered at the Angoulême campus.
  • For international, non-French-speaking students, a FLE Drawing Foundation Year is available in Lyon.

98% of students enrolled in the Drawing Foundation Year go on to enter the first year of one of the school’s three degree programs.

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

  • Prépa Lyon
année

  • The Drawing Foundation Year focuses on building skills in real-life observational drawing and training the eye. During the first semester, the curriculum is centered on studio-based artistic instruction. 

    In the second semester, students complete a study portfolio that puts into practice what they have learned in observational drawing and art history. This portfolio is used to assess the student’s ability to build an original artistic file that reflects their curiosity and cultural awareness. 

    The program also helps develop creative skills through multi-day workshops introducing various media, including illustration, comics, animation, and 3D. 

    Students acquire the fundamental drawing techniques necessary for the construction of any visual image. 

    • Tuition for the 2025/2026 Academic Year

      €6,180 (+ €900 annual administrative fees)
      Includes 800 hours of face-to-face instruction with a teacher, equivalent to 27 hours per week.

    • Course

      • Object drawing

      • Cast drawing

      • Life drawing

      • Documentary drawing

      • Sculpture

      • Comics / DrawingWorkshop

Admission

  • Application Requirements

    This program is open to students who have completed a high school diploma or equivalent (mandatory), and is available exclusively 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. 

     

  • Drawing Portfolio

    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 
    • the time spent on each drawing 

     

    Tips for preparing your portfolio:

    (To be added…) 

  • Selection Process

    Selections take place from January to July.
    Admission is outside the Parcoursup platform and based on an interview, during which candidates must demonstrate their motivation and present their art portfolio to our academic staff.
    The interview may be conducted remotely.
    Admission decisions (acceptance or rejection) are communicated immediately following the interview. 

    Please note: It is recommended that applicants also submit their drawing portfolio through Parcoursup, by applying to the first year of the Applied Drawing program. 

Admission

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