CDU graduate teaches Territorians visual arts in games design

The sky’s the limit for a Charles Darwin University (CDU) arts alumnus who is now teaching visual and digital skills at a Darwin-based game design company.

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) graduate Skye Lavelle is just 23 years old, but already making waves in the world of digital art education and advocacy as a teacher for The Array's new Digital Art Fundamentals Course.

Born and raised in the NT, Ms Lavelle is passionate about helping others to develop their artistic talents and said her classes at CDU created strong connections with her lecturers.

“I really enjoyed my time at CDU – the classes were fun and interactive, and I felt supported to try new styles and ideas,” Ms Lavelle said.

“I wrote my thesis on exploring queer identities in different media because I wanted to explore the varying expressions of someone's sense of self.

“I think representing diverse perspectives is so important because growing up in such a multicultural place like Darwin really allowed me to see the beauty in everyone's unique identity!”

The Array’s six-week course started on Monday 29 April, and was designed to cater to both beginners and experienced artists looking to refresh their skills.

"The course covers essential aspects of art, including colour theory, form, lighting, anatomy, perspective, and composition,” she said.

“I’ll be teaching skills that can be applied across digital and traditional mediums."

Ms Lavelle has used her experience at CDU as a student to improve her teaching skills and will work closely with course participants on anatomy composition for characters, emphasising hands-on practice and collaborative learning. 

"I like to help people explore specific art topics that resonate with their interests. By focusing on a few key skills, it helps people to gain confidence in their self-expression and creativity quite quickly," she said.

Beyond teaching, she is passionate about helping other young people explore their interests in visual arts and game design, and even designed the logo and mascot for the 2022 TROPiCON, the Territory’s flagship event dedicated to the pop culture ‘geek sector’. 

She sees art as a valuable skill for game development and hopes to see increased funding in the industry, especially to support young people to learn and contribute.

"Art plays a crucial role in storytelling and immersion in video games. I think more investment in this sector can lead to exciting and creative opportunities for Territorians – we are a very tight-knit community and I love being a part of that," she said.