Canadian schools?

[Michael_H]

I've only found evidence of one art school in Canada, mostly because it's a hop and a skip away from home. I was just wondering what other schools there are in Canada, since I'm trying to find the best one for my money.

[egerie]

You just found one :confused:
Anyway, tell us what kind of art school you're looking for. If you want to learn animation, illustration, design, fine arts, blah.

[Michael_H]

I'm looking for two things in a school. Illustration and animation. (preferably 3d animation.) I'm actually looking more schools up right now, it's just that first one is the one I've recieved info on.

[Lev_0]

Sheridan in Ontario is Canada's best animation school ATM, if you've got the money to live there and pay tuition it's where you'd probly wana go. I forget the address to their site, try a google search for it. Vancouver film school in Vancouver has a 2d/3d program, although I'm not sure how good the actual school is after seeing some of the student reels for 3d animation. Their 2d animation program might be good though, I duno.

[Ultarant]

There also a number of other colleges for design, such as OCAD. Even if you don't make it a career, you may want to sit in on a few classes just for the architectural knowledge.

Cheers!

[egerie]

I cannot vouch for it but I heard a lot of good things about Emily Carr institute in Vancouver.

Just a word of caution tho ; be very very careful when you're looking for a specialised school. Try to find students that graduated from that specific school and ask them how they found their experience. Was the curiculum appropriate, do they feel they've learnt a lot, does the school have a placing program, networking program, .. ?
There are a lot of ppl out there that will grab your money while making promises of x% placement mirages... Don't be afraid to ask and do some serious shopping around ! It's your investment of time and of course money.

[Kambei]

Well I am currently at the Vancouver Film school for 3d animation..

The program and the pacing rocks. They really have a hard paced, in your face, no sleep type of program.

They had fair to no portfolio requirements when I attended, but now have a Foundation program to compensate for those that don't have prior art experience. So if you have quite a big chunk of change ( 24000 US for the 3d alone) and the time( 2 years.. one year foundation, one year 3d animation) its worth checking out. Plus Vancouver is a great city.. well.. if you get out of the labs to see it of course..


PM me if you have more questions..

[endregan]

im interested in illustration at sheridan but i dont think 1st years can take illustration. any ideas?

is the art and art history program good or does anyone know.

any other schools i should check out ?

[endregan]

^bump.

i was wondering if anyone knew anything about art fundamentals at sheridan, and if then after that you can take bachelor of applied illustration, or something like that. I was wondering what type of job you get after too?

I was also checking out the Angel Academy in Toronto.

Expensive but it caught my eye for sure..

[JProvost]

endregan:

I am currently in the Bachelor of Applied Arts - Illustration program at Sheridan, after going through Art Fundamentals last year. First years CAN go into Illustration, it's just a matter of having a strong enough portfolio.
I didn't even try submitting a portfolio straight from highschool, in fact I thought after Fundies I was headed into Graphic Design.
There are two options in Illustration after completion of first year (which is a sort of all-encompassing primer) - Interpretive or Technical Illustration. Interp tends to be book covers, editorial illustrations, magazine spots... generally more expressive work. Technical Illustration is more in the area of industrial design, architectural, mechanical, scientific stuff. Certainly more than just lame schematics. Of course, both disciplines include some education in graphic design, digital media - along with academics like Composition and Rhetoric (Essay writing), Psychology, etc etc because it is an Applied Arts degree.

Art Fundamentals is a good program if you haven't had any real formal art training. It's a really good primer for those coming out of highschool (as most have very poor arts programs) and will help you to build a stronger portfolio for Illustration (or Animation or whatever you plan on going into).

OCAD's Illustration program, from what I hear, is a lot more artsy. Sheridan's interpretive program probably looks like technical next to them. I can't really tell you anything about that place because we're bitter enemies, and... well... look at the place!

http://ocad.ca/large_OCAD_ext.jpg

[endregan]

Hey thanks for taking the time JProvost :). I think Sheridan is a great idea. I think I will apply there and see if I can get into art fundamentals, then probably take illustration thats interpretive. (bachelor of arts - illustration?)

Sheridan is known to be one of the best schools for a reason.

So in art fundamentals, what is it like, is it more of a finding out what you want to do, and if you work hard you will do well and can choose what illustration you want to take next? Just want to know what fundamentals is like. I definitly want to come by sheridan for a tour !! Maybe ill see ya and u can show me around haha jk your prob really busy.

At sheridan do they have dorms and food plans and things like that?

Ocad is another option, but I dont hear much about them, what do you mean by artsy?

Thanks for the info!

[carpal]

Art Fundies eh?

I am there right now, on a bit of a hiatus from the united states working on a portfolio for school back there.

The idea of Fundies is that coming out of high school most people don't have high level art skills, its mostly comic book or anime styled stuff. With fundies you get a broad overview of well, just about everything. With this knowledge you can pick apart where you want to go with your art and have nice base level skills to use.

Here is the catch, There are 600 people in the program and 90% of them want to get into Animation or Illustration AT Sheridan.

I think just about everyone gets mixed feelings about Fundies, I personally know exactly what I want to do with my art. I am building a pretty specific portfolio which makes classes like 3d design seem somewhat pointless. It is quite a bit of work especially in the classes that you don't find applicable to what you want to do. That is when you pretend it is medicine and what you are doing is good for you.

Best part of Sheridan? For me at least it has been the extra life drawing. If I really cared to with my schedule it would be quite possible for me to get close to 30 hours of figure drawing EVERY WEEK, on top of my classes already. So far I haven't gotten less than 12 extra hours a week. You WILL improve, and meet the motivated people in those classes. (which is another let-down, out of the 600 people in the program I would say a solid half of them have high hopes for getting into one of the upper programs but don't put the work in. oh well)

Yes they have one residence hall, very small and hard to get in. I got accepted in but I found a house down the street that I am sharing with 4 other guys (one who I met on the art message boards actually) There are a TON of apartments within easy walking distance.

If you do come here, my advice is this - Figure out WHAT it is that you want to get from the program, and then do everything you can to get that from it. I NEED to improve my figure drawing A LOT, I also want to get much better at painting, plus work on 3d modeling a bit at home. So I have put those ahead of making sure I get crappy wire sculptures done for 3d design. I will probably get a nasty grade in there but I will get much more out of my other classes. PRIORITIZE.

Plus if you are in Ontario, fundies is cheap as hell! For what you can possibly get from it it is s a steal. If you have any other questions just ask.

-Matt

[endregan]

Wow thanks man the response has been great!

So Matt, youre saying you share a place with other guys and so you must have a job to pay for rent and food and such right?

Art fundamentals sounds awesome. I really dont like the idea of it being broad as im pretty sure i would like to do illustration, but it could open my options and I may find I love what I thought I didn't.

The life drawing is all the time then I assume? Thats awesome, because I really want to do as much as I can and push myself to the max!

Hey if I can't get into residence perhaps Ill find a place that is good or just make you take me in ;).

Great info, Im looking forward to next year. Now i must work me arse off for last year of highschool and build up a good portfolio. What is it that got you accepted into art fundamentals?

Thanks!

[thomasaurus]

I'm planning to start my post-secondary art education a year after I grad high school (this year). I agree I have been told by just about everyone that Art Fundies is the way to go first.

JProvost what was Fundies like? Since so many people head into the Bachelor courses, are the classes competitive?

[endregan]

^bump

anyone else have any input on this, its important to a lot of us and I know there are some people out there going to sheridan right now :)

come on dont be shy !!

[Tully]

There are lots of art schools in Canada! NSCAD is a good one... it's in Halifax as I recall. Also York University has a very large program.

Just don't think Sheridan is the be-all and end-all of art schools in this country. Although I know it's great for animation, I've never heard much from it in the way of learning your basic skills... painting, drawing, etc. Not to say it isn't good. I really just don't know.

I'm going to Mount Allison University myself. It's really tough to get in here, because they only take about 30 people in the FA program every year... I was lucky. They have a great visiting artist program where contemporary artists come to give lectures and workshops dealing with their work. They tend to follow the philosophy that the only way to learn how to do art is to do it. So there's not a lot of reading and writing projects except when it comes to a small amount of art history and one elective. I get in 9 hours of in-class studio time every week. I've improved immeasurably since coming here.

So, there's my little rant about how great my school is. And it is great. Very great.

...although I wouldn't suggest it for the design types. It's definitely for the froo froo fine arts.

[bigmonkeynuts]

Hey,

I'm at Sheridan at the moment, first year in the new BA Arts - Animation program. I also went through the art fundamentals program last year.

What was fundies like? Meh... my plan last year was to use it for the special admissions to help me get into animation, so I had to keep a good gpa overall to qualify. In the end, it worked. But honestly, I was in PZ's shoes last year in a way... extra life drawing became my focus. I did about 15 hours of life drawing on top of my classes and my draftsmanship improved by leaps and bounds because of the simple amount of drawing practice I was doing. I enjoyed my Drawing class most of the time, had a great time in painting class, and 2d design and imaging systems delt with some interesting projects. The other two classes weren't that great but I needed to have a B+ so I delt with it. In the end, it's a very basic year. You cover the basics and then you cover them again, and that's why it's a good program to get artists on their feet. Me personally, I had no idea what I was doing when I got out of high school - I wasn't thinking like a professional, which is what you need to be in an intensive art program - and art fundamentals teaches you this.

But yeah, extra life drawing... So important! Well, I think so at least. My main reasons for being in this animation program are because I love flimmaking and I love drawing. I want to be able to draw really well, it's a major focus for me. I still hit up extra life drawing sessions for at least 10 hours a week, it's just too important for me to pass up.

PZ if you continue your current hours I swear man, you'll jump ahead of those in your class who don't put in that time. I guess it's obvious but I really didn't understand how crazy constant practice helps you until I really got focussed and did it last year. It was a really good time for me last year because I had never taken art so seriously before... I was drawing so much, every week I'd put a pad of life drawings from the week before down beside a pad from that day, and I'd flip through the pages noticing the improvments... in just a week! It's an addiction, actually. :D PZ, I dunno what your plans are or what level you're at with your life drawings, but if you need anyone to give you some crits in an extra session just ask, I was always looking for advice from other students last year (now too), it really helps you get a new perspective on your work. Do you hit up the 7:00 ones open to all students in the illustration room?

As far as the animation program... well, I'm not gonna fill up a page with my opinions of it so far, since I don't think anyone's asked. Let me know if your interested. I will say that it's going good so far. We've been starting off really basic and haven't investigated any really creative stuff so far I guess (character design for example, we've only been posing and messing with character designs from the instructor... though I think our next project is where we design our own based on a story so that should be awesome!)

Yeah... uhhh, I talk to much.

[carpal]

bigmonkeynuts: glad to see you posted... I remember your stuff from fundies very well. The hand and the figures that you posted and got a critique from fredflickstone. Awesome stuff, you must have been ahead of the class for sure. I do hit up the 7:00 drawing a couple times a week. Its really nice to see different people draw. Some damn good people in there. And shit, yeah I would like some critiques. It has worked out really well though, I am rooming with a first year animation student so we have been doing over my figures quite a bit. (His name is Nick Thornborrow if you know him)

Anyone who is looking at coming here, I can't say much else but at the very least it is CHEAP and you WILL get better. period. It will also give you another year to really decide where you want to go or what you want to do. Some of the classes will piss you off. Ugh 3d design..... ANYWAY it is definitely a good option. Check around though, if illustation is what you want to do, look around and see what other places offer. the programs here are strong, but there is no "special sauce" here. People work hard and the teachers for the most part know what they are talking about. Thats that. If I remember I will post 2 figure drawings later. One from the beginning of the month and one from the end. Just one months progress...

later

[::EPIC::]

What i was always concerned with was jumping in as a mature student and trying to "mix-in". So far I've taken the wrong route in my mind and let my artwork flounder. How does Sheridan handle the mature students being accepted to the fundamental program? Do you find they suffer more or less than the students fresh out of a high school education? Also with fundies, do you find that hitting "all the topics" in one year can still let you pick up the extra time to focus on the aspects that keep you behind, or do you feel rushed to make the grade on each and everything offered to you? It's all about options and picking what you want out of it, but for someone who has been out of school for 3 years, can it be overwhelming? Is a portfolio vastly important to getting in, or will an interview showing determination work just as well? Oh, also do they still hit you with crummy presentations to do, or do people work independently and get critiqued by the professors’ one on one?

[piece_o_poo]

has no one heard of Capilano College in Vancouver? It is the place for animation in Canada. Basically, it's Sheridan College, or Capilano College if you want to study animation. VFS isn't that great, because it does not require a portfolio to enroll, and anyone can take it. To be honest, some of their stuff is laughable. No offense to anyone. Some VFS grads have come to our program, and are the best ones in the class. But yeah, if anyone's interested, go to www.gradshow.com and check out their works.

p.s. does anyone know a website where Sheridan Grads have their artwork?

[NoUseFrAName]

I'm currently attending the Art institute of Vancouver/Burnaby, formerly AiCDIS.
I believe the program is similar to the one at Cap college....not certain though.

I've recently completed their Character Animation program, where you learn the fundamentals of 2D animation and the stuff you need to know to get started on your 3d stuff....basic modelling, animating and rendering stuffs.....really good foundation for all sorts of career directions.

....now I'm in the Digital Animation Masters Program, and it totally rules.

...I think it all comes down to the teachers though....my particular class has had great teachers throughout our courses, while the semester ahead of us had some lame ones.....which is a nice reflection on the admin for making sure we've got what we need....they take the students very seriously....always having us do evaluations of our classes and facilities.

I must say that in the next year or so people should be looking out for some totally awesome reels coming out of this school.....when all of us reach the end of the program.
...and the kids in the semester behind us are even better!

definitely look into it ( http://www.artschool.com )
....it was reccommended to me by a VFS grad to boot!

-Rob