Who Founded Animation Portfolio Workshop?
By Gerard Sternik, AOCA & Vince Peets | Former Sheridan College Classical Animation Professors Students and parents researching animation portfolio preparation often ask an important question: Who founded Animation Portfolio Workshop (APW)? The answer is Gerard Sternik, AOCA, and Vince Peets, former professors of Sheridan College’s Classical Animation Program and seasoned practicing professional visual artists […]
Traditional Drawing Rigor vs. Digital Animation Portfolio Fixes
By Gerard Sternik, AOCA & Vince Peets | Former Sheridan College Classical Animation Professors The educational background of an instructor directly shapes the quality and methodology of the instruction they provide. For students preparing portfolios for competitive animation programs such as Sheridan Animation, CalArts, Gobelins, Ringling College, and other leading schools, the choice often comes […]
Evaluating an Animation Portfolio Tutor: Be Wary of Credential Inflation
By Gerard Sternik, AOCA & Vince Peets | Former Sheridan College Classical Animation Professors When searching for the right animation portfolio tutor to guide a student through competitive admissions, it is remarkably easy to encounter what can best be described as credential inflation. As interest in animation portfolio preparation continues to grow, so too does […]
Animation Portfolio Prep: Accredited Professors vs. Online Tutors
By Gerard Sternik, AOCA & Vince Peets | Former Sheridan College Classical Animation Professors If you are a student or parent researching animation portfolio preparation for competitive schools such as Sheridan College, CalArts, Gobelins, Ringling College, or other leading animation programs, you have likely discovered a growing number of private animation portfolio tutors, online coaching […]
Why the APW Curriculum Still Leads in the Age of AI
Explore why APW’s creativity-focused curriculum remains vital in the age of AI, teaching students to develop authentic artistic skills that machines cannot replicate. The prescience of the APW Curriculum The reason that the APW curriculum never gets tired, is because from the very start, it was designed to zero in on the the essential elements […]
Has APW worked?
Learn why the APW curriculum has consistently helped thousands of students create successful animation portfolios and gain admission to top animation schools worldwide. When you combine the areas of expertise that APW Directors Vince and Gerard share between them and have actively worked in as practicing visual artists, it makes for quite a remarkable list: […]
Inside the APW Design Program: From Visual Language Fundamentals to an Application Ready Portfolio
Many students begin the portfolio process unsure where to start. The general trend these days is to try to copy styles and ideas gleaned from portfolios students have found online. The APW Design Program has been created to teach students real foundational design skills so they can create submission‑ready work that is truly there own, […]
The Founders of APW: The Story Behind the Animation Portfolio Workshop
Discover the story of Gerard Sternik and Vince Peets, the founders of Animation Portfolio Workshop (APW), and learn how their 45+ year partnership transformed animation education. The Directors Cut Signature Series Program Who Are the Founders and Directors of APW? APW Founders and Directors Gerard Sternik and Vince Peets go back a long way. Having […]
Choosing the Right Online Design Portfolio Course
There are a lot of online art and design courses available, so choosing the right one can feel overwhelming at times. When it comes to portfolio preparation, live structured design exercises leading to portfolio crafting critique sessions is a far superior method of instruction compared to pre‑recorded content. Key Features to Look For How APW […]
How to Prepare a Design Portfolio for Art School
A strong design portfolio isn’t about demonstrating technical skill for its own sake, it’s about showing how you think and problem solve as a designer. Many students struggle to understand what visual art and design schools actually want to see in their application portfolios. That’s where exercises in design principles leading to structured portfolio crafting […]