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, […]
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 […]
New Drawing & Animation Classes for Kids in Toronto — APW Junior Now Open
A New Option for Families in Toronto & the GTA Families looking for drawing classes for kids in Toronto now have a new option designed specifically for young burgeoning artists. APW Junior is a foundational drawing and animation program for ages 10–14, offering both in-person Toronto classes and live online options for families across the […]
Why We Created APW Junior: Building Strong Visual Art and Animation Foundations in the Early Years
The Benefits of Starting to Study in Early Adolescence Many students begin their study of animation and art in their mid-teens — often after years of copying animation and comic book styles online. APW Junior was created to introduce adolescents to proper drawing and design foundations earlier, while students are still forming how they think […]
Introducing APW Junior: A New Drawing & Animation Program for Kids Ages 10–14
A New APW Program for Young Artists We’re excited to introduce APW Junior, a brand-new drawing and animation program created specifically for students ages 10–14 who are just beginning their creative journey. We’ve developed APW Junior in response to a growing interest among families looking for structured, high-quality art education for adolescents. APW Junior also […]
Do you know what to look for in an animation school?
In my capacity as Director of Animation Portfolio Workshop, the question I get asked the most by students and parents is, “How do I know if an animation school is good?” When checking out animation schools, treat the experience as if you are shopping for a very expensive item. Make a list of the qualities […]
Sheridan Art Fundamentals and Animation Portfolio Workshop – What’s the Difference?
Guest post by Bernadette Peets AOCA I am in the unique position of having taught in the Sheridan College Art Fundamental’s Program for over 10 years, worked on the original committee that developed the Sheridan College VCA Program, taught Life Drawing For Animation in the APW program and am currently the acting Administrative Director […]
APW Celebrates 20 years with a Scholarship!
On Friday, September 27th at Hashtag Gallery in Toronto the Animation Portfolio Workshop community was out in full force to celebrate 20 years with a bash and an art show. Drawings and artwork by past and present instructors and TA’s who have taught at APW over the years were on display. APW grads who have […]
Drawing is Back.
Actually, it never really went anywhere. We know because at Animation Portfolio Workshop drawing is all we do. Artists and animators have never stopped learning and using the immense heft and power of visual language that is revealed in drawing. Ask any animator. Drawing has been the chosen method for developing ideas, building worlds, telling […]