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Course Description

Four blowfish in shades of pink, peach, and coral, swimming in a cluster.

Offered in Summer, Fall, and Spring.

CalArts' Portfolio Development Workshop for Artists and Animators is an eight-week online intensive designed to help you explore concept design and visual development for animation, and enhance your application portfolio for college animation programs. The focus here is less on making perfect drawings and more on giving you an open arena to explore and learn to love drawing while broadening creative ideation and output.

Each week, the instructor will introduce different illustration styles and examples from films to inspire new work and teach you about visual composition and storytelling. Weekly assignments based on these resources give you the opportunity to produce exaggerated character designs that can be used as concepts for future animations, 3D models, graphic novel ideas, and gallery work.

Portfolio Development Workshop class sessions and critiques are not live streamed. You are free to access the class materials each week at your convenience. You will work on your assignments on your own time and upload them to the class module on Canvas, a CalArts online learning platform, by a set deadline. At the end of the week, the instructor will give you direct feedback on submitted assignments with video critiques. Lectures and video critiques are pre-recorded.

Application Instructions

The demand for portfolio development workshops is very high, and you are strongly advised to submit your application materials as soon as possible. Please be advised that in the event that a class reaches capacity we will cease reviewing applications, which can happen at any time. Materials submitted after the deadline—or when application reviews are ceased—will be considered only if space remains or becomes available.

Enrollment in the this workshop is based on the instructors' review of:

  • Five examples of your work, which must include:
    • One life drawing of a plant
    • Two life drawings of whatever you wish to draw
    • Two other work samples of your choice 

When we say “life drawing” we mean that you are drawing from life. In other words, you need to look closely at the person, place or thing as it exists in the real world and draw it as your eye sees it while you are observing it, not from memory. For more information on Life Drawing, click here.

Applications must be accompanied by a $10 fee.

Prerequisites

You must be 14 years old or older to take part in this workshop.

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Application

Name
Application for PDW for Artists and Animators (course- spring)
Instructions

Application deadline: January 14th, 2025

Enrollment window closes: January 21st, 2025 (or when the class is full)

Applications are reviewed weekly. Once you are notified of your acceptance, you will have two (2) weeks to enroll, by paying for the course in full or making a deposit. Enrollment in the course is available on a first-come, first-served basis—an approved application does not guarantee a seat in the course.

Regardless of whether tuition is paid in full or a deposit is made, $250 of the tuition is non-refundable. Student-initiated drops are subject to a partial refund according to the posted Refund Policy

Enroll Now - Select a section to enroll in
Section Title
Portfolio Development Workshop for Artists and Animators
Type
Online
Dates
Jan 27, 2025 to Mar 28, 2025
Delivery Options
Online-Asynchronous  
Course Fee(s)
Tuition non-credit $1,100.00 or $250.00 deposit Click here to get more information
Section Fees
Adobe Creative Cloud $250.00 Optional
Instructors
Section Notes

For an example materials list, click here.

Application deadline is January 14th, 2025.

THIS COURSE IS ACCESSED THROUGH CANVAS

The Canvas platform provides an instructor-led learning experience. These class sizes are small to facilitate discussion and engagement with your instructor and other students. You have access to recorded content from CalArts instructors and may complete the course work at your own pace with set deadlines. The instructor is available in live sessions to answer your questions and provide individualized feedback on assignments.

Most Canvas online courses qualify towards a CalArts Certificate.

Section Title
Portfolio Development Workshop for Artists and Animators
Type
ES Online Asynchronous
Dates
Jun 30, 2025 to Aug 29, 2025
Delivery Options
Online-Asynchronous  
Course Fee(s)
Tuition non-credit $1,100.00 or $250.00 deposit Click here to get more information
Instructors
Section Notes

For an example materials list, click here.

Application deadline is June 17th, 2025.

THIS COURSE IS ACCESSED THROUGH CANVAS

The Canvas platform provides an instructor-led learning experience. These class sizes are small to facilitate discussion and engagement with your instructor and other students. You have access to recorded content from CalArts instructors and may complete the course work at your own pace with set deadlines. The instructor is available in live sessions to answer your questions and provide individualized feedback on assignments.

Most Canvas online courses qualify towards a CalArts Certificate.