Animation Portfolio Workshop

What is Animation Portfolio Workshop?

Founded in 1999 by two highly skilled and experienced artists, Gerard Sternik and Vince Peets, Animation Portfolio Workshop (APW) is the first school in Canada to specialize solely in animation portfolio preparation. Since its inception, thousands of students have been accepted into the best animation and art programs in the world and have gone on to successful careers in the animation industry.

Our qualified instructors teach the foundational drawing skills and portfolio preparation methods students require to succeed in top-tier animation and visual art programs worldwide.  Designing characters and learning the basics of hand-drawn animation starts with drawing, and we should know – drawing is all we do. The curriculum is made up of two core components of an animation school portfolio: Life Drawing for Animation and Drawing for Animation.  Perhaps the most unique aspect of APW is that many APW graduates have returned to the workshop to become teachers and tutors—mentors to students who are about to set their goals and meet the challenges of animation school.

Animation Portfolio Workshop Signature Program

APW’s 228-hour Signature Program that can be completed on-line or in-person, is a comprehensive program designed to have you prepared with a complete portfolio.

Animation Portfolio Workshop offers a variety of times and dates that gives you options that suit your schedule.

This program consists of two modules: Life Drawing for Animation and Drawing for Animation. These two modules cover all of the drawings that are required in an animation portfolio.

Life Drawing for Animation Module:

• Gives students the exposure to a series of drawing exercises that help to develop the skill set you need to create all the observational drawings that comprise an animation portfolio.

The Drawing for Animation Module:

• Introduces and covers solid, structural object drawing, linear perspective, layout, character body construction, character design, storyboarding and composition.

During the latter portion of the course, your personal portfolio will be crafted with the assistance of the APW Team.

Schedule

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APW Lite Online Program

Complete the streamlined 114-hour APW Lite program online and be finished in time to submit your 2025 portfolio.

Learn character design, life drawing, perspective, layout, storyboards and more to build your animation school portfolio during this live, comprehensive, and interactive curriculum.

APW Lite offers the essentials of APW’s highly successful regular program and is ideal for students who are looking for a more affordable option. The live, in real time, online and in-person class enables students to receive plenty of one-on-one attention from instructors who are highly trained skilled professionals.

This Lite program offers one-on-one portfolio development sessions with feedback, guidance and practical solutions to help you create your best portfolio and includes the two modules (Life Drawing for Animation and Drawing for Animation) that cover all of the required drawings in an animation portfolio.

One day of classes has a three-hour Life Drawing for Animation class, a lunch break and a three-hour Drawing for Animation class.

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Tutoring

JOSH THE APW TUTOR

Josh, a graduate of the Seneca Animation Program, is an accomplished character designer and children’s book illustrator. As an Alumnus of the Animation Portfolio Workshop Program and APW Teacher-Training Program Josh has ten years of experience as an APW instructor and mentor. Currently an Associate Director of APW, he is also the Mentor/Director of the APW African-Canadian Youth Scholarship.

Josh is responsible for the training of all APW instructors and all APW tutors in the Animation Portfolio Workshop Program and also enjoys teaching drawing at the U of T School of Continuing Studies. His area of expertise is in animation portfolio preparation for prospective animation/illustration school students.

1 hour or 2 hour online sessions are available.

APW PORTFOLIO TUTORS

The one-on-one portfolio preparation sessions with one of APW’s experienced Instructors are for students who have taken the APW classes or who have already submitted a portfolio previously.

Jess Lu and Niko Powell will provide practical guidance and feedback on your portfolio based on their years of teaching for Animation Portfolio Workshop.

Note:  These are not sessions for professional artists who are looking for work.

DIRECTORS CUT

Get practical feedback and guidance from the founders of APW, Gerard Sternik and Vince Peets, former Sheridan Animation Instructors and improve your animation portfolio.

Learn More about Scheduling One of Our Sessions

Scholarships and Contests

O’Keefe Scholarship Info

The O’Keefe Scholarship consists of full tuition for....

African Canadian Youth Scholarship

Animation Portfolio Workshop has partnered with the Honourable Justice Kofi N. Barnes and APW Associate Director Joshua Miller, to offer the APW African Canadian Youth Scholarship granted annually to one student who best meets the specific financial and artistic eligibility criteria for this opportunity.

Each year, the APW-ACYS provides a unique study opportunity for Black youth seeking excellence in the field of animation/illustration arts.

The Scholarship consists of full tuition for one session of the Animation Portfolio Workshop, a private online mentoring opportunity with APW Associate Director Joshua Miller, and all art materials required to complete the APW Session provided free of charge to the scholarship recipient.

Testimonials

Patrick O'Keefe - APW was a major catalyst in forming my passion and skills as a young artist. More....