Drawing Foundations for Animation and Illustration
Strengthen your creative skills as you define your path forward on your artistic journey.
- Students can explore a range of design-related disciplines in order to discover where your strengths and interests lie.
- Create a diverse portfolio that represents your drawing ability and artistic strengths that can be used to apply for further programs of study.
- Laddering opportunities for other Diploma and Advanced Diploma programs such as Animation and Illustration and Concept Art
Program Availability and Schedule
Availability
Open
Closed
Waitlisted
Start Term
Availability
International
Availability
Competitive?
Winter 2025
No
Fall 2025
Yes
Schedule
Program Summary
Credential
Program Delivery
Program Code
Area of Interest
School
Campus
This one-year Drawing Foundations for Animation and Illustration Ontario College Certificate helps you to develop the strong drawing skills that are necessary for your evolution as an artist to further your education in various creative visual art programs.
Expand your potential, using a wide variety of digital and traditional mediums to build creative works, while discovering your strengths and preferences along the way. Immersed in a studio environment, you explore life drawing, sculpting, and character, environment and creature design. You also create appealing environments that encompass a sense of character and a lived-in feel using proper perspective, texture and detail. Sculpting and painting with digital tools and software solidifies your understanding of the properties of light, value and colour and their influence in a 3D environment....(read more)
Overview
Strengthen your creative skills as you define your path forward on your artistic journey.
This one-year Drawing Foundations for Animation and Illustration Ontario College Certificate helps you to develop the strong drawing skills that are necessary for your evolution as an artist to further your education in various creative visual art programs.
Expand your potential, using a wide variety of digital and traditional mediums to build creative works, while discovering your strengths and preferences along the way. Immersed in a studio environment, you explore life drawing, sculpting, and character, environment and creature design. You also create appealing environments that encompass a sense of character and a lived-in feel using proper perspective, texture and detail. Sculpting and painting with digital tools and software solidifies your understanding of the properties of light, value and colour and their influence in a 3D environment.
You have the opportunity to research and explore your abilities and interests in:
- animation
- comic books
- book illustration
- concept art
- graphic novels
- gaming
- anime
Throughout the program, you create a diverse portfolio that represents your drawing ability and artistic strengths that can be used to apply for further programs of study. An annual showcase provides an opportunity to exhibit your best works and interact with industry professionals, peers, family and friends. This foundational training provides you with an introduction to more advanced drawing-related programs including, but not limited to:
- Animation Ontario College Advanced Diploma
- Illustration and Concept Art Ontario College Diploma
As a graduate, you will qualify to receive transfer credits in related programs for some courses taken in this program. Contact the Program Coordinator to explore specific transfer credit opportunities.
Note: As part of the curriculum of Drawing Foundations for Animation and Illustration, students study and draw human anatomy and nude figures.
SUCCESS FACTORS
This program is well-suited for students who:
- Have a passion for the arts.
- Are comfortable viewing and drawing the human form.
- Enjoy sketching and drawing.
- Are creative, visual thinkers.
- Are excited to improve artistically.
- Work well under pressure to accomplish tasks.
Courses
Programs at Algonquin College are delivered using a variety of instruction modes. Courses may be offered in the classroom or lab, entirely online, or in a hybrid mode which combines classroom sessions with virtual learning activities. Upon registration, each full-time student is provided an Algonquin email account which is used to communicate important information about program or course events.
Code:
ANI2100
Course Name:
Life Drawing 1
Course Description:
Drawing from observation of the human form is essential to developing strong drawing skills for the animation and illustration industry. Stu... + Read More
Hours:
56.0
Code:
ANI2101
Course Name:
Character Design 1
Course Description:
Character development is a crucial part of the fictional worlds produced for the entertainment industry. Students apply design principals us... + Read More
Hours:
56.0
Code:
ANI2102
Course Name:
Layout and Environmental Design 1
Course Description:
Strong design skills are required for solid layout design in animation and illustration. Students gain an understanding of perspective, stag... + Read More
Hours:
56.0
Code:
ANI2103
Course Name:
Digital Painting and Sculpting
Course Description:
Using digital software to compose, sculpt, paint and render environments and character designs enhances the ability to visualize and display... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
ANI2104
Course Name:
Drawing Career Pathways
Course Description:
To obtain and maintain a career in a fast-paced, high caliber creative industry requires the ability to balance personal and professional li... + Read More
Hours:
28.0
Code:
ENL2029M
Course Name:
Foundations of Communication
Course Description:
Students develop language and communication skills necessary to promote success in education pathways and careers. With effective workplace ... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
ANI2200
Course Name:
Life Drawing 2
Course Description:
The ability to recreate realistic human form is essential to developing the strong drawing skills required for the animation and illustratio... + Read More
Hours:
56.0
Code:
ANI2201
Course Name:
Character Design 2
Course Description:
Designing characters with appeal, originality and emotion is a critical skill of a good character designer. By enhancing different character... + Read More
Hours:
56.0
Code:
ANI2202
Course Name:
Layout and Environmental Design 2
Course Description:
Achieving a sense of personality within a space is a key factor that gives appeal to the backgrounds and environments that we see in the ent... + Read More
Hours:
56.0
Code:
ANI2203
Course Name:
Portfolio Preparation
Course Description:
A first impression often makes all the difference when applying for further studies or building your professional network. Through self-refl... + Read More
Hours:
28.0
Code:
ENL1813M
Course Name:
Communications 1
Course Description:
Communication remains an essential skill sought by employers, regardless of discipline or field of study. Using a practical, vocation-orient... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
GED1457
Course Name:
General Education Elective
Course Description:
For this course, you will have the opportunity to choose one from a group of general education electives. Your options will include courses... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Careers & Pathways
Pathways
Please use our Pathways tool to search for pathway options.
Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- Create two- and three-dimensional art and design works using art elements, principles of design, and a wide range of materials, processes and techniques.
- Effectively use critique and reflection for personal and peer projects to solve design problems and to enhance the development of creative works.
- Develop and present a portfolio that showcases personal artistic style using a range of media appropriate for a variety of artistic disciplines.
- Communicate in an art and design environment using appropriate language, strategies and techniques in order to develop and maintain interpersonal relationships and to support artistic goals.
- Explore and select from a variety of tools and techniques to develop and manage a personal visual and digital presence.
- Explore the professional requirements and opportunities in various creative visual art fields to inform academic and professional goals.
- Use tools and techniques of the animation and illustration professions to enhance the essence, believability and visual storytelling of figure-based forms and their environments.
- Identify and apply discipline-specific practices that contribute to the local and global community through social responsibility, economic commitment and environmental stewardship.
Tuition & Fees
Get an idea of how much each semester will cost with our Tuition and Fee Estimator.
2024/2025 Academic Year
Tuition and related ancillary fees for this program can be viewed by using the Tuition and Fees Estimator tool at www.algonquincollege.com/fee-estimator.
Further information on fees can be found by visiting the Registrar`s Office website at www.algonquincollege.com/ro.
Fees are subject to change.
Additional program related expenses include:
Approximately $100-$200 for books and consumable supplies.
Admissions Requirements
All applicants must satisfy both College Eligibility and Program Eligibility requirements.
College Eligibility
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent. Applicants with an OSSD showing senior English and/or Mathematics courses at the Basic Level, or with Workplace or Open courses, will be tested to determine their eligibility for admission; OR
- Academic and Career Entrance (ACE) certificate; OR
- General Educational Development (GED) certificate; OR
- Mature Student status (19 years of age or older and without a high school diploma at the start of the program). Eligibility may be determined by academic achievement testing for which a fee of $50 (subject to change) will be charged.
Program Eligibility
- English, Grade 12 (ENG4C or equivalent).
- Applicants with international transcripts must provide proof of the subject-specific requirements noted above and may be required to provide proof of language proficiency. Domestic applicants with international transcripts must be evaluated through the International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS) or World Education Services (WES).
- IELTS-International English Language Testing Service (Academic) Overall band of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each band; OR TOEFL-Internet-based (iBT)-overall 80, with a minimum of 20 in each component: Reading 20; Listening 20; Speaking 20; Writing 20; OR Duolingo English Test (DET) Overall 110, minimum of 110 in Literacy and no score below 95.
Not sure if you meet all of the requirements? Academic Upgrading may be able to help with that: https://www.algonquincollege.com/access/.
Should the number of qualified applicants exceed the number of available places, applicants will be selected on the basis of their proficiency in English.
Application Information
DRAWING FOUNDATIONS FOR ANIMATION AND ILLUSTRATION
Program Code 1452X01FWO
Applications to full-time day programs must be submitted with official transcripts showing completion of the academic admission requirements through:
ontariocolleges.ca
60 Corporate Court
Guelph, Ontario N1G 5J3
1-888-892-2228
Students currently enrolled in an Ontario secondary school should notify their Guidance Office prior to their online application at www.ontariocolleges.ca.
Applications for Fall Term and Winter Term admission received by February 1 will be given equal consideration. Applications received after February 1 will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis as long as places are available.
International applicants please visit this link for application process information: https://algonquincollege.force.com/myACint/.
For further information on the admissions process, contact:
Registrar`s Office
Algonquin College
1385 Woodroffe Ave
Ottawa, ON K2G 1V8
Telephone: 613-727-0002
Toll-free: 1-800-565-4723
TTY: 613-727-7766
Fax: 613-727-7632
Contact: https://www.algonquincollege.com/ro
Additional Information
Program Resources
Contact
Rich Lauzon
Program Coordinator
Rich worked as an animator, layout artist and posing artist on many animated television shows in the late 90s and 2000s. Shows include: Freaky Stories, Rainbow Fish, Katie and Orbie, Antony Ant, Rescue Heroes, Anne of Green Gables: The Animated Series and Frankline the Turtle among others.
Rich has also published several children’s books as well as his self-published The Art of Richtoon, a collection of his artwork.
Randy Terpstra
Professor
Having completed Sheridan College’s Illustration Program and Algonquin College’s Animation Program, Randy’s career has been anchored in technical illustration and animation design. Having worked in Canada and abroad, Randy brings years of experience to the classroom.
Randy’s forte is layout and design; however, his industry experience lends well into crossing over into teaching Character Design and Portfolio Preparation. With the ability to teach students the foundations of solid technical drawing skills, along with infusing strong story telling elements into their designs, students are often surprised at what they are capable of, starting with just a ruler and a pencil.
Rachel Scott
Professor
Lisa Traclet
Professor
Lisa has been an illustrator for 17 years and a licensed educator for over 11 years. She graduated with her B.A. in fine arts and English literature, as well as her B.Ed. in intermediate and senior arts and English from Nipissing University. She has taught all grades from K-12 as well as adult education. Lisa taught illustration and character design through the Grumbacher art company for 4 years before becoming a professor at Algonquin College for both the Academic Access Centre and Drawing Foundations.
Today when she isn’t teaching, Lisa works as a freelance illustrator specializing in book covers, character portraits, and branding.
Arnold Kovacs
Professor
With a passion for 3D design, human and animal anatomy, and nature, Arnold brings a practical and hands-on approach to his classes. He has over 10 years of experience as a freelance sculptor and painter, having contributed 3D design services to several Kickstarter projects, hobby companies and private clients in the tabletop gaming industry.
Outside of his freelance work, Arnold founded “Epic Basing,” a 3D printable product that brings environmental elements to miniature basing. His expertise also extends to designing specifically for 3D printing, ensuring functionality and ease of use in his creations.
Vic Putinski
Professor
After a first career in environmental sciences, Vic joined the animation industry in 2016 by attending Algonquin college’s animation program. They left the program early with a job at Wild Kratts studio as a layout artist, soon after in April of 2019 joining the team at Mercury Filmworks as a junior location designer. While at Mercury Vic worked on many projects, including Hilda, The Ghost and Molly McGee and Centaurworld.
When not working, Vic can be found selling art at local conventions (most notably Ottawa Comic Con) and practicing aerial sports. Even though they worked first in sciences, Vic has never stopped drawing, and hosts very active social media platforms. Teaching at Algonquin is now the next exciting step in Vic’s journey to never stop learning!
Janine Smith
Professor
Janine studied academic drawing with the Academy of Realist Art in Ottawa. She has taught in the Drawing Foundation and Animation programs at Algonquin College since 2020. Janine has also worked in long term care programs, where she brought her enthusiasm for art to a diverse clientele. She draws on her years of experience as a life drawing model to inform her teaching.
James Biard
Professor
Outside of work, James likes to paint, mostly messing around with watercolours, acrylics and gouache and has recently gotten back into miniatures and painting 3D sculptures like a big nerd. Non-artsy things in his life include love for martial arts, D&D, and a corgi/dachshund mix named Kaylee. Distractions include Overwatch 2, musicals, and tattoos.