Hey Reader,

It is very likely the final week before Sheridan College releases its portfolio requirements for the 2025 application year. I know many of our students are anticipating this.

I just wanted to state how important it is to get started on everything you can as soon as possible (with the requirements in hand or not) because most of them likely won't change. The Sheridan portfolio requirements have held strong for many years now. The biggest change in the last ten years was the addition of the Short Animation section of the portfolio, which I never had to submit when I completed my portfolio in 2007 and 2008 after I attended Art Fundamentals at Sheridan.

If anyone would like a copy of the 2024 Sheridan Animation Portfolio Requirements to have a look, please let me know by emailing me back. Please just ensure that you don't confuse it for the 2025 requirements once they are released! That would be a shame.

As a teacher, mentor, and tutor to my students, I really try to practice what I preach. During my Virtual and In-Person Animation Camps (in Guelph, Ontario), I try to always do the assignments with the students.

On my own I also attend a weekly Life Drawing session, and soon will be starting my own that will prioritize longer poses for the painters or artists interested in developing their rendering skills.

I also previously ran weekly, drop-in life drawing sessions with my family in Guelph, where I lived previously, that ran for 8 years! We only ever expected it to last a few months.

I think it's incredibly important that I, as a portfolio tutor, keep up this practice because it really is the cornerstone to so many other drawing skills.

Here is a sped-up recording a recent costumed life drawing session I attended (and so did my dog, Poppy)

Some tips for artists that are applying to ANY animation program this year are:

• Life Drawing - Start now if you haven't made it a priority in your schedule, and keep doing it on a weekly basis at a consistent pace over the entire span of the portfolio season (ie. now to late February or March for some programs). I am considering hosting my own online life drawing sessions from photos I've picked from the best resources online, would you be interested in this? Reply to this email and let me know! I'm just figuring out how to do this in a non-legally-compromising way.
• Hand Drawings - The first item of the Sheridan portfolio is two hand drawings. Aside from being required pieces, they are also great to add to any animation portfolio. Sheridan requires only two refined, slightly-deconstructed hand drawings, but I would recommend making hand gestures for your personal work as well (perhaps fitting into your sketchbook). Hands are one of the most complex anatomical areas of the body, and also can be very expressive.
• Storyboard or "Story Sketches" - For anyone interested in making a storyboard for their portfolio, over time I've felt it more important to include story sketches instead. A storyboard requires a bit more commitment from the reviewers to really try to understand your sequence, whereas story sketches are similarly rough sketches that depict various moment from your story that help you describe what your story is about. They are more immediately understandable and readable out of context. Something to consider if you are interested in demonstrating your filmmaking chops! This is part of what we'll be working on in my Storytelling for Animation course when it is finished (soon!).
• Perspective Drawings - Whether it is required or not, I highly recommend including drawings that demonstrate your knowledge of perspective. The problem is, almost every highschool art course I've seen do not properly prepare you to draw in perspective to the level portfolios are demanding. There is A LOT more to it than simply drawing boxes in space. For this one, I would recommend taking my Perspective I - Intro to help shortcut this process.
• Personal Artwork - This is where you can shine. There are some similar things that come up in many portfolios, such as a character line ups of your original characters (OCs), but then there's also some things that 0% of my students are doing here. It's surprising to me how rarely I see students interested in stop-motion animation. I would love to see more students explore this separate skillset a little, and I guarantee you'll have a ton of fun making the pieces. Why not build a REAL (yes, not at a screen!) miniature set for a scene of a stop-motion animation. You could then photograph it in nice lighting from multiple views. The more fun you have in making your personal work, I guarantee the better you do. Remember that this isn't a portfolio you're submitting to a law firm, it's animation — it should be fun, energetic, and demonstrate your passion for this exciting medium. This is just the beginning!

Important Note!

One last thing that I wanted to mention is that this has been my busiest season of tutoring so far, and that I am soon going to cut-off additional sign ups (I will likely start restricting some options on the site as early as November). If you have enjoyed some of my content, but have been on the fence about our programming options, please decide soon.

If you're unsure, and need some guidance to decide, don't hesitate to simply book a call with me and we can discuss all options. One thing many of our students don't realize is that we offer flexible payments plans with 0% financing. I am not interested in charging additional %s for those who can't afford upfront payments.

If you are in Grade 11, or at least a year out from when you'll be applying, please know that some of our more expensive Bundles of courses may seem expensive, but do you know what is even more? Taking Art Fundamentals, or other introductory art programs at Colleges! There's not only the tuition, but there's also the relocation costs, and even still there isn't nearly as much one-on-one time as what I'm offering through my courses. I took Art Fundamentals, and I wish it was as tailored and specific to animation as the courses that I've created. This is exactly why I set out to create this opportunity for students.

For my students who are currently signed up, but haven't begun their courses — please begin soon! The portfolio season is upon us, and I'd love to help you get your skills up and your artwork consistency / time management in order.

ROM Sketch Group Notice

Tieran, one of our student tutors, has been running a weekly Royal Ontario Museum sketch group. Some of you have recently signed up for it, if you'd like to you can do so here.

I just wanted to let you know that Tieran can't meet this Saturday, and will instead meet on Sunday.

Here is his previous itinerary, which I assume will be kept for this Sunday. If anyone would like his email to stay in contact with him directly, please reply to this email and mention this.

Itinerary​
​

"12:00 - arrive at the museum, wait for others at the cafe (beside the dinosaur)

12:15 - 1:00 - China Section (Basic forms )

1:00 - 3:00 - Ancient Greece And Rome (Figure Study + Anatomy )

3:00 - 5:00 - Biodiversity (Animal Drawing)

5:00 - 6:00 - Unwind + Share your work @ the park

Don’t feel inclined to follow my timeline at ALL! This is simply where I will be during those times. The museum is huge. There is so much more to see than what I have outlined above. Please feel free to explore it on your own or with others.

After a day of focused drawing, I find my eyes can feel quite strained, so I’ll be sitting at the park across the street to unwind after the session. I’ll be bringing a blanket for all to sit on. This would be a great opportunity to share our drawings and enjoy the last couple hours of sunlight after a day well spent. The train station is right in the park, so it is where we will part ways until next week!

If you’re wondering what to bring;

26 Dollars - Entrance fee (although, I recommend an Annual Membership. It costs $72 after tax as a student, and it pays itself off if you go to the museum 3 times a year!)

Student Card (Gets you a discount)

Water Bottle - There are water fountains as well, but good to stay hydrated.

Drawing Materials - obviously…

Pack Light - There is a bagcheck to store your things, but it costs $3 (unless you’re a member)

If you’re wondering where to meet:

I will be standing at the base of the giant T-rex skeleton (hard to miss) from 12 - 12:15.

If you’re coming later or need to contact me:

No problem if you are, just message me on instagram @brokendraw or find me based on the timeline above (ie. 3:30 i’ll be in the biodiversity wing)."
​

End of Tieran's message!

Thanks folks! That's all for today. Thanks for being a part of this newsletter.

Cheers,

Garth the Animation Tutor