Course catalogue

Please Note: Start & End dates refer to open & closing of registration, NOT the start or end of the course

In this course, you'll learn the fundamentals of After Effects and how to create simple animation techniques using the software. 

You will be introduced to the basic interface, and gain an understanding of how to create compositions, import assets, in addition to learning compositing and colour grading principles. You will also learn basic motion graphics techniques by animating shapes and text, and how to create movement and keyframes alongside an audio track.

About Micros:

• Register & start WHENEVER
• Self paced & learner driven
• No scheduled class
• 3 Months to Finish

INSTRUCTOR Raeann Cheung, 

There is something really special about taking black and white photos with a film camera and having to wait to see your images. Learn basic camera functions before entering the darkroom. You will learn how to create high quality images in black and white, how to load your film onto a reel and canister in complete darkness, hand process your film, and then use an enlarger to create photographs on light sensitive paper. Please see your course supply list online. Be sure to come prepared for the first class.   

INSTRUCTOR Shea  Proulx, 

Drawing botanical and fruit forms from life takes careful perception and good hand eye coordination. You will develop keen observational drawing skills through a number of studio-based assignments and be introduced to colour theory and how to successfully use pencil crayons to get rich, vibrant colours. Participate in class discussions and critiques to help your progression. Please see your course supply list online. Be sure to come prepared for the first class.   

*** PREREQUISITE Art experience, this is not a beginner course *** 

INSTRUCTOR Shea Proulx , 

Find out how the professionals illustrate children’s books, from character development, beginning thumbnail storyboards, to final illustrations. This course will not teach you how to draw but will show you how to take the drawing skills you have and apply them to children’s book illustration. In addition to learning the process and creating your own illustrations, you will also learn about marketing your work and portfolio preparation. Please see your course supply list online. Be sure to come prepared for the first class. 

INSTRUCTOR Kelly Issak, 

Using the same methods Renaissance artists used, improve your representational drawing skills, and learn how to capture on paper what your eye sees, not what your mind thinks it sees. You will focus on how to visually analyze your subject matter, create steps for greater accuracy, better proportions, mass and values in your drawings. Please see your course supply list online. Be sure to come prepared for the first class. 

Learn the fundamentals of colour theory and more. Colour is a key component in art, design, and illustration, setting the tone of what you are communicating. You will select colours to work for you, through a series of projects that will deepen your understanding of how colour is essential to your work’s effectiveness and success. Please see your course supply list online. Be sure to come prepared for the first class.    

INSTRUCTOR Jarret Hartnell , 

Create unique comic characters through a series of thumbnail sketches that you develop into final drawings for a comic book or graphic novel. Develop a personal style that becomes identifiable with you as you hone your drawing and communication skills. Use a variety of media including pen and ink, marker, pencil, and water-based colour to complete your comics. Please see your course supply list online. Be sure to come prepared for the first class.  

Please Note: Start & End dates refer to open & closing of registration, NOT the start or end of a course. 

In this course, you'll be introduced to software used in digital animation: Photoshop, After Effects, Premiere, & Toon Boom Harmony.

Explore the differences between traditional, hand drawn, & digital animation. Learn to use each program on its own and with each other while practicing to use essential tools. Demonstrate mastery of basic skills and technical understanding through exciting projects and have your work evaluated by experts. 

About Micros:

• Register & start WHENEVER
• Self paced & learner driven
• No scheduled classes
• 3 Months to Finish

**PREREQUISITE  DSLR cameras ONLY** 

INSTRUCTOR Raeann Cheung, 

Discover how to work your digital camera so you can get out of auto mode and take your picture taking skills to the next level. Learn basic camera operations and how to use your cameras settings, including exposure, aperture, and shutter speed, while you experiment with composition, lighting, and different lens to see how they affect your images. Work through shooting images, file conversion, and digital image management under the guidance of your instructor and get good feedback throughout the course.  

** Please see your course supply list online. Be sure to come prepared for the first class. 
 

Please Note: Start and end dates refer to open & closing of registration, not the start or end of the course.

Use drawing as a tool of communication as you explore the medium, with an emphasis on obtaining a visual understanding of mass, gesture, the human figure, weight, and balance. 

Work through conceptual, aesthetic, and technical approaches for your projects.

About Micros:

• Register and start whenever.
• Self-paced and learner-driven
• No scheduled classes
• 3 Months to Finish

INSTRUCTORMarcia Harris  , 

Gain confidence and fundamental skills in drawing as you work through a series of projects designed to increase your perceptive abilities and eye-hand coordination. Focus on the elements of drawing, observation, and composition as you explore a variety of drawing media and techniques. Please see your course supply list online. Be sure to come prepared for the first class. 
 

Please Note: Start and end dates refer to open & close of registration, not the start or end of the course.

Examine professional projects and responsibilities animators may face in their practice, including CV and portfolio assembly, grant writing, project budgeting, and pitch packages.

Cover concepts like festival submissions, contracts, and concerns associated with starting an artistic practice in animation.  

About Micros

• Register and start whenever
• Self-paced and learner-driven
• No scheduled classes
• 3 Months to finish

*** PREREQUISITE Previous drawing experience *** 

INSTRUCTOR Aaron Sidorenko , 

 The human figure is a fascinating subject for both beginners and experienced artists. Working with a live model, use a variety of media, and gain studio experience in gesture and analytical figure drawing, modeling of form and space through light and shadow, perspective, proportion, and different drawing techniques and methods. Please see your course supply list online and come prepared for the first class.  

Please Note: Start & End dates refer to open & closing of registration, NOT the start or end of the course.

In this course, you'll learn and apply fundamental principles of animation. 

Learn to communicate personality, emotions, & behaviour through short motion assignments, while exploring conceptual, aesthetic, and technical approaches. 

Work in or out of the digital realm; however, all project post-production will be created using digital software. Create projects to demonstrate your mastery of foundational skills & principles, then have your work evaluated by experts. 

About Micros:

• Register and start WHENEVER
• Self paced and learner driven
• No scheduled classes
• 3 Months to Finish

INSTRUCTOR Robert Lewis, 

 Learn the basic processes of hot glasswork, in a fully equipped, professional hot shop studio. Focus on solid and simple blown forms in a small class setting giving you plenty of work time and access to your instructor for assistance and coaching. The last class meeting will be for students to learn how to finish off their pieces properly in the coldworking studio and to critique their work. 

NOTE: ONLY natural fibre clothing (cotton), long pants and closed-toe shoes are mandatory in the hot shop at all times. Please see your course supply list online. Be sure to come prepared for the first class. 

*** PREREQUISITE previous glassblowing experience *** 
INSTRUCTOR Robert Lewis,

Expand your knowledge of hot glasswork as you develop your skills further in a small class setting with lots of individualized instruction. Challenge yourself and try creating different forms and working with colour. Spend the last class meeting will be for students to coldwork only to finish their blown pieces and critique their work. 

NOTE: ONLY natural fibre clothing (cotton), long pants, and closed-toe shoes are always mandatory in the hot shop. Please see your course supply list online. Be sure to come prepared for the first class. 

INSTRUCTOR Kate Bushey  , 

Increase your ability to communicate information through graphic visual images and symbols as you learn about the different markets where infographics are is commonly used. Discuss how to take an idea and explore it through visual representations, to expand on it, and create a finished piece. Look at examples to help your understanding as you work on weekly illustrations. Please see your course supply list online. Be sure to come prepared for the first class.   

Please Note: start and end dates refer to the open & close of registration, not the start or end of the course.

Concentrate on 2D character animation as you gain an understanding of the construction and mechanics of human form and depicting movement through figure drawing and motion studies.

Pay special attention to character development, communicating story points and emotions using animation principles and techniques. Develop your visual language and expand your technical knowledge, including soundtrack design, as you create a short, animated project or animation test.

About Micros

• Register and start whenever.
• Self-paced and learner-driven.
• No scheduled classes.
• 3 months to finish

Please Note: Start and End dates refer to open and closing of registration, NOT the start or end of the course. 

In this course, you'll learn foundational elements of drawing, basic techniques, composition practices, and how to accurately draw human form.

Also, explore and practice a range of approaches using various media. In addition to video lessons from an expert covering a range of topics, you will be able to communicate with your instructor and your colleagues over discussion boards.

Receive feedback of your work from an expert as you deepen your knowledge and improve your composition skills.

About Micros:

• Register and start WHENEVER
• Self paced and learner driven
• No scheduled classes
• 3 Months to Finish

INSTRUCTOR Jennea Frischke,   

You will be amazed at the jewellery you can make from flat pieces of metal. Learn basic metalworking skills (sawing, piercing, filing, shaping, stamping, surface texturing, and finishing) and how to use simple hand tools in a fully outfitted jewellery making studio. Get ample studio working time and support from your instructor throughout as you learn fabrication processes.  

 ** PREREQUISITE Jewellery Fundamentals: Cold Connections  **

 INSTRUCTOR Jennea Frischke,   

Soldering opens up a world of creative possibilities in jewellery making. In this technical class, you'll learn essential techniques for joining metal components together through soldering, including butt-joint soldering, sweat-joint soldering, using resists/heat sinks, when and how to use different types of solder and much more!   

**  PREREQUISITE Previous painting experience   **

INSTRUCTOR Macia Harris,   

From a craggy Italian hilltop to a golden Alberta prairie, landscape painting captures the spirit of a location. This course will give you a basic understanding of the challenges of painting the landscape through an analytical approach to perspective, composition, relationships between colour and tone, and manipulation of media. Please see your course supply list online. Be sure to come prepared for the first class.  

Please Note: Start and end dates refer to open & close of registration, not the start or end of the course.

Get introduced to the 3D software Maya, learn the basic functions, and how to create animations. 

Master the basic tools, navigate the software and understand introductory modeling, rigging, lighting, and keyframe animation. Learn how the interface works while applying the principles of animation, growing your creative understanding and output of 3D animation.

About Micros:

• Register and start WHENEVER
• Self-paced and learner-driven
• No scheduled classes
• 3 Months to Finish

INSTRUCTOR Nick Rooney, 

Oil paints have a rich, buttery quality that is a delight to work with. Discover for yourself as you learn colour theory, paint mixing, application techniques, and composition. Work through a series of projects aimed at increasing your ability and confidence using the medium. subject matter will include still-life and landscape.

**Please see your course supply list online. Be sure to come prepared for the first class.  

*** PREREQUISITE Previous drawing experience *** 
 INSTRUCTOR Nick Rooney,  

Focus on building a strong set of drawings to include in your portfolio for submission to AUArts or any other visual arts institution. Your instructor will guide you through a series of drawings, including still life, landscape, the human figure, self-portraiture, and collage, all aimed at increasing your observational drawing skills. In addition to weekly critiques of your work, you will also discuss how to select work to include in your portfolio, work on a written statement, and learn how to effectively document and upload your work as part of the online application to AUArts. Please see your course supply list online. Be sure to come prepared for the first class. 

*** PREREQUISITE Previous drawing experience  *** 
 INSTRUCTOR Aaron Sidorenko ,  
 Develop your ability to capture the likeness of an individual’s face. Gain a strong understanding of proper proportioning of the facial structure and learn how to accurately measure and transfer that onto paper. You will work from both live models and photographs as you experiment with different types of drawing media and techniques. 

Please see your course supply list online. Be sure to come prepared for the first class.  

INSTRUCTOR Jocelyn McHugh,   

Does your sewing machine intimidate you? Do you have sewing projects where you just don’t know where start? Learn all the sewing basics you need to get started…no experience required! Get (re)introduced to basic hand sewing techniques, learn how to properly operate a sewing machine, choose fabrics, read a basic pattern, and master basic construction methods. You will also review how to layout a pattern, pin, cut, and mark. Please see your course supply list online. Be sure to come prepared for the first class. 

INSTRUCTOR Sky Weir, 

Imagine your own images on fabric! Print your own designs on yardage, clothing, or accessories using pigments and hand-cut stencils to create unique, one-of-a-kind pieces. Learn how to cut stencils for your screens, mix your own colours, and print multiple layers. You will use water-based printing medium on natural fibres. Some supplies are included in the fee, but please see your course supply list online for a few crucial items. Be sure to come prepared for the first class. 

INSTRUCTOR Chelsey Dyer, 

 Typography is the art of arranging letter forms into words and sentences and is an important element of design communication. Learn the principles of typography and typeface design and gain an understanding of how to improve your viewer’s experience. Work with known typefaces and create your own. Please see your course supply list online. Be sure to come prepared for the first class.   

INSTRUCTOR Jocelyn McHugh,

Re-consider your clothing's role in your life and redefine its value through care and attention. Through different upcycling techniques, explore the boundaries of your garments and create one-of-a-kind pieces, unique and meaningful to you. Bring in your shirts, jackets, pants, and skirts and add new life to them by deconstructing, re-constructing, and embellishing. You will learn some simple design tips and tricks from your instructor to make your clothes unique, stylish, and fit better. Please see your course supply list online. Be sure to come prepared for the first class.   

INSTRUCTOR Lori Lukasewich ,  

Watercolours can be challenging to work with, especially if you are new to painting, but understanding some basic watercolour handling and techniques will guarantee success. Learn how to stretch paper, proper brush handling, and how to work wet-on-wet or drybrush along with some tricks of the trade, and gain skills as you work through projects.

** Please see your course supply list online. Be sure to come prepared for the first class.