Today there is an open house at Max the Mutt.  The number of  applicants  seems to be very high for this early in the year. Usually February and March are when numbers swell.  If you are thinking about applying for September 2009, do get in touch soon! My advice is to arrange a tour and find out if this looks like the right school for you, and if it is, apply soon.

We’ve had a rough winter here in Toronto, and students are now in the thick of both winter weather and second semester! The trick now is to stay energized, organized,  and upbeat.

We’re already making contacts to arrange summer internships, and graduating students are  beginning work on portfolios.

I’ve been enjoying teaching figurative painting, and am finding more time for my own work! Teaching can definitely help the instructor as much as the students. In reviewing, and examining different approaches that are current, the mind is stimulated and the urge to get back to work increases.

Happily for me, I cut back on my admin hours and left myself time to be an artist again. Just in the nick of time! No one should underestimate the difficulties of the creative life, but when the need is there, not creating becomes an unendurable pressure. Pain or no pain, I’m happy to be mentally as well as physically back into my own work. Now if I can just get those tubes and jars that were unopened for too long to open!

Let us all be grateful for the opportunity to do our work. And for my newest grandaughter, Frida,  who is one week old today, welcome to the new millenium  (which really began, in my opinion, with Obama’s election)  and  what I hope will be a kinder, gentler,  more civilized world.

This work was done for a second year, first semester course called “Introduction To Concept Art,” taught by Don Gauthier. Our first year for all diplomas is a visual arts literacy year. Work from first year concept art students will be posted as soon as we get a chance!

Welcome back to all returning students!  Yesterday I taught Figurative Painting for the first time at Max the Mutt!  It wasn’t a necessary course for animation students, so it has only come into existence now that w have the 4 year concept art diploma.  Since painting is my  passion, and is what I taught for many years at another well known college, I was really happy. The students did amazingly well.  I shouldn’t be surprised. Their second year life drawing course is excellent (taught by Ed Shawcross), their command of design and comp is excellent, their year one rep painting course (still life) taught by Trudy Binder, gave them a solid foundation.  Away we go!

Just a note to all of you:

There is a shortage of people with a solid knowledge of basics. It happened this year and it’s happened in the past that a very hardworking, gifted student was spirited away by the lure of a job. I feel  real pain about this, although I wish the student in question all good things. He is definitely capable of the job he was offered and he WILL learn  on the job.

However there are skills he hasn’t acquired yet for a top career in concept art,  and he won’t easily get the opportunity to develop them while working 9 to 6PM 5 days a week. He has the potential to become  both a fine painter and a top concept artist, but he is at the beginnng of that journey.  He wasn’t in financial stress, but he had heard that it’s hard to get a job…and here was one falling into his lap!

My advice is to think carefully before you leave school.  Think long term, not short term.  Think about your goals and the skills you’ll need to get where you want to go.  It’s a great gift to be free to totally emerse yourself in learning and practicing and developing your art.  I hope this young man will  eventually return to complete his education.

In my experience, individuals who have a work ethic, professionalism and top skills are offered jobs. While you’re in school, be in school. Give it everything you have and have faith.