Today we received this email from Yowza, a top Toronto animation company currently working on a major animated feature:

”  Hi there!

I hired one more graduate of yours.  I just want
to say, your students are the best.  Eager, professional, and
humble and well trained.

Thanks so much!

Sonya Carrey,  Department Head, Yowza Animation, Toronto

We are proud of all our graduates and the reputation they continue to build for graduates of our programs.

Some of our students come to us straight from secondary school.  Recently I’ve been approached by parents who feel that three and four years of training is too long for programs that are not degree-granting.  My answer is that  it takes  years of full concentration on skills  (not Psychology, English, or  Anthropology)  to be properly prepared for a successful career in Video Games, Animation or Sequential Arts.

The art-related fields are booming. There are good careers to be had for those who have the right education-  not the right diplomas: the right skills.  It’s our mission to give our students the best education we are capable of providing.  The industries we prepare our students for are dependent on finding employees with strong skills. This takes time and practice.  There are no shortcuts to developing skills.  It takes a good curriculum, dedicated instructors, hard-working students, and practice.

We encourage students to be inquisitive and to be interested in liberal arts subjects, but there is simply no time for them to take academic subjects, write papers, and still spend the amount of time our program demands for animation, illustration or concept art.

As far as a career is concerned, an academic degree, or the lack of one,  is of no importance to an animation or video- game companies, and has no impact on their employment decisions.  Employers in the animation and video-game industries need people with skills and professionalism.  They look at portfolios and demos reels, not diplomas.  Because there is a shortage of people who have the necessary skill base,  our graduates are in demand, and will remain in demand for the foreseeable future.

Max the Mutt’s reputation continues to grow.  We are drawing some of the best artists in the GTA to our faculty.  We eagerly look forward to our first Sequential Arts and Concept Art graduates because we know just how good they are and how well they’re being taught.  Max the Mutt graduates continue to find jobs in their fields at an astounding rate…and 5, 6, 7 years later they’re still working as valued employees.

That’s why Max the Mutt is such a good choice for aspiring artists.

We are happy to announce that Alex Ahilov will teach a major Max the Mutt  Concept Art course,  “Advanced Environment Design and Painting in Photoshop. “  Alex was a senior level designer, environment artist and concept artist at Pseudo Interactive, and is currently Senior Layout Artist and Concept Designer at Digital Extremes where he is currently working on Bioshock 2 Multiplayer.

Alex is also an exhibiting artist. He received his education at The Academy of fine Arts in Sofia,  Bulgaria.

For the first time, in response to the needs of some applicants, we will begin a section of year one in January.  These students will complete their first year in July and will have three weeks vacation before joining students who have completed year one in April 2010, to begin year two in September 2010.

If you are interested in this option please be sure to contact Julia Ma, Admissions Officer, as soon as possible.  If you are an INTERNATIONAL STUDENT you should try to get your application in as soon as possible, since, if you are accepted, it can take some time to arrange for your students visa.

Who should apply for the Diploma Program in Concept Art for Animation & Video Games?  If you love the idea of creating worlds, environments, characters, props, are serious about representational drawing and painting, willing to draw and draw and draw and gain complete command of perspective and structural drawing, are a good team player who can listen well and visually interpret the ideas expressed to you, concept art is an exciting field offering real career opportunities.

Like everything else, those who succeed go beyond what is asked of them in school. Their own passion and curiosity drive them to keep working, practicing and improving.

If you plan to apply for this program, you should be attempting to paint in oil or acrylic, and we suggest that you look at “Hawthorne on Painting,” Dover Press. You also should be taking classes or trying to teach yourself basic perspective,  still life drawing, and, if possible, life drawing. Max the Mutt’s summer “Learn To Draw”, which just ended,  is the kind of program to look for.

I plan to suggest to Carla Drmay that we offer  weekend workshops in September. We did offer painting this summer, but didn’t get enough applicants. Is this because of fear? Painting is notoriously poorly taught and many who have had a poor experience think they don’t have the “talent.” In a well designed, step by step course painting will be demystified for you, and truly is a sensual delight. Perhaps we’ll have room to offer a workshop…or a winter holiday course.

If you have any questions, please comment and I’ll try to answer. And do let me know if you’re interested in an Intro to Painting in Oils course.