Arts on Fire

Designed for ages 8–18, this 7-week course is the next step after Digital Art & Animation Foundations. It’s ideal for students who are comfortable with the basics of digital drawing and animation and are ready to dive deeper into illustration, design, and movement.

Students must bring their own iPad and Stylus with PROCREATE app downloaded.

What They’ll Learn

Students will split their time between digital illustration and animation fundamentals, building a strong foundation in both areas:

Digital Art – Intermediate Illustration

• Develop digital artwork with lighting, shading, and texture techniques
• Practice stylized character design for personality and visual impact
• Explore environment design and the use of perspective in digital spaces
• Build complex compositions using layering workflows

Animation – Character & Movement

• Animate characters with walk cycles and body movement
• Learn lip-sync basics to match character dialogue with expression
• Add simple effects like motion lines, impact effects, or environmental movement
• Create short animated sequences that combine illustration and motion

Why It Matters

Level 1 equips students with the tools to bring characters and stories to life in ways that feel more professional and polished. By learning to combine design, storytelling, and technical skills, students gain experience in workflows used in industries like animation, gaming, film, and graphic design. These skills strengthen both their portfolios and their creative problem-solving — building a foundation for future academic and career opportunities.

Prerequisites

Completion of Digital Art & Animation Foundations or equivalent experience.

Progression

Prepares students for:

• Digital Art and Animation Level 2 – Advanced Illustration and Advanced Character & Effects

Instructor Bio

Led by Marissa Pinti, who is currently completing her fourth year at Seneca Polytechnic, specializing in Animation and Visual Development. Passionate about storytelling through digital art and animation, Marissa brings characters and worlds to life with her drawings and designs. She loves sharing her enthusiasm for creativity and hopes to inspire the same love of digital arts in her students, encouraging them to see art as both self-expression and a pathway to exciting future opportunities.

Progression

Prepares students for Portfolio Track Digital Art and Animation Level 2 course.

Class Format & Schedule

🗓 7-week session
📅 Saturdays 12:30 - 2pm. Nov 8, 15, 22, 29. Dec 6, 13, 20
📍 Arts on Fire Studio, Ajax

🔴 Portfolio Track

• ⏱️ Duration: 1.5 hours per class | 7-12 classes per course
• 📚 Levels: Foundations, Level 1, Level 2, Level 3
• ✅ Join Policy: Start at the beginning of a session (mid-session entry possible with instructor approval)
• 🎓 Progression: Previous level required unless assessed by instructor

🌟 Not sure which class is right for your child?
Contact us for a personalized recommendation or schedule a complimentary studio tour!