Courses are 8-week classes that have pre-recorded video lectures and/or live online feedback from our instructors. They are broken down by subject and based around different topics in animation, architecture, design, and classes for youth.
Programs
Mentorships do not have pre-recorded content, but are very customized to each individual student, and help to build skills in dynamic, fluid ways with plenty of feedback from our instructor.
Courses
We offer a wide variety of different programming, depending on how much input you would like, your budget, and the flexibility of scheduling you would prefer. Each course is 8 weeks in length (and 8 video lectures to accompany each week). Courses and bundles are available in three different versions: Just Video, Group, or Individual.
Just Video means you’re just buying the course’s video lectures — no feedback on your work is provided. Start at your own pace anytime.
Group means that you’re joining a group class. Each member of a class will get to vote on when the weekly feedback sessions will take place. We try our best to accommodate all time zones. Each student will submit their work to a Google Drive folder each week and we will review everyone work. Feedback will be approximately 15 minutes per student, per week.
Dates aren’t posted for when our sessions run because it is based upon student interest. Fall and Winter are the most consistent times for our Animation courses, but occasionally we run courses in off-seasons if there are at least 3 sign-ups. If you’re curious about upcoming courses, contact us and ask.
Private Individual means that you will take the course just with the instructor, which means you will get a lot more one-on-one time — up to one hour each week. Aside from this, the biggest benefit is with scheduling: unlike the Group class which is set once everyone has cast their vote on their preferred time, the student can book each feedback session directly on my calendar whenever they want via a link that is sent out, and they can change the date and time as they please, without even contacting Garth. You are also allowed to cancel and rebook a session as long as you do so within 24 hours of the booking. Overall, it better accommodates those that are currently enrolled in high-school or that have a busy schedule.
For individual courses you can start any course any time and set your own pace
Youth
Book a private lesson with one of our youth instructors for drawing, painting, design, character drawing, comic book art, digital art etc. Available in 1 hour or 1.5 hours segments.If you would like a longer 2 hour lesson just purchase 2 sessions.
Foster the love of the arts with this unique one on one program that is tailored specially for 10 year old youth to 15 youth. Our specialized youth instructors guide burgeoning artists through the process of drawing and designing subjects that interest youth, and their portfolio building goals. Select from a range of subject areas within the visual arts, animation, illustration, and design. Draw, paint, sketch and design subjects of your choice. Enrolment is monthly so there are no long-term commitments.
Youth Drawing 3 emphasizes the applications of combining all skills learned from Youth Drawing 1 and 2 into the ultimate task of creating a fully rendered piece of concept art consisting of a grounded figure in a constructed space. The work that is generated from this course is certainly portfolio-worthy.
Deadline to apply is 30th 2023 - Class starts first week of Oct.
Receive a discount on 15% when you commit to all three Youth Drawing Group Courses.
-Youth Drawing 1 Introduces students to a more refined approach to drawing with the introduction of the time-tested layering principle as well as an exploration into visual language.
-Youth Drawing 2 is a continued exploration of the later stages of the Layering Principle of Drawing while introducing believable 3D depth and a larger focus of the final stages of artwork completion.
-Youth Drawing 3 emphasizes the applications of combining all skills learned from Youth Drawing 1 and 2 into the ultimate task of creating a fully rendered piece of concept art consisting of a grounded figure in a constructed space.
-Students will be tasked with a career-focussed projects in each course.
-The work that is generated from this course is portfolio-worthy.
-Each course is 8 weeks in length and scheduling is subject to change with volume of students.
If you are interested in applying to animation and illustration programs you will need to develop accurate drawing skills so that you can draw well structured characters, people, scenes and perspectives. Our instructor draws on her experience of teaching in Sheridan’s Art Fundamentals and Illustration programs and Design Foundations programs at Humber and Conestoga colleges. Our instructor’s approach to teaching drawing helps students attain a higher level of accuracy in less time than conventional drawing instruction methods. With this training you will get better results from any of the animation courses.
Deadline to apply is 30th 2023 - Class starts first week of Oct.
Youth Drawing 1 Introduces students to a more refined approach to drawing with the introduction of the time-tested layering principle as well as an exploration into visual language. Students will be tasked with a career-focussed project of workshopping an original character design concept to final form.
Youth Drawing 2 is a continued exploration of the later stages of the Layering Principle of Drawing while introducing believable 3D depth and a larger focus of the final stages of artwork completion. Students complete this course with a final workshopped Animal and Monster designs they can be proud of.
Animation
PortPrep’s animation programs have moved to the Animation Tutor’s page, so please visit that site to see what we have to offer!
These are the animation courses that are available:
Architecture & Design
New Portfolio Workshops!
Coming to a Community Near You Across Ontario, Canada
Guelph, Ontario
Saturday August 23, 2025,10am to 5 pm
10C Shared Space, 42 Carden St
Portfolio Pieces Included in the Day:
Morning: Mixed Media Low Relief Collage Sculpture
Afternoon: Light Play Sculptural Experimental Photo
See Versions for Options & Prices:
No Fee for Currently Enrolled Private Level PortPrep Students but a Materials Fee of $20 is applicable.
Fee for Students Not Currently Enrolled in a Portfolio Bundle: $100 to $185
Morning Session: 10 am to 1 pm
Fee for students not yet registered in a private level course or program: $100
Afternoon Session: 2 pm to 5 pm
Fee for students not yet registered in a private level course or program: $100
Both Morning & Afternoon Open Studio Sessions: 10 am to 5 pm
Fee for students not yet registered in a private level course or program: $185
Join this in person workshop to make 2 quick creative artworks. No art experience needed. Materials included. Register for the morning, or afternoon sessions or the full day.
Portfolio Pieces Included in the Day:
Mixed Media Low Relief Collage Sculpture
Light Play Sculptural Experimental Photos
Group Level Econo Bundle Includes: Group Level Design Drawing 8 Week Course, A Group Level Architecture & Design 8 Week Course, 4 Lessons with Design Instructor Robert Virtu, 2 sessions Intensive Portfolio Review Architecture Portfolio Instructor Karen Kesteloot, 1 Session Portfolio Written Descriptions Consultation & Editing with TA, 2 Sessions with Architecture TA.
Individual Level Private Deluxe Bundle Includes: Individual Level Design Drawing 8 Week Course, Individual Level Architecture & Design 8 Week Course, 8 Session Personal Mentorship with Design Instructor Robert Virtu, 4 sessions Intensive Portfolio Review Architecture Portfolio Instructor Karen Kesteloot, Portfolio Written Descriptions Consultation & Editing, 4 Sessions with Architecture TA.
Order an individual lesson with a design instructor or a teaching assistant. Individual lessons are available in the following categories: Youth, Art, Drawing, Illustration, Architecture, Architectural Writing for Portfolio Descriptions and Entry Essays, and Design (Interior, Industrial, Graphic)
Learn how to draw like a designer to assist you in creating your portfolio for applications to architecture and interior or industrial design. Gain an understanding of both observational and perspective drawing under the expert guidance of The Architecture Tutor, Karen Kesteloot. Her approach to teaching drawing helps students attain a higher level of accuracy in less time than conventional drawing instruction methods.
If you are serious about getting better results in less time you will find it’s well worth your time to invest in this fundamentals course. Design programs look for your skill in drawing objects with sound 3 dimensional structure in your portfolio that are drawn by hand and without the aid of CAD software. This course will enable you to understand how to bring your design ideas to life.
Receive input on which pieces to include in your portfolio, placement order graphic layout, titles and descriptions. Options to add on lessons on strengthening the quality of each piece. Select from 2, 4 or 6 sessions.
Top ranked architecture and design programs require applicants to make an impressive portfolio full of art, drawings and designs that are made by traditional analogue methods that showcase your talents and imagination. This course helps you develop not only the practical hand skills you will need but also the creative and innovative thinking ability needed to make a strong portfolio that can get you accepted. The Architecture Tutor, Karen Kesteloot guides you through the process of creating the unique and well thought out projects universities are looking for in successful applicants to architecture, interior and industrial design schools.
Includes 1 hour online consultation, editing of your written descriptions via Google Docs or MS Word. Versions include the addition of entry essays or artist statements and precis writing tutoring.
Mentorships
Monthly Mentorships and Personal Mentorships
Our mentorships are available for all areas of study in youth, undergrad college applications, masters level university applications and adult interest. Our mentorships are similar to our courses in that they involve plenty of feedback from our animation tutor. What is different is that there is no video lecture content, and their subjects are more fluid. They are available in two different varieties: Youth Monthly Mentorship or Personal Mentorship
Youth Monthly Mentorships help foster the love of the arts with this unique one on one program that is tailored specially for youths and teens from 10 to 15 years of age. Our specialized youth instructors guide burgeoning artists through the process of drawing and designing subjects that interest youth, and their portfolio building goals. Select from a range of subject areas within the visual arts, animation, illustration, and design. Draw, paint, sketch and design subjects of your choice. Enrolment is monthly so there are no long-term commitments.
Personal Mentorships are long or short term custom private study programs that are similar to taking an Individual version of a class — each feedback session is a private lesson of up to an hour in length. This program is for ages 15 and up for various periods of time ranging from 4 sessions or weeks up to 15 sessions or weeks. These private personal mentorships can be with and any of our instructors. (see list below). These mentorships begin with an Initial Consultation Session, where we’ll field questions to you to gauge what you would like to focus on during your mentorship. Typically, they are three different kinds of personal mentorship: project-driven (ie. portfolio, personal comic), skill-building (ie. to improve your classical drawing skills to better prepare you to begin your portfolio), or software-driven (ie. to learn how to use Clip Studio Paint, Procreate, an Animation software, 3D software, Rendering or Layout software like Illustrator or InDesign), or some combination of multiple.
To book a Personal Mentorship for Animation, please book on our partner website here!
After the initial consultation, we will create a week-by-week homework schedule for you to follow. For example, something like this (project-driven) or this (skill-building).
Personal Mentorships private lessons with custom designed curriculum to meet your needs in a variety of subject areas including Animation, Illustration, Studio Art, Architecture, Interior and Industrial Design, Mentorships are available in 4, 8, 12 or 16 session bulk discounted packages. The personal mentorship program is created based on direct consultation with the student enrolled. Your instructor will create a schedule for the student based on what they’d like to focus on, and then the student will book their feedback sessions directly on the instructor’s calendar or as agreed and sent via Google Calendars. Just like the individual classes, it is possible to delay sessions, or rebook entirely to meet the needs of your schedule. This allows for the most flexible education program that we offer. These sessions can be booked at any pace you decide whether they be spread widely apart, or tightly compacted to assist you to reach your goals at the pace that suits your schedule. If you’d like to book more sessions than this, please contact us directly. If you require a monthly payment plan, please contact us.
If you’re interested in booking a Personal Mentorship for Animation, please book through our partner website here.
To meet your potential personal mentorship instructors, click here.
Foster the love of the arts with this unique one on one program that is tailored specially for 10 year old youth to 15 youth. Our specialized youth instructors guide burgeoning artists through the process of drawing and designing subjects that interest youth, and their portfolio building goals. Select from a range of subject areas within the visual arts, animation, illustration, and design. Draw, paint, sketch and design subjects of your choice. Enrolment is monthly so there are no long-term commitments.
Not sure what option is best for you?
Let us know where you’re at, and what kind of program you’re looking for.
