Foundation Visual Art + Design
Build a foundation in traditional art techniques combined with training in modern visual media.
You are passionate about art and design. You know you have a future in visual media but need to develop a body of work that will reveal your potential. Whether you're inspired by film, design, or animation, you are driven to explore your creative identity and discover exciting new possibilities. You are an artist.
An Education in Foundation Visual Art + Design
Develop Skills
Develop fundamental skills in visual communication, colour theory, composition, and storytelling. Solve problems with creative design.
Know the Industry
Discover industry-standard software and production processes. Hone your life drawing skills while establishing the script and visual style for a short film.
Specialize
Commit to a specialized stream, then pitch and complete your final project under faculty mentorship. Define your artistic vision through real-world production challenges.
Program Breakdown
Explore your drawing and lens-based skills as a basis for creative development. Gain hands-on experience with 2D composition, investigate the history of media, and explore filmmaking, with emphasis on documentaries.
Broaden your creative skillset through extensive visual art work. Delve into the psychology of art and media history alongside classes that develop your writing and drawing skills.
Demonstrate a growing understanding of creative communication and expression. Apply media production principles in motion graphics, video, and animation.
Complete a personal project that draws upon the creative skills you've developed in previous terms. Select your specialization for your final project in filmmaking, animation, or design.
Define concept development and fully commit to the creation of your final project. Prepare for the production challenges of your chosen stream with specialized courses that will help direct your work.
Complete your final project and assemble your portfolio, website, or show reel to prepare for graduation. Present your completed work to a faculty panel for final critique and grading.
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Program Length
12 Months
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Time spent with instructors
1000+ Hours
Specializations
Animation / Film / Digital Design
See program breakdown and full course descriptions for more information.- A Diploma in Foundation Visual Art + Design
- A portfolio showcasing your work
- Access to the VFS Alumni Directory and job board
Student Work
Zoe Huang
Motion Design
Synopsis: In the animation, Zoe explains how she decided to come to VFS and how she found out what she wanted to do as a career in the future.
Lebon Siu
Film
Synopsis: Andy Jr., son of the president of an outlaw motorcycle club, tries to relive his father's legacy as prom king by hiring a motley crew of boy scouts to help ask the girl of his dreams on a date to prom.
Sarah Dietelbach
Animation
Synopsis: Rudy's Diner is a retro diner where friends get together and a socialize over a couple of milkshakes. With all their favourite music stored in the jukebox available at the touch of a button, they can stay enjoy each other's company for hours until it's time to head to a drive-in movie.
Key Faculty
All VFS instructors come right from the industry, and offer an unparalleled education based on decades of real-world experience, designed to give students the skills, contacts and confidence to kick start their careers.
Shane Rees
Head of Department
Prior to VFS, Shane served as Head Engineer at Western Post Production. Shane has been recognized with a Leo Award for his film work and three additional nominations for television work, from his own ADR recording company.
David Leith
Senior Instructor
David is a Fine Art photographer and digital artist with a background in music composition and performance. His work has been exhibited and published for over 20 years in North America and Europe.
Chad Costen
Instructor
Chad's background is in illustration and props production. His talent—in costume design, creature effects, and puppetry—is also evident in his storytelling, from his feature film, The Coming (2009), to his web series, GAIA(2013-14).
Jeremy Todd
Instructor – Art and Creativity (Art History)
Jeremy is an interdisciplinary artist, teacher, writer, and curator. His work focuses on the construction of cultural memory and its socio-political effects. He has taught undergraduate studio, art history, and critical theory.
See more Instructors and staff
Faculty Career Highlights
Campus Life
Your year inside Foundation Visual Art + Design will put you in close contact with students in a host of other VFS programs, from animators and filmmakers to designers and actors. This downtown training facility features near round-the-clock access to computers, work space, and production resources. You'll also be surrounded by the city's best cafes, restaurants, and cultural attractions – not to mention some of the leading animation studios, film productions, and design agencies.
Program Events
Industry Night
Engage with Heads of Department from across VFS in an informative Industry Night gathering. This event will give you a better sense of the student experience in intense production programs at VFS and help you decide which stream best suits your creativity.
Studio Visits
As part of your career orientation, you will visit studios surrounding VFS and witness firsthand what industry professionals experience every day. Studio visits in the past have been held at Animatrik, Atomic Cartoons, Electronic Arts, Rogers Arena, Arrow Productions, and Rainmaker Animation.
Art + Creativity Exhibition
Participate in an Art + Creativity Exhibition. This event is designed to showcase your creative progress with visual art and give you a realistic sense of a public showing.
AFTER FOUNDATION
As a graduate of Foundation Visual Art + Design, you'll have a high-quality portfolio and hands-on visual media experience that will allow you thrive as a creative talent. The skills and confidence you develop will equip you for success in related VFS programs.
Film + Television
20% of students who graduate from Foundation Visual Art + Design go on to advanced VFS programs that focus on the Film + Television industry.
Animation + Visual Effects
After completing Foundation Visual Art + Design, 28% of graduates continue to specialize in VFS's Animation and/or Visual effects programs.
GAMES, DESIGN + TECHNOLOGY
17% of Foundation Visual Art + Design graduates further their studies in either Game Design, Digital Design, or Programming for Games, Web + Mobile.
Alumni Success
Vancouver Film School grads are some of the most successful professionals in the entertainment and creative arts industries. Take a moment to browse some of their accomplishments and achievements. The Alumni Success Stories feature tales of triumph and fame, and will open in another window to take you to the VFS Blog page. Grad Career Highlights offers a glimpse at some of our amazing alumni credits and contributions to the industry.
Alumni Success Stories
Grad Career Highlights
Halo 5: Guardians
Robbie Elias — Lead Audio Implementer
Also a grad of Sound Design for Visual Media
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2
Daphne De Jesus — Digital Compositor
Also a grad of 3D Animation + VFX
The Last Witch Hunter
Dean Mangion — Matchmove Artist
Also a grad of 3D Animation + VFX
Priya Ayengar — Compositor
Also a grad of 3D Animation + VFX
Hotel Transylvania 2
Dhruv Govil — Pipeline TD
Also a grad of 3D Animation + VFX and Classical Animation
Goosebumps
Seok Jang — Digital Compositor
Also a grad of 3D Animation + VFX
Taylor Lenton — Lighting TD
Also a grad of 3D Animation + VFX
Pixels
Oliver Seemann — Matte Painter
Also a grad of 3D Animation + VFX
Timothy Chou — Stereo Supervisor
Also a grad of 3D Animation + VFX
Samson Wong — Environment Artist
Also a grad of 3D Animation + VFX
Pan
Chun-Ping Chao — Digital Compositor
Also a grad of 3D Animation + VFX
Chung-Yin Hsieh — Senior Prep Artist
Also a grad of 3D Animation + VFX
Bradley Strong — Lighting Artist
The Avengers: Age of Ultron
Jen Kuan (Kevin) Wang — Elements Artist
Also a grad of 3D Animation + VFX
San Andreas
Thomas Nugent — Compositor
Chun-Ping Chao — Compositor
Also a grad of 3D Animation + VFX
Chung-Yin Hsieh — Senior Prep Artist
Also a grad of 3D Animation + VFX
Gursimran Khalsa — Visual Effects Coordinator
Fast & Furious 7
Oliver Seeman — Matte Painter
Also a grad of 3D Animation + VFX
Taylor Lenton — Look Development
Also a grad of 3D Animation + VFX
Chung-Yin Hsieh — Senior Prep Artist
Also a grad of 3D Animation + VFX
Alex Berson — Digital Compositor
Also a grad of 3D Animation + VFX
Dead Rising: Watchtower
Christian Foss — Production Manager, Line Producer
Also a grad of Game Design
Testimonials
Admissions Info
To make sure you have accurate admissions information please select your region based on country of citizenship.
Tuition
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Start Dates
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Requirements
You will be asked to submit one of the following along with your application. Your advisor can help with selecting the best option.
The Foundation Visual Art + Design program is ideal for those needing to develop a portfolio required to enter one of VFS's professional programs, or for those that enjoy more than one entertainment arts discipline and are unsure of what they wish to pursue as a career. There are no program-specific entrance requirements.
For more about language requirements and other information for international students, visit the International Students page.
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