People come to SlowLine for all kinds of reasons. Some want a career in animation. Some want a stronger portfolio. Some just love to draw. Here’s who SlowLine is for, in no particular order, and where each path can lead.
Anyone training for a career in animation (or something like it)
SlowLine can be an alternative to college courses, and it’s a great place to start. I’m an experienced instructor in every subject I teach, and the classes are affordable on purpose, so students can learn at their own pace, change courses if they choose, or step away without owing heavy school tuition.
Along the way, you might discover other art paths and interests. If I spot them, I’ll help you plan your next steps, whether that’s illustration, comic books or another art profession.
Anyone who wants to learn storyboarding, character design or background design
Unlike many other programs, SlowLine offers courses à la carte, so you can focus on the one discipline you’re most drawn to, or at least one at a time.
I’ve spoken with dozens of animation students and graduates who either couldn’t finish their programs or can’t find work because their skills aren’t where they need to be. Many of them say the same thing: they were taught too much at once, when they were really drawn to one discipline. Some just wanted to learn animation without the pressure of storyboarding, character design, animation history and background design deadlines all at the same time. The more time they spent stressing over homework for every other class, the less time they had for what they enjoyed most.
SlowLine offers that, with the option to keep going toward mastery or change things up and focus on a different course.
Anyone who loves to draw but isn’t sure which direction to go
SlowLine isn’t just about teaching classes. I’m committed to getting to know each artist: what they’re passionate about, what they enjoy drawing and what their skills are.
Here’s something worth thinking about. You can love a discipline, like character design, without being very good at it yet. That means your path can unfold in a number of ways. After Character Design: Level 1 or the Drawing for Animation Sampler, you might decide you’d prefer something completely different, like animation. Or you might decide to work hard and get better. There’s no “one path” for anyone.
At the end of the day, an artist who loves to draw needs to decide whether they want to put in the time to build new skills, or keep levelling up the skills they already have.
Anyone who loves animation
Animation is a fascinating discipline, and there are SO many kinds: 2D, 2.5D, 3D, stop motion and more. The fun part is that no matter which kind you’re drawn to, classical training (learning the fundamental principles of animation by drawing them frame by frame) will put you miles ahead of any animator who doesn’t have it. The training applies across the board.
Having said that, animation is NOT for the faint of heart. It’s much less about how perfect and pretty your drawings are, and much more about how things move: acting, timing and body mechanics. In my view, it’s less about drawing and more about a great many other things. I also believe that if you love animation and you’re not a great technical artist, this could be the most rewarding path for you. There’s really only one way to find out.
If you have the patience to sketch like mad, make mistakes, learn how to see, redo your work for the tenth time and throw out pretty drawings that don’t work, and you have the heart of an actor, then I strongly encourage you to learn animation. If that doesn’t describe you yet but you’re willing to develop those qualities, give it a try! And if it scares you away completely, I’ll bet there’s something else you’d be perfect at.
Anyone who loves to draw for fun
At SlowLine there are classes for everyone who loves to draw. We don’t work in other mediums like painting or digital art, but there’s a wide variety of drawing exercises that are both fun and skill-building. If you want a relaxed class that gets you doodling more, or teaches you to draw things you’ve always wanted to draw, Drawing for Fun is the class for you. Its only goal is having fun.
Anyone building a portfolio for art or animation school
SlowLine is a great option for artists who want to get into other art or animation schools. As a former Chair and Professor of animation, I know how to research schools and their portfolio requirements. I’ll assess your current skills to help you see what’s working and what you may still need for a competitive portfolio. There’s no obligation to take more classes at SlowLine. You can take the assessment and take your own next steps.
SlowLine is here to serve what you want and need as an artist. There’s no goal to graduate a certain number of students. There’s only the wish to find the path that works best for you. Whether you want the full journey from your first class to employment, a taste to see which path is right for you, or simply some fun, SlowLine is a great first choice for anyone who loves to draw and wants to feel supported.
Anyone looking for a job in the animation industry
Maybe you’re a current animation student or a recent graduate from another program, and you’re thinking about your next steps. SlowLine has you covered. I’ve built a mentorship program, the Job-Finding Game Plan, with tips, tricks and strategies to help you create the bait you need and find the right places to fish for the job you want. It’s a lot of work, but you’ve got this!