Announcements

_{Student Frances James}
 

Tell us about yourself.

My name is Frances James, and I am currently attending courses at the School of Continuing Studies.

I have been involved in the arts for most of my life. In 1991, I attended NSCAD for 2 years before leaving to pursue a career in the film industry in Ontario. I remained in the field for 15 years, working as a special effects artist and technician. I fabricated monster suits, special effects props, and stop motion animation puppets for film and television. In 2010 and went back to school to earn a diploma in Massage Therapy.
 

Why did you decide to pursue Continuing Studies at OCAD U? Are you working towards the Art and Design Studio Skills Certificate? 

By the time I left the film industry, I was very burnt out artistically and had stopped painting and drawing all together. After years in my new profession, I began looking at applying to OCAD U to finish the BFA I had begun in 1991. I was feeling that my skills needed a bit of a refresher before I submitted an application, and I looked to the programs at the School of Continuing Studies. The classes offered are perfect for this transition, allowing me a chance to get back into an academic art space, meet some fellow artistic souls, and rediscover old skills.
 

_{© Frances James, courtesy of the artist.}
 

What was one of your favourite things about the Oil Painting Techniques and Drawing Skills Studio courses and why? 

I enrolled in Drawing Skills 1. On our first class, the instructor asked us to talk about something that was inspiring to us artistically. I said that, as an artist turned massage therapist, what was inspiring to me was the human form, its similarities and differences. I was very curious to see how my daily study of anatomy as a massage therapist would influence my figure drawing.

It had been decades since I had drawn off a live model, and I was delighted to see how much I remembered. My new career blended with my old one in a way I didn’t anticipate. I was so confident with the anatomy, I could just relax and focus on the energy of the poses. It was such a fun evening.
 

_{© Frances James, courtesy of the artist.}
 

What is a visual arts project you are working on now, or what are your future plans? 

After completing Drawing Skills Studio 1 and 2, I decided to complete the Art and Design Studio Skills Certificate. I enrolled in Intro to Oil Painting Techniques and am now taking Landscape Painting Studio with Intermediate Portraiture Painting to follow.

Course at the School of Continuing Studies have given me the opportunity to refresh my skills and build confidence, and I will be applying for part time degree studies at OCAD U in Fall 2026.
 

_{© Frances James, courtesy of the artist.}