Explore new mediums... Find yours.
Visual Art Fundamentals
Visual Art Fundamentals (VAF) is a personalized, self-paced (not-for-credit) program that moves you through drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking and digital photography, so you can discover your artistic voice.
OSA Orléans Campus at the Shenkman Arts Centre
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Every VAF student works across different mediums with room to lean into the ones that challenge you, and skip ahead in the ones that don't.
The Visual Art Fundamentals (VAF) program is a part-time, 10-course not-for-credit program with courses offered only at OSA’s Orleans Campus in The Shenkman Arts Centre, providing students a unique opportunity to develop their skills and discover their artistic voice. The VAF Program offers a guided study of drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking and more, by selecting specific courses and workshops within OSA’s Adult General Interest programming.
Designed to expand each individual student’s artistic experience and knowledge, it encourages moving beyond their comfort zone. Studying with professional artists in a studio setting, students develop and expand their body of work and explore new mediums.
Two paths for emerging artists. Pick the one that matches where you are.
Visual Art Fundamentals (VAF) and the Portfolio Certificate are both guided programs exploring the fundamentals of visual art at OSA, but they're built for different artists, at different stages, with different goals. Neither is a step toward the other.
Visual Art Fundamentals
For artists looking for guidance to expand their practice
Not-for-credit, does not feed into OSA's Fine Arts Diploma program
Part-time — fits around your life
Self-paced — take up to 3 years
Customizable to your existing skill level
Goal: discover your voice and new mediums
Orléans Campus (Shenkman Arts Centre)
Portfolio Certificate
For artists looking for structure to build a professional portfolio
For-credit, counts toward year one of the OSA Fine Arts Diploma
Full-time — one intensive year
Fixed curriculum
Same required courses for students
Goal: an admissions-ready portfolio
Downtown Campus (ByWard Market)
10 courses. Your mix, your pace.
Seven core courses give you a foundation across every medium. Three electives let you go deeper wherever you're drawn.
Core courses
7 required — build your foundation
Drawing — Introduction
Drawing — Intermediate
Life Drawing
Painting — Introduction
Painting — Intermediate
Sculpture
Printmaking
Elective courses
Choose 3 from any VAF-eligible course at Orléans
Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Printmaking, Digital Photography
Mixed Media
Jewelry Making (Metalsmithing)
+ any other Orléans course marked VAF
Electives aren't limited to the five core mediums.
Any Adult General Interest course at the Orléans campus marked VAF-eligible can count as one of your three electives — mixed media, ceramics, jewellery and metalsmithing, and more.
If you already feel confident in drawing, discuss trading a core drawing course for time in a medium you haven't tried yet with our Administrative Officer. VAF keeps rounding out your practice instead of repeating what you know.
How to start
There's no application deadline and no fixed start date, VAF is self-paced, so you begin when your schedule allows.
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1. Tell us your goals
There are no prerequisites for the Visual Art Fundamentals program other than a desire to improve one’s artistic abilities.
Reach out to the Orléans Administration Officer by phone at 613-580-2765 or by email at osao.admin@artottawa.ca, or just leave your info below.
2. Talk through your skills
We'll review your artwork together to figure out where you should start: beginner courses or straight into intermediate.
3. Tour, then register
Once your course plan fits, you'll get the VAF registration form and a campus tour.
Course registration usually opens ~two months before the beginning of each term. Early registration yields the best choice of courses.
What it costs
VAF students pay standard Adult General Interest course fees, plus two program-specific fees. Course registration and materials costs vary by subject, instructor, models required, and duration.
VAF enrolment fee
$50
Once, at enrolment
Includes the first year of your annual OSA membership
VAF course fee
$40
Per course
Covers your mid-term and final review with each instructor
Course registration
$250 – $350
Per course
Regular Adult General Interest course fees for each course taken
Materials
$30 – $100
Per course
Not included in most course fees, please refer to course information.
VAF program policies
Duration of Study
Students may take up to a maximum of three (3) years to complete the certificate. It is mandatory that courses are taken in their suggested order, and introduction courses must be successfully completed before moving on to intermediate and advanced courses.
Evaluations
At mid-term and at the end of each term, students will meet with their instructors to discuss their progress and work. Students will be evaluated on a complete/incomplete basis.
Class Requirements
Attendance will be taken in all classes. 80% attendance is required in each course. Being more than twenty (20) minutes late for any class constitutes an absence.
At the beginning of each term instructors will outline the class assignments. These include a minimum 3 hours per class of homework. It is the responsibility of each student to fulfil these requirements in order to complete their course. These quantitative requirements do not replace the qualitative goals of producing work that demonstrates progress and improvement in creative development and direction.
Course Withdrawals
Should the OSA cancel a course, students will receive a full refund. Students who wish to withdraw from a course beyond the cancellation deadline will be subject to the usual OSA withdrawal or transfer policies.
Ottawa School of Art - Orléans Campus | 245 Boulevard Centrum, Orléans, ON K1E 0A1 | osao.admin@artottawa.ca
Ready to see where the VAF program could take your practice?
Start with a conversation, no commitment. We'll talk through your goals and figure out your course plan together.
Not ready to call?
Leave your info. We'll reach out to you.
This isn't an application and it doesn't commit you to anything. Tell us how to reach you, and someone from the Orléans Campus will follow up to talk through whether OSA's Visual Art Foundations program is what you're looking for.