Intensive Modular Fundamentals

Your First Step Toward Becoming an Artist

Student Artwork by Laurenz Bauer

Your First Step Toward Becoming an Artist

The Intensive Fundamentals Modules are carefully designed selections of courses that help you develop the fundamental art skills you need, whether to build a strong admission portfolio or to grow on your personal artistic journey.

Your ultimate goal may be to apply to our AEC in Concept Art program, to another art school, or simply to advance your art. In all cases, these modules give you the foundation and guidance you need.

These modules are offered both onsite in Montreal and online, so you can choose the format that best fits your needs and situation.

Art Fundamentals

Focuses on core artistic fundamentals through five essential courses.

Build a portfolio for admission into Syn Studio’s AEC in Concept Art program or other programs in fine arts, illustration, or concept art.
Strengthen your artistic foundation for personal or professional growth.

While each class can stand on its own, students who enroll in three or more classes gain the full benefit of a comprehensive foundation by developing strong observational skills, a confident grasp of space and form, and the ability to create both traditional and digital work with impact. Together, these courses build the core portfolio skills required for higher education in art and design.

*Class durations may be 2 or 3 hours, depending on the number of enrolled students.

Art Fundamental Classes

Perspective and Space

Learn how to create convincing depth and dimension in your drawings. This class introduces the fundamentals of perspective and spatial design, helping you place objects and figures accurately in an environment.

Combined with Observational drawing and Figure Drawing, you'll gain the ability to construct both spaces and the people or objects within them.

Light, Shadow and Value

Discover how light transforms the way we see and represent form. Students explore tonal values and contrast to create drawings and paintings with clarity and impact.

When paired with Digital Painting, this class ensures you can translate traditional value skills directly into digital artwork.

Digital Painting I

Start digital painting with confidence. This course introduces digital painting tools, techniques, and workflows, while developing skills in composition and visual storytelling.

Taking this class alongside Light, Shadow and Value provides a seamless bridge between traditional fundamentals and modern digital painting.

Gesture and Figure Drawing

Train your eye to capture the human form. Through gesture drawing and constructive methods, students will learn to express energy, proportion, and anatomy in their figure work.

Together with perspective and Space, this class gives you the skills to draw the human figure in dynamic environments

Analytical Drawing

Sharpen your drawing accuracy and observation. Students will practice breaking down complex objects into basic forms, building the skills needed to draw from life with confidence and structure.

This course ties together with every other foundation: perspective, gesture and figures, and form.

Registrations are open for:

ONLINE Spring 2026 and Fall 2026

ONSITE Summer 2026 and Winter 2027

Concept Art Fundamentals

Designed for students who want to advance their preparation. It is ideal for those who want to:

Strengthen their skills before entering a program.
Meet prerequisites required by certain schools.
Take their art to the next level without committing to a long diploma.

Each course builds unique skills, but the real growth comes when they’re taken together. Students who enroll in three or more courses experience the full range of concept art foundations and are able to move fluidly between 2D and 3D, colour and design, characters and environments. Together, these courses can help prepare you in your concept art journey or take you to the next step of advanced study towards our AEC: Concept Art Program.

*Class durations may be 2 or 3 hours, depending on the number of enrolled students.

Concept Art Fundamental Classes

Digital Painting II - Colour and Light

Expand your digital painting skills further with a focus on colour theory, light interaction and rendering materials. Students learn how to use colour to communicate mood, realism and atmosphere.

When paired with Environment or Character Design Fundamentals, this class can ensure that your ideas are presented with clarity and impact.

Environment Design Fundamentals

Learn to design immersive worlds and spaces. This course emphasizes ideation, sketching and composition while developing an understanding of how to create believable and imaginative environments.

This course connects naturally with Perspective and Space from Term 1, and gains depth when taken alongside Digital Painting 2.

Character Design Fundamentals

Explore the process of creating memorable and functional characters. Students will study silhouette, proportion, costume and personality driven designs.

A natural step after having taken Gesture and Figure Drawing from Term 1, this course strengthens your ability to create both expressive and structurally sound characters.

Blender Fundamentals

An introduction to the 3D software, Blender. One of the most widely used tools in the entertainment industry. Learn to model, light, and render simple assets that can serve as a base for digital painting or design projects.

Combining Blender with Environment and Character Design gives you the ability to integrate 3D into your creative workflow faster and offers more flexible results.

Registrations are open for:

ONLINE Summer 2026 and Winter 2027

ONSITE Fall 2026 and Spring 2027

Onsite or Online?

Feature	Onsite (Montreal)	Online
Flexibility	Enjoy a flexible, personalized learning path.
Professional Instructors	Learn from active industry professionals.
Guidance & Support	Get structure and guidance that self-study can’t provide.
Feedback	Receive personalized feedback on your work between classes.
Community	Immerse yourself in a collaborative environment with other aspiring artists from around the world, forming connections that extend beyond the classroom.	Connect with other aspiring artists during live classes and through our Moodle platform and Discord group chat.
Location	Located in the heart of Montreal, one of the most affordable and best student cities in North America. Montreal is also renowned as a breeding ground for studios in the entertainment industry No study permit required. You can join the modules with just a tourist visa.	Study from anywhere in the world. It offers a great alternative to students who want to get the same education as our onsite modules, but cannot afford to move and live in another country.
Extra Perks	Access the school’s facilities as your creative workspace every day from 8 AM to midnight. Join our figure drawing workshops at a discounted price of 10 CAD. Get a 5$ discount per 10 min on online one-on-one coaching sessions with our instructors for one year. This gives you the chance to keep improving your portfolio with professional guidance after completing the modules. (Example: a 30-minute coaching session originally priced at 45 CAD will cost you 30 CAD)	All of our classes are recorded, ensuring that regardless of your time zone or schedule constraints, you have access to lectures, demos, feedback on your work and resources. Get a 5$ discount per 10 min on online one-on-one coaching sessions with our instructors for one year. This gives you the chance to keep improving your portfolio with professional guidance after completing the modules. (Example: a 30-minute coaching session originally priced at 45 CAD will cost you 30 CAD)
Tuition – Fundamentals 1	3 courses: 1,650 CAD (550 CAD per class) 4 courses: 2,100 CAD (525 CAD per class) 5 courses: 2,250 CAD (500 CAD per class)	3 courses: 1,350 CAD (450 CAD per class) 4 courses: 1,700 CAD (425 CAD per class) 5 courses: 2,000 CAD (400 CAD per class)
Tuition – Fundamentals 2	3 courses: 1,800 CAD (600 CAD per class) 4 courses: 2,300 CAD (575 CAD per class) 5 courses: 2,750 CAD (550 per CAD class)	3 courses: 1,500 CAD (500 CAD per class) 4 courses: 1,900 CAD (475 CAD per class) 5 courses: 2,250 CAD (450 CAD per class)
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In just a few months, you’ll gain the skills, confidence, and guidance to take the next step in your artistic journey.

How It Works – Step by Step

Step 1

Apply with Your Portfolio
Submit your current portfolio so we can see where you’re at, and tell us about your goals.

Please note that to start the first module, you must have completed classes like Foundations of Drawing and Intro to Digital Painting (or equivalent) to meet the required level.

Step 2

Personal Evaluation and Guidance
Our team will review your portfolio and identify the areas you need to strengthen to reach your objectives. Whether you’re aiming for our AEC program, another school, or personal growth, we’ll guide you toward the best path forward.

Step 3

Choose Your Courses
Instead of following a fixed path, you’ll select from a set of core courses in either the Fundamentals 1 or Fundamentals 2 lineup. We’ll help you build the combination that best matches your goals.

Just one or two terms can make a huge difference in your skill level and portfolio!

Registration

What do our successful alumni have to say about the program?

"[Syn Studio was] one of the greatest experiences in my life. [..] The classes and assignments were pretty intense, exactly how I was expecting [..] teachers were great instructors. Not only they shared their techniques, but were also open to discussions about the industry, and how to present your work to the studios. [..] I was super lucky to study next to people from all over the world. [..] I made good friends and acquaintances along the way. [..] Thanks to the guidance of [my] teachers [..], I was able to prepare a good portfolio and present myself to several studios in Montreal. I wouldn't have been able to land a job without their advice."

Diego Zuniga Concept artist, Mino Games
"Syn Studio was undoubtedly the best academic experience I have ever had in my entire life.[..] Our teachers were always willing to share all their knowledge [..] My classmates were incredible; and being surrounded by such talented people motivated me even more to keep improving and learning everything I could. [..] I couldn´t be more satisfied and grateful for all the help that my teachers, friends and other people who worked at Syn Studio gave to me. [..] I’m currently working as a concept artist for a newly created studio, and also as a freelance illustrator for Indie games that will be released next year. "

Randi Sánchez Verduga Concept artist and freelance illustrator
"I went to Syn Studio with the goals of meeting people, making contacts, pushing my work and getting feedback on it. Syn Studio did not disappoint. I met amazing professionals of the industry (which I never had in four years of University!) and motivated students. I made lots of good friends and met a teacher that eventually got me an Interview at WB games Montréal to work on my first AAA."

Alex B. O'Dowd Concept Artist, WB Games
"I chose Syn Studio due to its location in the heart of Montreal. I was curious about moving here because of its bustling videogame and VFX industry. I had an amazing time here and I miss it everyday. I would call it the best 3 months of my life. I met some great teachers like Charles Vinh, Lincoln Hughes and Oleg Dergachov [...]. I also met a lot of fellow artists, many of whom I still keep in touch with despite living in different cities or working at different places."

Stef Tastan Art Director, Thunder Lotus Games
"I didn't have a background in fine arts when I joined the school and I somehow managed to understand a great deal in very little time. The teachers are not just passionate about helping their students, they are also active in their industry and would even go as far as to teach their in-house pipeline. Suffice to say that I was blown away by them. In addition, nothing beats being in a classroom with like-minded people. I would not be where I am today without Syn Studio."

Allan Michael Matudio Illustrator, Ubisoft
"I chose Syn for two main reasons: Syn is a great school with a big focus on Concept Art and because Canada is an amazing country. I've had very good memories at Syn with a lot of the amazing new friends that I've made there, but I think the best memory was finally creating my first portfolio. Before I did the Full Time Intensive program (now renamed to Art Bootcamp), I barely had anything to put in a portfolio and the classes at Syn really helped me get on track."

Amanda Assumpção Concept Artist and Syn Studio Concept Art Diploma Student Fall 2019
"[... Syn Studio] has also given me the opportunity to study concept art and improve myself in a short period of time [...] The most important thing I learned while studying in Syn Studio is understanding how the concept art industry works and what kind of talent they’re looking for. This has helped me prepare for what might come and has allowed me to tailor my portfolio based on the companies I apply for."

Elaine Wong Freelance Concept Artist
"I took a single class at the studio, Character Rendering with Fred Bennett. I was looking to learn how to paint digitally since it was not something I was very good at, and I wanted to work as a concept artist. I enjoyed Fred's class so much that I quit my job at the end of his ten-week course and decided to study full time, for six months, at the school. Haven’t looked back since. The friendships I made at the studio hold a special place for me. "

Emmanuel Julian Madail Monzon Character Concept Artist, WB Games
"Syn [Studio] had many student activities as well as working spaces for homework completion. [..]there wasn't a course I didn't enjoy, however, Charles Vinh's tutelage and teaching methods were always extremely digestible and applicable; I'm deeply impressed by his wealth of experience in both art and as an instructor. The two terms I took prepared me with the skills, and portfolio that helped land my first job as a Junior Concept Artist. For this, I'm extremely grateful to my awesome teachers as well as the Syn Staff "

Jason Yao Junior Concept Artist, FireSprite Games
"Overall I had a great experience at Syn Studio. I befriended fellow students, supportive teachers and talented industry professionals. I felt that I was consistently improving and felt confident that I was on the right path to break into the industry.[..] Receiving valuable feedback and industry advice, I was steered in the right direction towards having a solid portfolio. Having talented artists mentoring me throughout my time at Syn Studio was extremely valuable. This set the foundation for me to be best prepared for the industry."

Wayne Huet Junior Concept Artist, Atomhawk
"I joined Syn Studio [..] not only for the quality and the diversity of the training, but also to have the opportunity to learn from great teachers, meet people, make contacts and to be honest my time at Syn Studio was an amazing experience. Teachers are so passionate and interesting, they gave me a lot of great advice, they taught me everything I needed to know to start in the industry[..]. I definitely recommend Syn Studio to anyone who wants to learn art or become a professional artist, you will not be disappointed."

Thomas Boutinaud Illustrator, Wargaming
"[The best memories were] meeting the teachers and staff of Syn Studio, the learning experience, sharing this with my classmates and the spirit of companionship that we had [...] I wanted to go to a school that had direct contact with the entertainment industry, especially the video game and film industries, and Montreal was offering just that. Budget was the second factor and I found that the exchange from Euro to Canadian Dollar was very convenient [... The Art Bootcamp] program was affordable so I decided to go study at Syn…"

Raul Arbeloa Concept Artist and Syn Studio Concept Art Diploma Program Student Fall 2020

Questions and Assistance

Feel free to send us an email at [email protected] or give us a call at 514-998-7625

Please consult our FAQ; most of the commonly asked questions are answered in detail there. If you cannot find the answer to your question, please feel free to fill out the form below, or, send an email to [email protected]

"I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do."

- Leonardo Da Vinci