Bring your comic, animation, or video game character ideas to life in this hands-on course. Explore core principles of character design, including motivation, traits, shape, silhouette, and construction, and learn how these elements come together visually. Build dynamic casts, see how characters interact, and create a basic 3-point turnaround (front, profile, 3/4) for your main character. Participants will have time to experiment and, by the end, complete a character pack showcasing all elements developed during the sessions.

The course is led by Deanna Kent and Neil Hooson, a Kelowna-based author-illustrator duo with over 20 years of experience spanning writing, illustration, and animation, including a decade each at The Walt Disney Company. They currently create a monthly STEAM-focused comic for Chickadee magazine. Deanna’s storytelling expertise and Neil’s work as an art director, illustrator, and character designer (including Amazon Prime’s Pete the Cat) combine to guide participants in unlocking creativity and curiosity through character design.

Art Materials Included

Cancellation Policy:

14+ days notice: Full refund minus $10 admin fee
13 days or less: No refund

Registration Policy:

Waiver forms: Participants must complete and submit a waiver form.

Consent forms: Participants under 16 require a parent or guardian’s consent to sign in and out RCA programs

Note: Forms will be emailed upon registration and available at the RCA on the first day of the program

Registration Info:

Min 4 / Max 20

If the RCA does not meet the minimum registration requirement for this course. The course may be cancelled or postponed. We will notify each participant registered.

Artist Residency Characters Design