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# Frances James
My name is Frances James, and I am currently attending courses at the School of Continuing Studies.
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#### **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.
© Frances James, courtesy of the artist.
#### Why did you decide to pursue Continuing Studies at OCAD U? Are you working towards the [Art and Design Studio Skills Certificate](https://continuingstudies.ocadu.ca/public/category/courseCategoryCertificateProfile.do?method=load&certificateId=103591)?
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**](https://continuingstudies.ocadu.ca/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=18268) **and** [**Drawing Skills Studio** ](https://continuingstudies.ocadu.ca/search/publicCourseAdvancedSearch.do?method=doPaginatedSearch&showInternal=false&courseSearch.courseDescriptionKeyword=Drawing+Skills+Studio&courseSearch.partialCourseNumber=&courseSearch.sectionSemesterIdString=&courseSearch.deliveryMethodString=&courseSearch.sectionInstructorName=&courseSearch.sectionDayOfWeekStringArray=0&courseSearch.sectionStartTimeStringArray=0&courseSearch.sectionStartMonthStringArray=0&courseSearch.filterString=all)**courses and why?**
I enrolled in [Drawing Skills 1](https://continuingstudies.ocadu.ca/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=18253). 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](https://continuingstudies.ocadu.ca/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=18253) and [Drawing Skills Studio 2](https://continuingstudies.ocadu.ca/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=18304), I decided to complete the [Art and Design Studio Skills Certificate](https://continuingstudies.ocadu.ca/public/category/courseCategoryCertificateProfile.do?method=load&certificateId=103591). I enrolled in Intro to [Oil Painting Techniques](https://continuingstudies.ocadu.ca/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=18268) and am now taking [Landscape Painting Studio](https://continuingstudies.ocadu.ca/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=18272) 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.