Resources Archives - Centauri Arts

Supplies for Artists

We are often asked what supplies would recommend for film, digital art, fine art etc. For Film/Theatre We have used Neewer Professional Metal Bi-Color LED Video Light for Studio. They have the option to use batteries, so they are very portable. We use green screens sometimes. We have the Neewer 6 x 9FT Pure Muslin Collapsible Backdrop Background For larger theatre stages we use the ADJ Products COB Cannon Wash,which is a really versatile light. For Digital Art We use digital tablets for digital drawing/animation/painting. We have found the Huion H610 perfect for our needs. As an Amazon Affiliate we may receive commission if you purchase using the above links.

September 17th, 2024|Resources|

After-School Enrichment for Teens in Bloor West Village, Swansea, Roncesvalles and The Junction

With so much going on for teens in our area, we’ve decided to compile a list of some of the local enrichment opportunities for middle- and high-school students. When kids are younger, it’s easier to keep them occupied, but teens need high quality activities, with experienced instructors who understand how to inspire, and that can be hard to find. Centauri Arts is one of many local resources for teens; here, we’re showcasing a wide range of opportunities so this guide will be useful whatever the interests of your teen. Scroll down to the bottom for questions to ask the directors of these businesses, when you call to enquire. Music Schools Bloor West Music Studios BW Music Studios has been around for three decades [...]

September 3rd, 2024|Academy, Bloor West Village, Resources|

10 Great Resources for Young Writers

It isn’t always easy for young writers to find places to submit their work, so we've collected together competitions, magazines and online publications to which teenage writers (and tween writers) can submit their poetry and short fiction. A fun fact: young writers at the Centauri Arts Academy have been published in many of these places, and have also been short-listed for several of these awards! Young Voices Magazine This is an annual magazine published by the Toronto Public Library. They accept creative writing and art by writers aged 12-19. You can submit your work at any time but submission deadlines fall in March each year. https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/teens/young-voices.jsp Stone Soup Magazine This is a fabulous magazine 100% written and illustrated by kids aged 6-13. Read their [...]

August 1st, 2024|Academy, Writing Resources|

After-School Enrichment for Teens in Bloor West Village, Swansea, Roncesvalles and The Junction.

With so much going on for teens in our area, we’ve decided to compile a resource of local enrichment opportunities for middle- and high-school students. Here is a selection of businesses in the area. When kids are younger, it’s easier to keep them occupied, but teens need high quality activities, with experienced instructors who understand how to inspire, and that can be hard to find. Centauri Arts is one of many local resources for teens; here, we’re showcasing a wide range of opportunities so this guide will be useful whatever the interests of your teen. Scroll down to the bottom for questions to ask the directors of these businesses, when you call to enquire. Music Schools Bloor West Music Studios BW Music Studios has [...]

July 30th, 2024|Academy, Bloor West Village, Resources|

Read Books by Centauri-Connected Authors!

Over the years, Centauri Arts has worked with dozens of authors. Many of them have taught for us, offered guest classes, or advised our young writers. Others are parents who have sent their kids to our overnight arts camp – or writers who attended our programs as children. Here’s a selection of poets, children’s writers, novelists and writers of creative non fiction you may wish to check out, all of them with Centauri connections: Vikki Van Sickle Vikki writes for children, and lives in Toronto. She offers occasional guest classes with Centauri and taught for our summer writing camps in 2023. Check out Vikki's Book on Amazon.ca Laura Farina Laura taught at our writing camps for many years. She has written poetry collections, picture [...]

July 19th, 2024|Academy, books, Writing Resources|

Why Do We Write??

Our ‘Short Story Creation’ camp is now well underway at the Centauri Arts Academy! We began by asking ourselves why we write, and the ‘tools’ we use to inspire our creative writing. All campers created statements exploring the reasons why they write, and used these to create a personal list poem in which every line began “I write with…”. Writers shared their favourite lines with a partner, who also helped them edit the lines for maximum impact. Finally, each writer submitted their favourite line, and these were combined to form a collaborative poem entitled: We Write With… Here is the result – which demonstrates the talent and wisdom of this incredible group of young writers: We Write With… A collective writing piece from the "How [...]

July 10th, 2024|Writing Classes for Teens, Writing Resources|

Tips for Young Film-Makers

Are you the parent of a child or teenager who loves film-making? Here are some suggestions to help you encourage their interest in film: Look for after-school film-making programs in your community. There are many kinds of film-making courses available for young people in Toronto. Some are based more for film acting, others are for young people more interested in the film-making process such as story-boarding, lighting, sound, editing, use of camera, directing and so on. Some focus on editing, and others on critiquing film. Centauri Arts offers a film-making program that includes story-boarding, screenwriting, directing, DOP, audio, lighting, design, producing and acting in front of the camera. We also use clips from movies to introduce students to different film-making and directorial styles. Watch Movies! [...]

December 18th, 2023|Academy, Film Maker Resources|

Tips for Young Writers

Are you the parent of a child or teenager who loves to write? Here are some tips to help young writers keep the words flowing… Read, read and then read some more! Read widely. Fiction and nonfiction. Poetry and prose. The more they read, the more fodder they will have to help them develop a voice of their own. Encourage your writer to write for at least a 15 minute block of time each day. To find a prompt, they can simply open a novel randomly, allow their eyes to skim over the page until they settle on an interesting phrase, and write from there. The aim isn’t to produce good literature; first drafts are never ‘good’. The aim is to get creative, once per [...]

December 14th, 2023|Academy, Writing Advice, Writing Resources|

Best FREE Animation Software

With most modern animations being created digitally, there is a continual growth in demand for easy-to-use software allowing anyone to make their own animation creations. If you are taking our summer animation or digital art programs, or our year-round virtual classes in digital art and animation, you may be interested in this list of the top 5 FREE animation programs. Top 5 FREE animation software programs 1. Pixilart This is an easy to use web-based program. With a simple layout and easy to understand functions, it is ideal for anyone of any age to use for their first attempt at animation. https://www.pixilart.com/draw 2. Pencil2D Similar to Pixilart, Pencil2D is an animation program that focuses solely on 2D animation. However, since Pencil2D is downloadable, there are [...]

May 12th, 2023|Academy, Digital Art, Digital Art Resources, Resources|

Best FREE Photo Editing Software

If you love photography, or taking photography workshops such as the ones offered through Centauri Arts, you will be aware of some of the great FREE and open source photo editing software options. Whether you are a teenager looking for photography camps, or a student hoping to take our photography and digital art classes, check out our list of the top 5 FREE photo editing programs: Top 5 FREE photo editing software programs 1. Fotor A very simple, easy to use web-based photo editing program. Iif you are looking to do simple edits for social media, or create a photo album, and you don’t want anything too complex, Fotor may be the best software choice for you. https://www.fotor.com/ 2. Photoscape Photoscape is an easy-to-use [...]

May 12th, 2023|Academy, Digital Art Resources, photography, Resources|