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Foundations in Digital Arts

Preliminary program

  • Duration October, 2025 – February, 2026
  • Format Online
  • Level Beginner
  • Language English
  • Tuition fee € 1 500 (or in installments)

About The Program

“Foundations in Digital Arts” is a 5-month online program for artists who want to create a portfolio of digital works and confidently continue their education in art specialties.

Its goal is to support aspiring artists who want to pursue creative careers by helping them combine knowledge and skills from traditional art with their application in digital painting (using Adobe Photoshop) and 3D object modeling (in Blender).

You’ll work on specific assignments and receive feedback throughout the entire learning period. Your mentors’ guidance will help you develop a strong foundation in art, its possibilities, and real-world applications.

Digital Arts Foundation course

Who is this program for?

Fundamentals of Digital Arts is designed for creative individuals who want to build a strong foundation in digital art and prepare for a professional career in the creative industries.

This program is for you if:

  • You love drawing but lack the technical skills to work with digital software
  • You’re a beginner artist looking for hands-on, practical training
  • You want to build your own digital portfolio
  • You’re applying to an art university
  • You plan to continue your studies in an art-related program (at ARC Academy or another institution)

Benefits

We created “Foundations in Digital Arts” as the first step for anyone who wants to enter the world of digital creativity and build a solid foundation for a professional career in the creative industries.

The program will introduce you to the fundamental principles of art and help you develop practically applicable skills in a digital environment.

Artistic Foundation Learn composition, perspective, anatomy.

Feedback Receive personalized feedback to develop your skills.

Digital Portfolio Completed projects for applications or continuing education.

Mentorship Feedback throughout the entire learning process.

Certificate

Certificate of part of a profession issued by the Ministry of Education and Science

Traditional and Digital Art

Study of fundamental disciplines, digital painting and 3D modeling

Feedback

You receive personalized feedback to develop your skills

Completed Portfolio

You work on projects that will showcase your ability to apply knowledge from traditional art to digital art

What will you learn?

During the preliminary program, you’ll explore the fundamentals of traditional art, develop practical skills using Adobe Photoshop and Blender, and create your first digital artworks. Your mentors will introduce you to essential drawing techniques used to bring exciting worlds and characters to life.

Module 1: Foundations of Traditional Art

Learn the basic principles, techniques and theories related to traditional art, including the fundamental elements of design, composition, color theory, perspective, and other key aspects that form the essential foundation for any artist.

  • Composition
  • Anatomy
  • Perspective
  • Color Theory and Lighting
  • Sketching
  • Software Familiarization

Module 2: Foundations of Digital Art

This course covers the basics of digital art creation, focusing on essential tools, principles, and techniques in Photoshop for digital drawing. You will also be introduced to 3D modeling using Blender, with an emphasis on developing skills that enhance your ability to create art in a digital environment.

  • Forms and Volume in Art (Architecture)
  • Digital Drawing with Photoshop
  • Introduction to 3D with Blender
  • Portfolio Creation
  • Personal Project Work

Education

The classes combine theoretical preparation with its practical application through projects and assignments. Your instructors will offer advice, recommendations, and guidance to help you grow your skills. They’ll support you in building a portfolio and becoming confident in your ability to work with software and create high-quality, authentic artwork.

Schedule: 90 hours total, over 5 months, twice a week (once on a weekday and once on the weekend)

Format: A mix of live online lectures, hands-on assignments, personal feedback, and access to lesson recordings

Support: Personalized feedback from mentors

Self-study: 2–4 hours per week to ensure steady progress

Skills

  • Creative Thinking
    Create digital artworks from concept to final execution.

  • Digital Drawing
    Design polished and inspiring digital pieces using Photoshop.

  • 3D Modeling
    Build 3D objects – models, textures, and basic characters in an environment.

  • Project-Based Work
    Gain experience by developing your first independent creative projects.

Continue your education at ARC Academy

In addition to helping you prepare yourself and your personal portfolio, the Foundation in Digital Arts program gives you the opportunity to apply for the Game Art (Online), 3D Art, Concept Art, and Visual Arts programs at ARC.

Game Art

Learn More

3D Art

Learn More

Concept Art

Learn More

Visual Arts

Learn More

After completing the foundation program, you will receive personalized feedback and a recommendation that allows you to continue your education at ARC Academy without an additional admission assignment.

Mentors

The program is led by professionals who enthusiastically share their knowledge and experience with you. The training is interactive and focused on practical work, and mentors monitor your development and provide personal feedback.

All mentors

Antoaneta Nikolova Character Artist, 3D Artist

Anatoli Bovyanski 2D Artist

Konstantin Grozev 3D Environmentalist, Kyodai LTD

Polina Vucheva Producer, Chase A Cloud

Application

You will go through the following steps:

Step 1

Application

Complete an online form that includes information about you, CV, and your motivation for studying at ARC.

Step 2

Meeting

This is an opportunity to tell us about yourself, and for us to introduce you to the programs.

Tuition fee

The program price is €1,500.

To reserve your place upon enrollment, you pay €750 in advance, and the remaining €750 – 1 month before the program starts. 

If you are interested in installment payments, you can contact our team at +359 886 925 303 or welcome@arc.academy.

Frequently asked questions

If you can’t find an answer to your question, contact us using the form bellow.

Who is the program suitable for?

The main goal of the preliminary programs is to create a portfolio that will give you confidence to continue your education in various art specializations (at ARC Academy or other universities).

It is suitable for young people and beginner artists who want to acquire skills and immediately apply them practically in projects, exercises, and assignments. The programs are comprehensive and include several disciplines that will give you an artistic perspective and teach you to work with the necessary software.

Is previous experience required?

No. The program is specifically designed for beginners. If you do have some experience in drawing, 3D modeling, or digital art, that will be an advantage. We’ll use it as a starting point and help you reach the next level.

When do classes take place?

You have 2 classes per week, each lasting 2 hours (120 minutes) – one on a weekday evening and one on the weekend before noon.

Additionally, we recommend 2-4 hours of weekly self-study for steady progress.

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Do the classes fit with students'/working people's schedules?

Yes, the program is designed to accommodate the needs of students and working professionals. Weekday classes are in the evening, and you also have one on the weekend, making the program flexible.

If you miss a class, you’ll have access to a recording of every session. However, we recommend attending live whenever possible for the best results.

What is the application and admission process?

The process is very simple – you just need to fill out the application form. After that, our team will contact you to arrange a meeting. During the meeting, you’ll tell us about yourself, and we’ll introduce you to the different programs in detail.

What do I need to prepare for the meeting?

Nothing special! The meeting is completely informal – we’ll just get to know each other and we’d love to hear about yourself and your interests. You don’t need to have a portfolio or any other materials prepared.

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What software do you need to have?

In the Game Art and Design and Digital Arts programs, you’ll mainly work with two software applications for drawing and modeling.

Adobe Photoshop (for digital drawing) – a paid program that you’ll need to acquire yourself. We can help you get preferential conditions when purchasing it.

Blender (for 3D modeling) – completely free software.

Krita – free software for digital drawing and animation. We recommend downloading and installing it for the Animation program.

Unreal Engine – free but heavy program (not mandatory to have, we’ll show you how it works). It is applicable for the Foundations in Game Art and Design program.

How do I take advantage of the 3-installment payment option?

We provide the option to pay the fee (€ 1 500) in 3 equal installments, with a minimal price increase.

 

*If you are interested in or have any questions about installments, contact our team at +359 886 925 303 or welcome@arc.academy.

Got a question?

Book a free consultation with the ARC team

If you’d like more information on the application process, admission requirements or enrollment, feel free to write to us and a team representative will get in touch with you shortly.

Contacts