Special Effects Courses at Vancouver FX

Vancouver FX is a special effects production studio and private training facility, providing a creative environment for artists of all backgrounds and styles. We offer classes and workshops on special effects makeup, prosthetic character creation, anatomy and sculpture, mold making, airbrushing, life casting, 3d modelling, and 3D printing for TV & film.

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced artist, our classes are designed to provide you with the tools, techniques, and guidance you need to grow and develop your skills. Our TV & Film Industry instructors are passionate about their craft and dedicated to helping you reach your full potential.

Enrollment is open to all students 19 years and older, both Canadian and international. We are committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive community, where all styles of artists can come together to learn, create, and grow.

Ready to take your artistic skills to the next level? Register for one of our classes or workshops today!

Take a peek inside the classroom and view student work on our Instagram HERE

Upcoming Courses & Saturday Workshops

In this one day intensive workshop create a hyper-realistic severed finger prop using professional-grade silicone casting and painting techniques! This intensive workshop is perfect for aspiring artists, experienced FX professionals, and beginners looking to expand their portfolios with industry-standard skills.

What You’ll Learn In This Course:

– Professional life-casting and body-casting methods
– How to cast your own finger using safe and accurate mold-making products
– Mixing and pouring silicone, plus brush-up techniques for flawless results
– Mastering color theory with specialized silicone paints and pigments
– Adding realistic wounds, gore, and casualty FX for film-quality props
– Painting, matting, and glossing techniques for a believable flesh-tone finish

All tools, materials, and products are provided, so you can focus on learning and creating. From life casting to silicone application and painting, every step is demonstrated in detail—no prior experience required!

Certificate of Completion: Upon finishing the workshop, you’ll receive a certificate of completion signed by the instructor, recognizing your new skills and achievements.

Date: Saturday, May 24th, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (8 Hours with Break)
Instructor: Dallas Harvey – FX Artist & Prosthetics Expert
Tuition: $500 (All materials included, limited to 10 students)

Need help registering? Contact us at vancouverfxstudio@gmail.com or email us HERE

Take your FX designs into the digital age with our Digital 3D Concept Design for Special Effects Makeup workshop using Nomad Sculpt – the powerful, beginner-friendly 3D sculpting app for tablets. This one-day, 8-hour intensive is perfect for FX artists, makeup designers, and creatives who want to explore the future of character and prosthetic design.

Under the guidance of industry FX artist Dallas Harvey, students will learn how to digitally sculpt professional-level character concepts for prosthetic makeup, monsters, and creatures – all using an iPad or Android tablet.

Through live demos and hands-on practice, you’ll learn how to:

– Navigate Nomad’s intuitive interface and sculpting tools
– Use a 3D Scanner & create a digital life cast
– Build and refine prosthetic-ready facial structures
– Add character-defining details like horns, scars, bone structure & texture
– Use polypainting to visualize realistic color passes
– Export turnarounds, 3D print files, or concept images for clients or production

Whether you’re looking to enhance your makeup design workflow or add digital sculpting to your creative toolkit, this course is your gateway into mobile 3D design for film, theatre, and media.

All skill levels welcome – no previous digital sculpting experience required.
Students must bring their own iPad or Android tablet with Nomad Sculpt installed.

Date: Saturday, June 14, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (8 Hours with Break)
Instructor: Dallas Harvey – FX Artist & Prosthetics Expert
Tuition: $500 (Limited to 10 students)

Learn to create next-level injury FX that bleed, bruise, and burn with shocking realism. This intensive 10-hour workshop is designed for makeup artists, filmmakers, and special effects enthusiasts who want to master the art of trauma simulation for the screen.

Under the guidance of veteran FX artist Dallas Harvey, you’ll dive deep into creating cinematic-quality bruises, burns, lacerations, bullet wounds, and surgical trauma using industry-standard materials and professional techniques.

Whether you’re preparing actors for a battlefield scene, a post-apocalyptic short, or emergency training simulations, this workshop teaches you how to design, build, and apply trauma effects that hold up to HD cameras and intense lighting.

What You’ll Learn In This Course:

– Professional makeup kit: products, hygiene & safety protocols
– Realistic bruise techniques using alcohol palettes and color layering
– First, second, and third-degree burn FX – both sculpted and out-of-kit
– Deep gashes, torn flesh, and 3D transfer prosthetic application
– Bullet entry & exit wounds with blood FX
– Blending prosthetics into skin for seamless realism

Hands-On From Start to Finish! This isn’t a demo-only day—you’ll be working hands-on throughout, using high-end FX products and sculpting materials to create your own trauma makeup looks. You’ll leave with photos of your work, a Certificate of Completion, and practical knowledge you can apply to film, theatre, haunted attractions, or medical simulation training.

Certificate of Completion: Upon finishing the workshop, you’ll receive a certificate of completion signed by the instructor, recognizing your new skills and achievements.

Date: Saturday, June 28, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM (10 Hours with Breaks)
Instructor: Dallas Harvey – FX Artist & Prosthetics Expert
Tuition: $500 (All materials included, limited to 10 students)

2 Days. All-In. All Hands-On Intensive FX Training.

Ready to take your FX skills to the next level? This summer, step into the world of professional special effects with Vancouver FX’s 2-Day Summer SFX Intensive Workshop — a fast-paced, hands-on crash course in everything from gore and blood rigs to foam latex prosthetics, 3D transfers, bald caps, airbrush painting, and more!

Led by industry FX artist Dallas Harvey (Alien: ORE, The Exorcist), this workshop is perfect for aspiring artists, film students, horror fans, or working pros who want to sharpen their on-set skills with real film-industry techniques.

💥 What You’ll Learn:
– Out-of-Kit Injury FX & Blood Gags
– 3D Transfer Prosthetic Application
– Sculpting & Casting Foam Latex Appliances
– Pro Airbrush Painting Techniques
– Bald Cap Application & Custom Tattoo FX

All materials are included — just bring your passion! You’ll leave with new skills, finished FX looks, and a certificate of completion from Vancouver’s top FX training studio.

Dates: Friday, July 11th & Saturday, July 12, 2025
Time: 10:00AM – 6:00 PM
Instructor: Dallas Harvey – FX Artist & Prosthetics Expert
Tuition: $950 (All materials included, limited to 10 students)

Learn how to design, sculpt, and fabricate your own professional-grade silicone front-face prosthetic in this intensive 8-week course. Whether you’re building a hyper-realistic old-age makeup or a fantasy creature design, this course walks you through every stage of the process—from concept to final wearable piece.

Taught by TV & Film FX artist Dallas Harvey, this hands-on class is ideal for aspiring FX artists, makeup designers, and sculptors looking to build their portfolio with high-end prosthetic work. All tools and materials are included.

What You’ll Learn In This Course:

1. Sculpture Design Techniques & Tools
Explore industry-standard tools and materials used in prosthetic sculpture. Learn how to block out forms, refine details, and build textures that hold up under camera close-ups.

2. Sculpting for Dynamic Movement
Master the art of realistic facial sculpting, including old-age prosthetics. Understand how to shape folds, wrinkles, and features that move naturally with the performer’s face.

3. Character & Creature Concept Development
Bring your own creature or character to life! Start with rough sketches and translate your vision into a 3D sculpt that balances design creativity with anatomical believability.

4. Professional Mold-Making
Learn how to create a rigid resin mold from your sculpture. Capture every detail cleanly while preparing your mold for long-term, multi-pull use.

5. De-Molding & Mold Prep for Silicone
Discover techniques to safely de-mold your sculpture and prep it for silicone casting. Avoid common mold damage and ensure optimal results when casting silicone.

6. Tinting & Mixing Silicone
Achieve ultra-realistic translucency and skin tones with proper silicone tinting. Learn to control pigment saturation and master mix ratios for different FX needs.

7. Gel-Filled Silicone Prosthetic Fabrication
Push your prosthetic realism further with soft, gel-filled appliances. These flexible pieces offer enhanced movement and tactile realism, perfect for facial features or dynamic zones.

8. Pre-Painting with Airbrush & Hand Detail
Complete your prosthetic with professional paint techniques. Learn both airbrushing and hand-painting methods to build lifelike skin textures, tones, and depth with precision.

No experience necessary. Just bring your imagination. All clay, molding materials, and a set of basic sculpting tools are provided.*
*Students must bring their own organic vapor respirator.

Whether you’re starting your FX journey or looking to level up your skills, this course gives you the professional training and confidence to produce high-quality silicone prosthetics from start to finish.

Certificate of Completion: Upon finishing the workshop, you’ll receive a certificate of completion signed by the instructor, recognizing your new skills and achievements.

Dates: Thursday Nights, May 22nd – July 10th, 2025
Time: 7:00PM – 10:00 PM
Instructor: Dallas Harvey – FX Artist & Prosthetics Expert
Tuition: $1550 (All materials included, limited to 10 students)

Need help registering? Contact us at vancouverfxstudio@gmail.com or email us HERE