Mr. Ashley F. Nitkin
1 Hillholm Rd.,
Toronto, Ontario,
Canada M5P 1M1
1 (647) 403-9244
1 (416) 481-0840
Bio:
Mr. Ashley F. Nitkin is a graduate of OCAD University. He has had the pleasure of teaching art for the Toronto District School Board an The City of Toronto, Parks and Recreation since 1981. Ashley has started a venture of offering virtual online drawing classes for children, youth, adults and seniors. He has worked with students with Autism, the developmentally delayed, sculpture classes with the visually impaired (CNIB), the LGBTQ community, seniors' homes, women's shelters and for people with mental health issues at Sunnybrook Hospital.
Ashley has illustrated two children's books. He has provided illustrations amd advertising design work for three major newspapers and four magazines, including Goodlife, Greatlife and Tastes of Toronto and Saturday Night. He has exhibited his artwork at shows in Toronto City Hall, Cupe Art Show, Bar 501, Stan Wadlow Clubhouse and Ontario College of Art & Design. As well, through his collaborated efforts at many public schools in the Toronto area.
His advertising agency experience came for Nerima & Deane advertising agency. During his freelance career and with his agency experience he worked for advertising campaigns for Imperial Oil, Royal Bank, The Bay Optical, Del Monte, BMW, Speedy Auto Glass and the United Colours of Beneton. Ashley has had the pleasure of working on promotional material for the corporate and community sectors. He calls Toronto, Ontario, Canada home.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Virtual Online Drawing Programs (Own Company) 2021-Present
Visual Arts Instructor
Due to Coronavirus I have moved my programs online. I am now offering a specialty program in Drawing for children and youth. Also an additonal program for adults and seniors. These are ongoing classes. Please see the sign up sheet on this site.
City of Toronto, Parks and Recreation (Etobicoke, Toronto) 2006- 2020
Visual Arts Instructor
Instructed seventeen art programs, all ages at: Masaryk Cowan C.C., Stan Wadlow Club House, Frankland C.C., Matty Eckler C.C., Maple Cottage, East York C.C., Main Square C.C., Central Eglinton C.C., S.H. Armstrong C.C., Bob Abate C.C., St. Lawrence C.C., Grand Ravine C.C. and Northwood C.C. Taught Drawing & Painting, Drawing Intensive, Drawing and Sketching, Acrylic Painting, Arts Studio, Multi-Arts, Junior Artist, Illustration, Adaptive Arts and Cartooning.
Nitfits Design (Own Company) 1983-Present Freelance Clothes Designer & Graphic Artist/Designer/Illustrator
Created a company doing illustration/design and graphic advertising and promotional material. Clients have included The Bay Optical, Speedy Auto Glass, National Furniture, Imperial Oil, Royal Bank, Regency Furs, Mr. Submarine, Del Monte and BMW.
Created and managed a clothing company to sell designer t-shirts, sweat shirts, tank tops and shorts.
McMichael Canadian Art Gallery, Kleinburg, Ontario. 2011-Summer
Art Workshops
Instructed two children's art programs ages 8-10 years old. Clay sculpture, paper making, acrylic painting, t-shirt design and printmaking. This was for two one week sessions.
Etobicoke School of the Arts. (Part time) 2000
Instructor - Evening Classes
Instructed an adult course in illustrative Cartooning.
General Mercer Public School (Part time) 1998-2000
Concurrent Art Program Instructor
Devised and implemented a program called Design and Structures for a grade three/four level classroom.
King Edward Public School (Full time) 1991-1998
Concurrent Art Instructor
Developed and implemented a full time multi-media based art program for junior kindergarten to grade eight, involving current cultural, social and environmental issues.
Received congratulations from a community newspaper, colleagues and a trustee, when several students won an Anti-Drug Logo Contest.
Organized and intiated artwork for most school events and cultural celebrations.
Ran an after 4pm Arts and Crafts program as well as volunteered as a Floor Hockey coach.
Formed a beginner chess club to assist students with logic and strategy.
Toronto District School Board (4 Locations) 1981-1991
International Languages and Concurrent Art Instructor/Special Education Instructor
Developed an enrichment program for gifted group of students, teaching courses in colour and composition basics, drawing, cartooning, arts and crafts. Ages 5-14.
Nerima & Deane, Advertising Agency. 1986-1987
Studio Artist
Created artwork for such accounts as The Bay, The Bay Optical, Mr. Submarine, Regency Fur, Speedy Auto Glass and National Furniture for advertising campaigns.
OTHER FREELANCE EMPLOYMENT
Illustrations / Design work for Teachers Learning Resource 2021-2022
Drawing Workshop (Adults) The Artists Guild 2022
Acrylic Painting Workshop (Youth) LGBTQ Youth Organization 2022
Group Art Show Stan Wadlow Clubhouse 2009-2020
Cherry Meiderios Logo for Cup 2021
Art Classes Workshops (Adults) Van Duzer Art Studio 2016-2019
Animal Acrylic Painting Workshop Mosaic Home Health Care 2019
Animal Acrylic Painting Workshop Regeneration House 2020
Acrylic Painting "Paint Night" (Adults) 519 Church St. Comm.Centre 2018
2 Acrylic Flower Painting Workshop (Adults) The Botanical Gardens 2019
Drawing & Acrylic Painting (Seniors) Central Eglinton C.R.C. 2018
3 Art Workshops (Developmentally Delayed teens) Reena Foundation 2019
Sign For Fish Store Friedmans Fresh Fish 2018
Acrylic Painting Workshop Gerrard Ashdale Library 2018
Spring Flowers Acrylic Painting Workshop Spadina Road Library 2018
Art Workshops for Single Mothers The Redwood Shelter 2018
Group Show (Adults) Three times yearly VanDuzer Art Studio 2008-2020
Sculpture Workshop (Adults) VanDuzer Art Studio 2017
Sketching & Drawing Workshop (Youth) Focus Learning 2015
Oil Painting (Private Lesson) Sonia Freedman 2015
Group Art Show (Adults) Stan Wadlow Clubhouse 2012-2020
Book Illustrations Joanne DeLuzio 2015
Arts & Crafts Workshop (Junior School) Deer Park Public School 2014-2015
Drawing Workshop (Adults) Sunnybrook Hospital 2010-2016
Mask Making Workshop (Summer) Nielson Park Creative Centre 2014
Acrylic Painting Workshop (Summer) S.H. Armstrong C.C. 2014
Anime/Cartooning Workshop Upper Canada College (Jrs.) 2014
Cartooning & Graphic Novels Workshop Youth Assisting Youth 2014
Art Workshop (Adults and Seniors) Vermont Square Seniors Facility 2014
Art Workshop (Candle Making) Second Mile Club, Point Inc. 2014
Private Art Lessons, Drawing Hari Narayana 2013
Arts & Crafts Program (Grade 5 & 6) Church St. Public School 2013
Sculpture Art Workshops (Youth) YMCA Mississauga 2012
Drawing Art Workshops (Youth) YMCA Scarborough 2012
Adaptive Arts (City of Toronto, Adults) Developmentally Delayed 2010-2014
Art Workshops (Seniors) Lansing Retirement Home 2011
Mask Making Workshop (Adults) Fife House 2010
Graphic Novels Instructor (16 to 29 yrs.) SOY Program 2010
Illustrations Good News Toronto News 2008-2010
Sculpture Workshop (Youth) CNIB 2009
Private Art Lessons (Architectural Drawings) David Kimel 2008
Art Workshops (Seniors) Salvation Army Retirement Home 2008
Instructor of Workshops (Children) Harbourfront C.C. 2008
Instructor of Workshops (Children) Cottingham Jr. P.S. 2007
Beginners Anime Art Workshop (Adults) Workman Arts-CAMH 2006
EDUCATION
Seneca College: Mac Graphics, Adobe Photoshop 2002
Ontario College of Art and Design University: Mac Graphics,
Web Applications 1999
University of Guelph: Bachelor of Fine Arts (Candidate) 1991
George Brown College: Marketing 100X (Basic Marketing for Advertising) 1984
Ontario College of Art & Design University, A.O.C.A. Graduated from a four
year course of study in Communications and Design, majoring in Illustration
and Graphic Design (Advertising) 1983