Community Education & Professional Education
Convenient learning options for curious creatives, professionals, and degree-seekers.
Expand your career skills and options.
Advance your professional skills, pivot your career, or pursue competitive graduate degrees while building valuable creative connections for future collaborations. Our non-degree Professional Practice offerings are taught by industry experts and structured to make MICA’s rigorous art and design instruction accessible to working adults.
Cultivate your creative interests.
Explore new skills or deepen your practice with access to MICA’s specialized resources and equipment and personalized support from our experienced artist-instructors. You’ll get hands-on experience that results in finished pieces and plenty of interactive critique and feedback along the way.
Community Education
Beginner
Wheel Throwing
Mondays, Sept. 12 through Nov. 21 (no class on Oct. 17), 6:30 pm - 9:45 pm
This class focuses on using the potter’s wheel to create a body of work. Students refine skills and may advance to larger and more complicated forms. Basic skills will be built and for advanced students, attachments, altering, and combining thrown forms are highlighted. Students will have the opportunity to explore various surface techniques to develop more complex and interesting surfaces through various firing processes. This is a fast-paced class with an emphasis on form and function. This is a class for innovation, risk taking, and creative development; not a course for production. Beginners as well as more advanced students will be supported and challenged in this course. This course is meant to open the MICA ceramics studio to the broader community and is not ideally designed for undergraduate or graduate students. PREREQUISITE (if any): For Undergraduate Students: CE 400, For Graduate Students: CE 5500, For Community Members, Staff etc.: No Prerequisites OTHER NOTES: No class (MICA Fall Break 10/17) Materials Fee: $50 Cost: $695.
*Note, this class has already started, but subscribe to our email list to stay informed of our next offerings*
Professional Practice
Beginner
Workshop: Illustrating GIFs
Tuesdays, Oct. 25 - Nov. 29, 6:15 pm - 8:00 pm
Being able to animate is a super versatile skill to have in your toolbelt. GIFs can communicate so much in a few frames so come as we practice bringing your images to life and create fun animations to get the attention and engagement it deserves! In this class, students learn to create short looping animations, After Effects & Photoshop animation basics, specific settings for Adobe Media Encoder, exporting gifs & videos, and examining their personal ideas and techniques. This workshop will be held In-Person.
Cost: $175
Register Now
Kiran Joan
Community Education
Beginner
Workshop: B&W Darkroom Photography
Saturdays, Oct. 1 through Oct. 15., 9:30 am - 12:50 pm
After a brief review of the foundations of exposure and capture in 35mm, black and white, film photography, this class will provide a hands-on experience of the gelatin silver process. Students will begin with photograms before moving on to processing and printing their own rolls of 35mm film. This course will be held in person at MICA.
Cost: $175
*Note, this class has already started, but subscribe to our email list to stay informed of our next offerings*
Kottie Gaydos
Professional Practice
Beginner
Workshop: Graphic Design 101
Wednesdays, Nov. 2 through Nov. 16, 6:00 pm - 9:15 pm
Explore the methods and tools to create effective designs for marketing, web, print, branded spaces, and objects. Join the world of visual design with MICA, learning best practices from expert instructors that bring your business alive. In a workshop format, we will explore a range of visual exercises that can be applied to a variety of designed objects. This workshop is online.
Cost: $175
Register NowBrockett Horne
Community Education
Beginner
Stone Lithography
Wednesdays, Sept. 14 through Nov. 16, 6:30 pm - 9:45 pm
Among printmaking techniques, lithography offers perhaps the most direct translation from traditional drawing and painting techniques to the creation of limited edition prints. Working on limestone, students first learn to prepare the printing matrix, then draw or paint onto the stone, and finally process and print their images. Students create prints guided by their own interests and drawing inspiration from artists including Toulouse-Lautrec, Kathe Kollwitz, and Jasper Johns. This course will be In-Person at MICA.
Cost: $695.
Register NowUrsula Minervini
Community Education
Beginner
Drawing the Face and Figure
Thursdays, Sept. 8 through Nov. 17 (no class on Oct. 20), 6:00 pm - 9:15 pm
Drawing the Face and Figure will explore the dynamic subject of the portrait and figure drawing. The themes of body language, facial expression, dynamic gestures, and the addition of narrative elements will be utilized to enhance the artwork. Surface anatomy will be introduced to improve artists’ ability to capture accuracy and likeness. There will also be a focus on conveying structure through line and tone. These techniques will mainly be taught through the media of charcoal and conté crayon. Drawing the Face and Figure is open to all students regardless of prior drawing experience or ability. This course will be In-person at MICA.
Cost: $695
*Note, this class has already started, but subscribe to our email list to stay informed of our next offerings*
David Little
Professional Practice
Beginner
Workshop: Intro to Figma
Saturday, Oct 1, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Learn how to design and build interactive prototypes with Figma. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to create responsive user interfaces, populate them with real data, and animate them in order to make realistic prototypes. Along with being an industry-standard design tool that creates high-fidelity prototypes, Figma is the ultimate collaboration tool and can help streamline your design process. Personal licenses are free. This course will be taught online using Zoom and Canvas.
*Note, this class has already started, but subscribe to our email list to stay informed of our next offerings*
Nitin Sampathi
Community Education
Beginner
Open Studio Model Sessions
Sundays, Sept. 11 through Nov. 20, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm or Tuesdays, Sept. 13 through Nov. 22, 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Sessions are offered for those who want to draw or paint from the live nude figure. Each section includes two models—one for quick poses for sketching and one for sustained drawing or painting. A class coordinator will ensure the quality of each session. No formal instruction is offered and there are no prerequisites. This class will be held in person at MICA.
Cost: $125. Note: Sunday option: No class on Oct. 16. Tuesday option: No class on Oct. 16
*Note, this class has already started, but subscribe to our email list to stay informed of our next offerings*
Max Cortes
Professional Practice
Beginner
Intro to Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign
Thursdays, Sept. 22 through Dec. 1 (no class Nov. 24), 6:30 pm - 9:45 pm
An introductory course for artists, designers, and photographers getting started with Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. The basics of color correction, retouching, image manipulation, graphics, logo development, and page layout will be covered. Digital file formats and best practices will also be covered. This course will be taught online using Zoom and Canvas.
Cost: $695
*Note, this class has already started, but subscribe to our email list to stay informed of our next offerings*
Randy Morgan
Community Education
Beginner
Narrative Painting
Thursdays, Sept. 8 through Nov. 17 (no class on Oct. 20), 6:15 pm - 9:30 pm
This course is designed for the artist who wants to develop a narrative voice and explore a personal mode of storytelling through the use of painted images with an emphasis on realism. Working with various themes and collecting images from numerous and diverse sources, we will build a vocabulary for the painted narrative. We will combine working from direct observation with photographs and digital media to create an overall fusion. We will investigate the changing role of representation and narrative in the history of painting as well as current trends in the art market. This is a remote class. Students must have access to a device or computer with a reliable, broadband internet connection. The class is geared to work in either oils or acrylics, and students of all skill levels are welcome. This workshop will be held online via Zoom.
Cost: $695
*Note, this class has already started, but subscribe to our email list to stay informed of our next offerings*
Duane Lutsko
What our students
are saying
“I actually love the remote delivery. I still have access to the instructor and peers, but I don’t have to cart all my painting supplies (and wet canvases) back and forth every week!”
“Superb balance of information, demonstration, peer sharing, and hands-on application.”
“I most liked the lectures and class critiques. The teacher is a master at eliciting class participation and gleaning the important points of the lessons through the works.”
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FAQs
How will I access the software needed for the class?
Once enrolled, you will receive a MICA email with a link to your Student Getting Started Guide. Please check the email that you used to register for the course or workshop.
To note: The email you receive once you are enrolled will also include login instructions to access tools and software necessary for your class such as Canvas, Adobe Creative Suite, Zoom, and Google Drive.
I'm interested in taking a class in person. What are the COVID-19 related guidelines?
We’re excited to welcome you back to campus. We are currently in Operational Mode 4 to ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable educational experience with MICA. See Operational Mode 4 webpage for more information; this info will also be included in the Getting Started Guide with your registration confirmation email.
What are MICA’s current cleaning protocols?
Facilities Management has implemented enhanced cleaning and sanitizing protocols due to the pandemic that are consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance for higher education institutions, including a focus on high-touch areas and sanitizing frequency. EPA N-List antimicrobial products for use against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) are being utilized such as:
-SOP Green Klean Chlorinated Disinfectant
-Clarion25 with Microban cleaning solvent
-Floor wax which contains Microban with Clarion25
Microban Professional kills 99.9% of bacteria in just 60 seconds and provides up to 24 hours of protection from bacteria growth — even after multiple touches. Areas that are cleaned, disinfected and sanitized by Facilities Management include public areas, restrooms, stairs, railings, elevators, door handles, office corridors, conference rooms (public), classrooms, lobbies, kitchenettes (not including appliance interiors, utensils and dishes). Departments/individuals are responsible for cleaning: studio lab equipment, office interiors (furniture, display boards) and personal items (computers, screens, phones).
I’m not sure if this class is for me. How can I talk to someone?
Contact the Office of Open Studies at (410) 225-2219 or openstudies@mica.edu
How will I interact with classmates if I choose an online course?
Classes will be held synchronously via Zoom, where peer and instructor discussions and critiques will be conducted.
I am registering for a Community Education course. How will I get my materials?
A materials list is included in the Student Getting Started Guide (PDF) once a student is registered and enrolled in the course. Materials will also be available to purchase through the MICA Art Store at https://shop.mica.edu/art-supplies/.
I see this course is for credit. What’s this for?
Students enrolled in this course also receive non-degree credits. Some teachers may be able to apply these credits towards renewals of teaching certifications.
Will I be on zoom the entire time?
Class format and “zoom time” will be structured to accommodate the needs of each class. Most classes incorporate a mix of instructor-led discussion, critique and independent work time.
What time zone are the courses held?
All courses and workshops are scheduled for an EST time zone.
Are payment plans available?
Payment plans are available. Please contact the Office of Open Studies for more information and to set this up: (410) 225-2219 or openstudies@mica.edu
What if I need to drop the class, how can I get a refund?
Please fill out this form to drop the course you are enrolled in and then submit a written request for a refund to openstudies@mica.edu including your full name and course information before the start of the second class.
Questions?
Contact Us
Office of Open Studies
Baltimore, MD 21217
openstudies@mica.edu
