Young People's Studios and High School Studios
Nurture the creative journey.
Help K-8 graders jumpstart their lifelong connection to creativity. With support from professional instructors, these weekend and summer classes can help young people learn to express themselves, think critically, and build confidence through artistic exploration.
High school students can hone their creative voices and prepare to apply to competitive undergraduate art and design programs with dedicated support from MICA faculty. These programs and courses provide a pathway for young artists to explore their creative interests and grow as artists and designers.
High School Studios
Grades 9-12
Developing Your Studio
Saturdays, Jan. 25, 2025 - Mar. 29, 2025; 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m
Grades 9-12: Artists and Designers have designated spaces to create and maintain an effective workplace. This course will cover everything from quality materials to good lighting, sketchbooks, work surfaces for 2D work and ways to stay organized. Students will not only learn how to start their studio but also dig into how to find inspiration to create, explore themes in their artwork and work on pieces that grow their portfolio and efficient ways to use technology in the studio.
Cost: $380
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High School Studios
Grades 9-12
Drawing from Observation: Depth and Form
Saturdays, Jan. 25, 2025 - Mar. 29, 2025; 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m
Grades 9-12: This course is designed to help students refine their skills in observational drawing using light, color and shadow. Students will draw from life, experimenting with charcoal, and soft pastel and learn how different values can create illusions of depth and form. By the end of the class students will have observational drawings that can be included in their portfolios.
Cost: $380
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Young People's Studios
Grades 6-8
Collage and Paper Crafts
Saturdays, Jan. 25, 2025 - Mar. 29, 2025; 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m
Grades 6-8 In this course students will learn all about the art of paper! Students will explore bookbinding techniques, printmaking, paper sculpture and collage in order to create meaningful art. Students will manipulate paper by cutting, folding, stitching and layering and learn how working with mixed media can help artists explore multiple different ways to make and create.
Cost: $380
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Young People's Studios
Grades K-2
Art and Community
Saturdays, Jan. 25, 2025 - Mar. 29, 2025; 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m
Grade K-2: Art is a way for us to connect with our community. Looking at art work by contemporary artists in Baltimore students in this course students will use painting techniques and collage to explore the relationship between people, memory and place. Students will create work about the places people go in their community, draw and paint their favorite memories of their community and use imaginative thinking to develop new areas in their community that people can enjoy.
Cost: $380
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High School Studios
Grades 9-12
Intro to Adobe Creative Suite
Saturdays, Jan. 25, 2025 - Mar. 29, 2025; 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m
Grades 9-12: This is an introductory level course for artists and designers and getting started with Photoshop, and Illustrator. In this course, students will learn the basics of color correction, retouching, and image manipulation. Young designers will also learn best practices for digital file formats. Using the principles of design, students will design their own logos, magazine layouts and text animations in order to build transferable skills when using Adobe. Access to the Adobe Creative Suite is included for the duration of this course.
Cost: $380
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High School Studios
Grades 9-12
Illustration: Creating a Visual Narrative
Saturdays, Jan. 25, 2025 - Mar. 29, 2025; 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m
Grades 9-12: This course is an introduction to visual metaphor, conceptual thinking practices, and visual storytelling in illustration (and design). Using composition, color, symbols, and other visual language tools, students will learn how to effectively and cleverly express a narrative and convey meaning articulately. Students will also consider, and learn to be thoughtful about, the cultural significance of visual language, and how it differs from one community to another. This class will use themed prompts to guide students from the concept and ideation process through to a final illustration. Using 2D media, students will combine imagination with critical thinking skills to produce illustrations that tell a creative story in single compositions. not on sequential art.
Cost: $380
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Young People's Studios
Grades 3-5
Sew and Style
Saturdays, Jan. 25, 2025 - Mar. 29, 2025; 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m
Grades 3-5: In this course, students will explore a brief history of clothing and fashion. They will learn basic hand-sewing techniques, including how to attach buttons, mend, embroider, weave, and stitch. Young designers will brainstorm, design, and create unique garment illustrations that express their identity and even explore character building! From tote bags and wearable art to fashion illustrations, this course is the perfect introduction for aspiring fashion designers.
Cost: $380
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High School Studios
Grades 9-12
Drawing With Ink
Saturdays, Jan. 25, 2025 - Mar. 29, 2025; 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m
Grades 9-12: In this course students will learn the rich history of sumi ink and how the versatile medium can be used to create intricate drawings of soft lines and organic forms. Students will understand how tonal variation can be achieved by different cross hatching, stippling and wash techniques. Subjects of work will include architectural structures, and natural objects.
Cost: $380
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Young People's Studios
Grades 6-8
How to Draw the Figure
Saturdays, Jan. 25, 2025 - Mar. 29, 2025; 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m
Grade 6-8: In this course, students will draw from a live model as they investigate the human form. Students will use various 2D drawing media as they work through a progression of drawings that investigate how different approaches to the figure can address mood, and emotion. From fast paced gesture drawings to intermediate poses, students will produce a portfolio of figure drawings that range in style from traditional to more contemporary and conceptual approaches that embody a student’s personal artistic vision.
Cost: $380.
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High School Studios
Grades 9-12
Stop Motion Animation
Saturdays, Jan. 25, 2025 - Mar. 29, 2025; 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m
Grades 9-12: Animators have told many stories through paper, clay, and pixelation. In this course, students will explore ways to tell their own stories and make their images come to life one frame at a time. Students are encouraged to bring their own devices to participate in this course. A phone or iPad with a working camera is preferred.
Cost: $380.
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Young People's Studios
Grades K-2
Life Drawing for Kids
Saturdays, Jan. 25, 2025 - Mar. 29, 2025; 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m
Grades K-2: In this course, students will discover how to see the world in a fresh, new way! Different drawing techniques will be explored, using a diverse range of media and tools. From pen and pencil to pastel and paint, this course will teach students how to use line, shape, and form to draw realistically.
Cost: $380.
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Young People's Studios
Grades 3-5
Expressive Portraiture
Saturdays, Jan. 25, 2025 - Mar. 29, 2025; 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m
Grades 3-5: In this class students will explore how personality and emotion can create expressive portraits. Young artists will learn painting and drawing techniques that emphasize how the elements of art can be used in portraiture. By studying contemporary artists, students will experiment with various color palettes for different skin tones and facial structures. By the end of the course, students will have a series of portraits that explore the relationship between people and their environment, emotions and identity.
Cost: $380
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Young People's Studios
Grades 3-5
Clay for Little Hands
Saturdays, Jan. 25, 2025 - Mar. 29, 2025; 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m
Grades 3-5: This course is intended to get students immersed in working creatively to create forms, apply textures, and consider the varieties of surface effects with glaze. Students will extrude, roll, press, mold, shape, squeeze, pinch, and drape clay in unusual ways to create beautiful, artful clay objects within the themes of community, nature and play. Once familiar with the basic characteristics, possibilities and limitations of clay, students will find that the options are virtually endless!
Cost: $380
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Young People's Studios
Grades 6-8
Exploring Printmaking
Saturdays, Jan. 25, 2025 - Mar. 29, 2025; 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m
Grades 6-8: In this course, students explore the potential of printmaking media, processes and techniques for creating visual compositions. Works by traditional and contemporary printmakers that include relief, intaglio and mono-printing techniques are studied and provide guidance and inspiration for students’ prints.
Cost: $380
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Young People's Studios
Grades 6-8
Character Design
Saturdays, Jan. 25, 2025 - Mar. 29, 2025; 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m
Grades 6-8: This class is designed for the student who loves graphic novels and comics! In this course, students will delve into the fascinating world of character design, exploring not only the physical aspects but also delving into the rich realm of personalities, facial expressions, and living environments. Focused on figure drawing, individuality, and personality traits, students will develop the skills needed to accurately portray their characters’ unique qualities. Students will learn to craft a visual narrative and how to design compelling characters that extend beyond the physical appearance.
Cost: $380
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What our families
are saying
“The program is great because it nurtures hidden talent as well as providing a space for them to explore new ideas and techniques!” – YPS Parent, Summer 2023
“I feel this is the greatest opportunity for any student thinking about art seriously.” – HSS Parent, Fall 2022
“The YPS program was excellent for my child and they had lot’s of fun being included and create new artwork.” – YPS Parent, Fall 2022
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FAQs
Are payment plans available?
Open Studies offers payment plans for all offerings! Enroll now and pay later with equal payment installments. For more details and to begin the process, please contact Open Studies Registration Staff at openstudies@mica.edu.
Where will the classes be held?
In-person YPS and HSS classes will be held on campus in MICA’s Fox Building.
I’m interested in taking a class in person. What are the COVID-related guidelines?
We are in Operational Mode 5 to ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable educational experience with MICA. See Operational Mode 5 webpage for more information; this info will also be included in the Getting Started Guide with your registration confirmation email. Masks are encouraged, but optional.
How will I access the software needed for the class?
Once enrolled, you will receive a MICA email with a link to your Getting Started Guide. Please check the email that you used to register for the class.
To note: The email you receive once you are enrolled will also include instructions to create your MICA credentials as well as login instructions to access tools and software necessary for your class such as: Canvas, Adobe Creative Suite, Zoom, and Google Drive.
I’m enrolled in an in-person class. What should I bring? Are materials included?
Materials will be provided for in-person learning. We recommend that students wear a smock or clothes that can get messy! We also recommend students bring a personal water bottle and snacks.
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
Are there scholarships available for youth and teens?
The scholarship deadline for Young People’s Studios and High School Studios are:
- January 1 for Spring classes
- April 1 for Summer Art Camp
- September 1 for Fall classes
Please visit mica.edu/ypsscholarship for more information and to submit your application.
Questions?
Contact Us.
Office of Open Studies
Baltimore, MD 21217
openstudies@mica.edu
