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
Register Today
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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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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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
Register Today
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.
Register Today
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
