Middle School Program
In-person courses for middle school students, ages 10-13
FALL 2024
Early College Program
In-person and online courses for high school students, ages 14-18
Middle School Program
FALL 2024
In-person courses for middle school students, ages 10-13
Nurturing creative potential prepares children for life.
At the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), the nation’s premier art and design school, we understand that self-expression, out-of-the-box thinking, and cultural awareness flourish when kids make art. With us, students learn to explore, imagine, and discover in their own unique ways. We help them on their path to becoming the creators, innovators, and problem-solvers of the future regardless of where their academic interests take them.
For more information, visit saic.edu/msp.
This fall, our Middle School Program courses will be offered on our campus in Chicago’s Loop. Our courses provide access to a wide variety of SAIC resources, including state-of-the-art classrooms, the John M. Flaxman Library, and the Art Institute of Chicago, the world’s third-largest art museum. Middle school students make frequent visits to the museum for inspiration and instruction for their projects. Courses are led by practicing artists and expert educators. At SAIC, middle school students build confidence and self-efficacy as they work with support from their mentors to find creative inspiration, bring their ideas to life, and collaborate with a community of artistic peers.
“This class was [my child’s] favorite part of the week! She loved it and saw a huge improvement in her skill set.”
— MSP Parent
“[My MSP course] was very fun and interesting! I met many new people that gave me a new perspective on art and the way I see the world.” — MSP Student
Middle School Program
FALL 2024 courses, ages 10-13 (All MSP courses are in-person)
10-week courses meet on Saturdays.
Class # Title Days/Time
#2428
Animation Studio: 10-13
#2425 Comics and Graphic Novels: 10-13
#2431 Drawing Studio: 10-11
#2430 Drawing Studio: 12-13
SA 1-4
SA 9-12
SA 9-12
SA 1-4
#2427 Fashion Studio: 10-13 SA 9-12
#2426 Fashion Studio: 10-13 SA 1-4
#2429 Painting Studio: 10-13
No class November 30
1-4
Cancellations and Schedule Changes: Continuing Studies reserves the right to cancel or alter the fees, schedule, or staffing of courses when circumstances warrant. If a cancellation or change is necessary, students will be notified before the first class, and students enrolled in cancelled courses will have the option of taking another class or receiving a full refund.
Course Descriptions
Animation Studio: 10-13
SA 1-4, 10/5-12/14 (no class 11/30), #2428
This course is designed for students who wish to use both digital and analog/ traditional media to create moving images. Learn animation principles while discovering many different techniques, including stop motion, frame-by-frame, and more. Digital tools will be used in conjunction with sketchbook work and traditional processes to reflect contemporary artistic hybrid methods. This course can be repeated for continued skill-building.
Comics and Graphic Novels: 10-13
SA 9-12, 10/5-12/14 (no class 11/30), #2425
Learn how to tell engaging stories as you investigate character development, plot structure, scripting, and storyboarding. Explore penciling, inking, coloring, space, and perspective through the use of a wide variety of traditional and non-traditional media, which may include colored pencils, oil pastels, watercolors, and handmade zines. Basic drawing skills are helpful but not required.
Drawing Studio: 10-11
SA 9-12, 10/5-12/14 (no class 11/30), #2431
In this course for students ages 10 and 11, you will express yourself through drawing and learn a variety of techniques and approaches to build your technical, spatial, and creative abilities. Working with a range of materials, investigate contemporary subjects and themes through skills such as line, perspective, tone, proportion, composition, value, gesture, and contour. Open to students of all levels.
Drawing Studio: 12-13
SA 1-4, 10/5-12/14 (no class 11/30), #2430
In this course for students ages 12 and 13, you will express yourself through drawing and learn a variety of techniques and approaches to build your technical, spatial, and creative abilities. Working with a range of materials, investigate contemporary subjects and themes through skills such as line, perspective, tone, proportion, composition, value, gesture, and contour. Open to students of all levels.
Fashion Studio: 10-13
SA 9-12, 10/5-12/14 (no class 11/30), #2427
SA 1-4, 10/5-12/14 (no class 11/30), #2426
This course introduces young designers to fashion with an emphasis on discovering their personal style while learning the technical skills that allow them to take their designs from concept to reality. Develop original ideas, find inspiration for fashion in the world around you, and respond to the work of other artists and designers. Explore sculptural draping by using paper to create exciting experimental garments on the dress form and learn technical skills including printing, embroidery, draping, and machine sewing.
Painting Studio: 10-13
SA 1-4, 10/5-12/14 (no class 11/30), #2429
In this course, students explore a variety of traditional and contemporary painting techniques. Projects include painting from observation and the imagination, as well as experimental approaches to mark-making. Students explore a wide range of materials, such as pastels, acrylic and watercolor paint, charcoal, graphite, gouache, and colored pencils while developing skills in rendering, composition, use of shading, color blending, and layering processes. Regular visits to the Art Institute of Chicago to observe and sketch from paintings and sculptures inspire studio work. This course is designed for all levels.
Please note that our schedule is subject to change.
Early College Program FALL
2024
In-person and online courses for high school students, ages 14-18
Your
ideas
and vision. Our resources and mentorship. The freedom to explore.
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s (SAIC) Early College Program (ECP) invites you to join us at the nation’s most influential art and design school this fall.
What you can expect from our creative community:
• Ideas Matter Here – with us you have the freedom to explore new ideas that push boundaries.
• ECP Faculty – professional artists, designers, and scholars who are passionate mentors.
• Access to our Art Institute of Chicago Museum – connect to the world’s third-largest art museum for inspiration.
• Preparation – the skills you learn will help you in the classroom and as you start a portfolio of work should you be interested in pursuing art and design at the college level.
For more information, visit saic.edu/ecp.
This fall, a majority of our courses will meet on campus, taking advantage of SAIC’s stateof-the-art facilities and resources, including our museum, the Art Institute of Chicago, the third-largest collection of art in the world.
We will also continue to offer online courses in the fall for those students and families who prefer the flexibility of virtual learning.
What Does Online Learning Look Like?
Expand your understanding of contemporary art-making while developing portfolio-quality work virtually.
Our online courses are offered in a predominantly synchronous format, meaning they meet live at a designated time of day, Central Time, on the video conferencing platform Zoom.
Live lectures and demonstrations will be combined with virtual visits to museums, independent studio work, and group critiques. Many activities will take place as a class, with opportunities to meet one-on-one with your instructor and teaching assistant or in small groups with peers from time to time.
You will have access to course materials outside of scheduled class sessions in Canvas, SAIC’s learning management system.
Course participation and activities will be structured in a way that best suits the course content and students enrolled. In addition to demonstrations, presentations, and group discussions, instructors may provide independent or small group sessions during the scheduled class meeting.
[My instructor] was very informative and helpful. She was constantly pointing us to different artists to inspire us, and would go out of her way to make sure we had every resource we needed. She has helped me become a much better artist!” — ECP Student
Early College Program
FALL 2024 in-person and online courses, ages 14-18
10-week courses meet Saturdays and Sundays. Key: = In-Person, = Online
Comics and Graphic Novels
Fashion Design
SA 1-4: 10/5-12/14 (no class 11/30), #2413
Investigate visual storytelling and drawing strategies through the contemporary art forms of comics and graphic novels. Explore a variety of illustrative approaches, such as writing, storyboarding, penciling, and inking/coloring. Examine research approaches, narrative structures, material choices, and the integration of text and image. Previous drawing experience is helpful but not required.
Drawing + Painting (Online)
SU 2-5: 10/6-12/15 (no class 12/1), #2419
SU 10-1: 10/6-12/15 (no class 12/1), #2414
Develop skills in illustrating the fashion figure, styling, draping, and fabric selection; explore the history of fashion design; and investigate contemporary designers and design practices. Create unique textile and garment designs and learn about clothing as a language. Students may explore resources such as SAIC’s Fashion Resource Center, which houses a library on fashion and the history of costume, individual garments and accessories of significant historical importance, and a rich collection of visual material not accessible to the general public. All levels are welcome.
No class November 30 + December 1.
Cancellations and Schedule Changes: Continuing Studies reserves the right to cancel or alter the fees, schedule, or staffing of courses when circumstances warrant. If a cancellation or change is necessary, students will be notified before the first class, and students enrolled in canceled courses will have the option of taking another class or receiving a full refund.
Course Descriptions
Advanced Painting and Drawing
SA 1-4: 10/5-12/14 (no class 11/30), #2418
In this course, students will focus their interests and refine their skills to create strong, portfolio-quality work. This advanced course is intended for students with previous drawing and/or painting experience who are ready to experiment, take risks, and push their skills to the next level. Led by their individual projects and goals, students may choose to work in a variety of media, such as water-based paint, oil paint, ink, pencil, charcoal, collage, or a combination of media. Trips to the Art Institute of Chicago, contemporary artist presentations, group critiques, daily writing exercises, and class discussions supplement the studio experience for students.
Animation Studio
SA 1-4: 10/5-12/14 (no class 11/30), #2416
Explore traditional and digital animation techniques, such as frame-by-frame, stop motion, and more. Beginning with sketches and storyboards, complete several projects
that focus on communicating ideas through motion studies, character and environment development, storytelling, and other cinematic devices. Using a variety of tools throughout the course, develop a final project based on individual goals and interests. Basic drawing and computer experience are required.
Architecture: Design and Drawing
SU 10-1: 10/6-12/15 (no class 12/1), #2411
This course introduces students to the process architects use to develop their ideas and concepts. Projects incorporate experimentation with form, basic drawing, and perspective as well as drafting techniques and 3D modeling. Students are presented with various prompts and design challenges and complete the course with a final presentation of their exploration, which may include prints, drawings, and 3D physical models. Visits to the Art Institute of Chicago support student research and provide inspiration. No experience is needed for this course, but computer familiarity is helpful.
Focus on drawing and painting as exciting tools for organizing thoughts, experiences, and images. Work with line, volume, space, form, and palette while investigating a range of traditional and contemporary materials such as charcoal, graphite, ink, and water-based paints. This course is recommended for beginners as well as those wanting to improve and develop their current skills and ideas.
Drawing Studio
SU 10-1: 10/6-12/15 (no class 12/1), #2412
Develop and strengthen fundamental skills as you investigate a range of traditional and contemporary drawing materials and concepts. Explore essential elements of 2D design and contemporary art through the study of line, perspective, tone, proportion, composition, value, gesture, and contour. All levels are welcome. Note: This course may use nude models hired by the School.
Fashion Construction
SU 2-5: 10/6-12/15 (no class 12/1), #2415
Learn how to design, construct, and sew garments. Develop original pattern blocks, explore drafting and draping, and document three-dimensional explorations with drawing and/or photography. Work produced in this class allows students to reflect and expand on their personal style and ambition while learning the skills to construct a garment from start to finish.
From Drawing to Painting
SU 2-5: 10/6-12/15 (no class 12/1), #2417
Do you have a background in drawing and are ready to learn to paint? In this course, skills such as line, volume, space, materiality, form and function, and palette are explored through both drawing and painting. A variety of traditional and contemporary materials are used such as graphite, charcoal, pastels, water-based paints, mixed media, and collage. By the end of the course, students will have an expanded knowledge of materials and acquire the ability to transition from drawing to painting. All levels are welcome.
Portfolio Prep Studio (Online)
SU 2-5: 10/6-12/15 (no class 12/1), #2422
In this hands-on course, students will not only develop new works of art to round out their portfolios for upcoming college applications, but they will also select, revise, and edit their existing works. Through dynamic workshops with SAIC faculty and admissions staff, students will discover the most effective way to document and organize their work and represent their unique points of view as artists to the colleges of their choice. This course also places a strong emphasis on studio time and support from faculty to create final projects that will enhance students’ overall portfolio presentation.
Middle School Program Early College Program
Registration
Register online at continuingstudies.saic.edu . Call 312.629.6170 or email cs@saic.edu if you have any questions about online registration.
Tuition
Fall 2024 courses for ages 10-13: $600
Supplies
Supplies will be provided.
Refund Policy
A 100 percent tuition refund will be issued if courses are dropped at least one week prior to the session start date. No refunds will be issued after this date.
All requests must be submitted in writing to cs@saic.edu and include the student’s name, ID number, and course information. Refunds take four to six weeks to process.
Note: Nonattendance does not constitute an official withdrawal, nor a cancellation of tuition and fees.
Financial Assistance
Financial assistance is available in the form of scholarships. Visit saic.edu/mspfinancialaid for more information and how to apply.
Additional information regarding registration can be found by visiting saic.edu/msp, emailing cs@saic.edu , or calling 312.629.6170
Registration
Register online at continuingstudies.saic.edu . Call 312.629.6170 or email cs@saic.edu if you have any questions about online registration.
Tuition
Fall 2024 noncredit courses for ages 14-18: $600
High school juniors and seniors, ages 15-18, have the option to enroll in fall 2024 courses for 1.0 credit for $1,848.
Supplies
Supplies are the responsibility of the student. Students will receive a supply list in the first class meeting for in-person courses and in the week prior for online courses. The cost of supplies varies by course, and can range between $50 and $200. Students may need to purchase additional supplies for specific projects as needed.
Refund Policy
A 100 percent tuition refund will be issued if courses are dropped at least one week prior to the session start date. No refunds will be issued after this date.
All requests must be submitted in writing to cs@saic.edu and include the student’s name, ID number, and course information. Refunds take four to six weeks to process.
Note: Nonattendance does not constitute an official withdrawal, nor a cancellation of tuition and fees.
Financial Assistance
Financial assistance is available in the form of limited need-based aid and scholarships where need is not a requirement. Visit saic.edu/ecpfinancialaid for more information and how to apply.
by visiting saic.edu/ecp, emailing ecp@saic.edu , or
Cover images: Ace C. (top), Emmy C. (bottom)