Early College Program Classes Courses

This course introduces students to the process architects use to develop their ideas and concepts, focusing on the how and why of creating new shapes, spaces, and buildings. Projects incorporate experimentation with form, basic drawing, perspective and drafting techniques, 3D modeling, and the ability to discuss projects verbally and in writing. Students are presented with a variety of prompts and design challenges, using materials such as chipboard, basswood, foam core, and other objects to realize their ideas in three dimensions. They complete the course with a final presentation of their exploration, which may include prints and drawings, 3D physical models or digital presentations. In addition, influential artists, designers, and architects such as Frank Gehry and Robert Irwin are introduced to investigate the impacts of digital and atmospheric effects in design. No experience is needed for this course, but computer familiarity is helpful.

This course focuses on drawing as an exciting tool for organizing thoughts, feelings, and images. Students develop and strengthen fundamental skills, as well as investigate a range of traditional and contemporary drawing materials and concepts, exploring essential elements of 2D design and contemporary art. Through the study of line, perspective, tone, proportion, composition, value, gesture, and contour, students experiment with a number of wet and dry media such as charcoal, graphite, ink, and water-based paints. Visits to the Art Institute of Chicago and discussion of practicing artists supplement the studio experience (virtual tours of the museum are featured if online). This course is recommended for both beginners and those wanting to improve and develop their current skills and ideas. Note: In-person Figure Drawing, Figure Painting, Painting, and Drawing courses may use nude models hired by the School. Other classes may use them to a lesser degree.

This course is for students interested in exploring contemporary fashion design methods and materials rather than constructing specific garments. Students develop skills in illustrating the fashion figure, styling, draping, and fabric selection, are introduced to the history of fashion design and new research and documentation methods, and are exposed to contemporary designers and design practices. Students may explore resources such as SAIC's Fashion Resource Center, which houses a library on fashion and the history of costume, a number of individual garments and accessories of significant historical importance, and a rich collection of visual material not accessible to the general public, as well as the AIC's collection of art and textiles to develop an informed, thoughtful, and creative approach to design. The class will draw on these resources to develop unique textile and garment designs and to learn about clothing as a language, how garments communicate, and what they signify. Students can expect to gain skills in illustrating the fashion figure, styling, draping the form and developing patterns, increased knowledge of the history of individual garments, research/documentation, and exposure to contemporary designers and a selected history of fashion.

This course is designed for students who are interested in exploring the evolving world of digital illustration. Students will begin with traditional media and processes and then translate their ideas digitally in programs such as Procreate. Throughout the course, student build a portfolio of digital work that can exist online and as printed media, such as posters & zines. Project examples include character development, merchandise design (ex. enamel pins, stickers, and t-shirts), digital paintings, and children’s book illustrations. Faculty presentations will supplement the studio experience, featuring work by contemporary illustrators who are pushing the field of illustration using new tools and approaches to mark-making.

Designed for students with little or no experience in oil painting, this course introduces the specific materials and processes of the medium. Demonstrations on stretching a canvas, laying out a palette, various paint application techniques, and color mixing provide the fundamentals of oil painting and a strong foundation for creating portfolio-quality work. In addition, color theory, composition, structure, proportion, and perspective are explored through observational painting, as well as exercises that encourage students to confidently experiment to find their own direction and style. Basic drawing and water-based painting experience required. Note: Figure Drawing, Figure Painting, Painting, and Drawing courses may use nude models hired by the School. Other classes may use them to a lesser degree.

This course is for students interested in exploring contemporary fashion design methods and materials rather than constructing specific garments. Students develop skills in illustrating the fashion figure, styling, draping, and fabric selection, are introduced to the history of fashion design and new research and documentation methods, and are exposed to contemporary designers and design practices. Students may explore resources such as SAIC's Fashion Resource Center, which houses a library on fashion and the history of costume, a number of individual garments and accessories of significant historical importance, and a rich collection of visual material not accessible to the general public, as well as the AIC's collection of art and textiles to develop an informed, thoughtful, and creative approach to design. The class will draw on these resources to develop unique textile and garment designs and to learn about clothing as a language, how garments communicate, and what they signify. Students can expect to gain skills in illustrating the fashion figure, styling, draping the form and developing patterns, increased knowledge of the history of individual garments, research/documentation, and exposure to contemporary designers and a selected history of fashion.

Designed for students with little or no experience in oil painting, this course introduces the specific materials and processes of the medium. Demonstrations on stretching a canvas, laying out a palette, various paint application techniques, and color mixing provide the fundamentals of oil painting and a strong foundation for creating portfolio-quality work. In addition, color theory, composition, structure, proportion, and perspective are explored through observational painting, as well as exercises that encourage students to confidently experiment to find their own direction and style. Basic drawing and water-based painting experience required. Note: Figure Drawing, Figure Painting, Painting, and Drawing courses may use nude models hired by the School. Other classes may use them to a lesser degree.

This course focuses on drawing as an exciting tool for organizing thoughts, feelings, and images. Students develop and strengthen fundamental skills, as well as investigate a range of traditional and contemporary drawing materials and concepts, exploring essential elements of 2D design and contemporary art. Through the study of line, perspective, tone, proportion, composition, value, gesture, and contour, students experiment with a number of wet and dry media such as charcoal, graphite, ink, and water-based paints. Visits to the Art Institute of Chicago and discussion of practicing artists supplement the studio experience (virtual tours of the museum are featured if online). This course is recommended for both beginners and those wanting to improve and develop their current skills and ideas. Note: In-person Figure Drawing, Figure Painting, Painting, and Drawing courses may use nude models hired by the School. Other classes may use them to a lesser degree.

This course is designed for students who are interested in exploring the evolving world of digital illustration. Students will begin with traditional media and processes and then translate their ideas digitally in programs such as Procreate. Throughout the course, student build a portfolio of digital work that can exist online and as printed media, such as posters & zines. Project examples include character development, merchandise design (ex. enamel pins, stickers, and t-shirts), digital paintings, and children’s book illustrations. Faculty presentations will supplement the studio experience, featuring work by contemporary illustrators who are pushing the field of illustration using new tools and approaches to mark-making.

This course focuses on drawing as an exciting tool for organizing thoughts, feelings, and images. Students develop and strengthen fundamental skills, as well as investigate a range of traditional and contemporary drawing materials and concepts, exploring essential elements of 2D design and contemporary art. Through the study of line, perspective, tone, proportion, composition, value, gesture, and contour, students experiment with a number of wet and dry media such as charcoal, graphite, ink, and water-based paints. Visits to the Art Institute of Chicago and discussion of practicing artists supplement the studio experience (virtual tours of the museum are featured if online). This course is recommended for both beginners and those wanting to improve and develop their current skills and ideas. Note: In-person Figure Drawing, Figure Painting, Painting, and Drawing courses may use nude models hired by the School. Other classes may use them to a lesser degree.

This course focuses on drawing as an exciting tool for organizing thoughts, feelings, and images. Students develop and strengthen fundamental skills, as well as investigate a range of traditional and contemporary drawing materials and concepts, exploring essential elements of 2D design and contemporary art. Through the study of line, perspective, tone, proportion, composition, value, gesture, and contour, students experiment with a number of wet and dry media such as charcoal, graphite, ink, and water-based paints. Visits to the Art Institute of Chicago and discussion of practicing artists supplement the studio experience (virtual tours of the museum are featured if online). This course is recommended for both beginners and those wanting to improve and develop their current skills and ideas. Note: In-person Figure Drawing, Figure Painting, Painting, and Drawing courses may use nude models hired by the School. Other classes may use them to a lesser degree.

This course is for students who want to learn how to design, construct, and sew their own garments, including pattern making. Students begin by developing original pattern blocks, explore pattern drafting and draping, then document their three-dimensional exploration with photography and/or drawing. Through visits to the Art Institute of Chicago and access to the Fashion Resource Center at SAIC in combination with research and sketchbooks, students develop their own concept and design from flat and paper patterns to final fabric construction. The class also utilizes a wide variety of materials to build concept and execution, such as paper, muslin, second-hand clothing, and fabric off the bolt. The work produced in this class allows students to reflect and expand on their own personal style and ambition while learning the skills to construct a garment from start to finish.

This course is for students who want to learn how to design, construct, and sew their own garments, including pattern making. Students begin by developing original pattern blocks, explore pattern drafting and draping, then document their three-dimensional exploration with photography and/or drawing. Through visits to the Art Institute of Chicago and access to the Fashion Resource Center at SAIC in combination with research and sketchbooks, students develop their own concept and design from flat and paper patterns to final fabric construction. The class also utilizes a wide variety of materials to build concept and execution, such as paper, muslin, second-hand clothing, and fabric off the bolt. The work produced in this class allows students to reflect and expand on their own personal style and ambition while learning the skills to construct a garment from start to finish.

This course guides students through the process of creating ecologically-engaged art in a variety of media, from initial inspiration, artistic research, material exploration, construction, and installation / presentation. Emphasis will be placed on working with and responding to the natural world, with the SAIC Sculpture Department's Knowledge Lab as our base. Plant tending and harvesting in the K-Lab Garden, foraging walks around downtown, and trips to nearby art and ecological spaces will provide inspiration. This course is designed in partnership with Knowledge Lab, the SAIC sculpture department’s “living laboratory” with an innovative, green, and sustainable focus.

This is a program developed by partner organization A Long Walk Home and hosted by SAIC. Girl/Friends Leadership Institutes empower teen girls to use art to advocate for themselves and other girls and design campaigns and policies to end dating violence, sexual assault, and street harassment in their Chicago schools and communities, ultimately changing the face of leadership in the women's movement. Open enrollment is not available in this course. Students apply and are accepted to this program through A Long Walk Home.

This course is for students who are passionate about clothing design and are interested in illustrating a fashion collection of their own. Students develop drawing skills and fashion illustration techniques with an emphasis on individual style and expression, inspired by live, clothed models and garments from SAIC's Fashion Resource Center. Students learn the principles of drawing specific to illustration for a variety of fashion applications, from retail to editorial, including the study of body proportions, movement and position, perspective, and how to apply appropriate exaggeration and stylization to create evocative and effective illustrations. Study of fabric texture and drape, and its relation to body form and movement, is also covered. Students are introduced to the work and practices of several important fashion illustrators working currently, and those influential to the history of fashion illustration. Students also gain experience with a range of media, including colored pencil, pastel, pen, marker, and water-based paint. Previous drawing experience is helpful.

Working from the nude model, students learn how to draw the human form from direct observation. Class exercises include fast movement and long duration poses as well as content from other visual sources including photographs and the imagination. The essential elements of life drawing, including anatomy, proportion, volume, composition, gesture, and the accurate and expressive use of line and tone are addressed to provide a focus for increasing skill. Students work with black and white dry media, such as graphite, charcoal, and conte crayon to realistically render subjects from direct observation. In addition, students explore experimental approaches such as blind contour drawing and drawing from memory. Focus is placed on both traditional drawing modes as well as individual creativity so each student can investigate their own ideas. Trips to the Art Institute of Chicago, presentations on historic and contemporary artists, and critiques supplement the studio experience. This course is recommended for both beginners and those wanting to improve and develop their current skills and ideas.

There are so many options available to artists today, blending traditional and digital processes, public and private works, and individual and collaborative practices. This course is designed for students who want to explore some of these contemporary artist materials and techniques. Students are exposed to what is happening right now in the art world and are able to experiment with a variety of methods, which may include drawing, sculpture, image transfer, collage, laser cutting, and/or 3D printing. The course starts out with several smaller exercises and demos combined with discussion to help students develop a larger final project that reflects their individual interests. Classes are supplemented with presentations of current art concepts and issues and the work of significant contemporary artists.

Working from the nude model, students learn how to draw the human form from direct observation. Class exercises include fast movement and long duration poses as well as content from other visual sources including photographs and the imagination. The essential elements of life drawing, including anatomy, proportion, volume, composition, gesture, and the accurate and expressive use of line and tone are addressed to provide a focus for increasing skill. Students work with black and white dry media, such as graphite, charcoal, and conte crayon to realistically render subjects from direct observation. In addition, students explore experimental approaches such as blind contour drawing and drawing from memory. Focus is placed on both traditional drawing modes as well as individual creativity so each student can investigate their own ideas. Trips to the Art Institute of Chicago, presentations on historic and contemporary artists, and critiques supplement the studio experience. This course is recommended for both beginners and those wanting to improve and develop their current skills and ideas.

In this course, students are introduced to traditional and non-traditional materials and methods used in water-based painting. Projects include painting from observation and the imagination, using current artist practices and historical examples. Working from a variety of subjects, students may use ink, acrylic, watercolor, and mixed media within their works while building skills in color, tone, volume, contrast, and temperature. Visits to the Art Institute of Chicago provide inspiration. Students should have previous drawing experience, but no painting experience is necessary. Note: Figure Drawing, Figure Painting, Painting, and Drawing courses may use nude models hired by the School. Other classes may use them to a lesser degree.

This course serves as a foundation for students interested in video production, motion graphics, and animation. Students explore the language and history of moving images and how artists work with and challenge these processes. The course begins with several demos and exercises combined with research and discussion to develop a final project that reflects individual interests. Students may work with traditional processes such as sketchbooking alongside digital applications such as Adobe After Effects and Adobe Premiere. Visits to the Art Institute of Chicago, access to SAIC's video resources, and discussion of influential time-based artists such as Tony Oursler, Shirin Neshat, Alfred Hitchcock, and Jennifer Steinkamp support the studio experience. No experience is needed for this course, but computer familiarity is very helpful.

This course is for students that have a background in drawing, but little to no painting experience. Drawings serve as the foundation for acquiring new painting skills and students are encouraged to develop their own ideas and goals with instructor guidance. 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, and may include graphite, charcoal, pastels, water-based paints, mixed media, and/or collage. Visits to the Art Institute of Chicago and discussions of practicing artists will supplement the studio experience and encourage development of concepts in student artworks. By the end of the course, students have an expanded knowledge of materials and acquire the ability to transition from drawing to painting. This course is recommended for both beginners and those wanting to improve and develop their current abilities. Note: Figure Drawing, Figure Painting, Painting, and Drawing courses may use nude models hired by the School. Other classes may use them to a lesser degree.

This course is for students that have a background in drawing, but little to no painting experience. Drawings serve as the foundation for acquiring new painting skills and students are encouraged to develop their own ideas and goals with instructor guidance. 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, and may include graphite, charcoal, pastels, water-based paints, mixed media, and/or collage. Visits to the Art Institute of Chicago and discussions of practicing artists will supplement the studio experience and encourage development of concepts in student artworks. By the end of the course, students have an expanded knowledge of materials and acquire the ability to transition from drawing to painting. This course is recommended for both beginners and those wanting to improve and develop their current abilities. Note: Figure Drawing, Figure Painting, Painting, and Drawing courses may use nude models hired by the School. Other classes may use them to a lesser degree.

Bring your drawings and ideas to life in Animation Studio. This course is designed for students who wish to explore traditional and digital animation techniques, such as frame-by-frame, stop-motion, and more. Beginning from sketches and storyboards, students complete several projects that focus on communicating ideas through motion studies, character/environment development, storytelling, and other cinematic devices such as composition, set making, and props. Using a variety of tools throughout the course, students develop a final project that is based on individual goals and interests. Artist presentations, visits to the Art Institute of Chicago, and group discussions supplement the studio experience. **NOTE: Basic drawing and computer experience required.

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. Building on this foundation, students learn research methods to develop ideas and produce projects that examine narrative structures, material choices, and the integration of text and image. Regular critiques, visits to the Art Institute of Chicago, and exposure to contemporary artists, illustrators, and designers supplement the studio experience. Previous drawing experience is helpful but not required.