All Continuing Education Classes

Learn the foundations of metalworking and welding by transforming ideas, drawings, and designs into three dimensional metal objects.

Throughout the year, Continuing Education sponsors the Figure Drawing Co-op, open drawing sessions for anyone interested in drawing from the live nude model. Open to ages 16 and above.

Throughout the year, Continuing Education sponsors the Figure Drawing Co-op, open drawing sessions for anyone interested in drawing from the live nude model. Open to ages 16 and above.

In this introductory course, get a behind-the-scenes look at how contemporary illustrators create work for books, magazines, and online publications.

This introductory class is tailored to those who have never painted or have not used oil paints before and who are ready to take the plunge.

Screenprinting is a direct printmaking technique that builds images from layers of color and can be used to create everything from custom silkscreened T-shirts to one-of-a-kind posters and fine art prints.

This foundational survey course examines leadership through a creative lens. A key premise of this course is that we need the methodologies of artists and designers alongside those of scientists and entrepreneurs to undertake necessary transformational change and worldmaking.

Learn the basic elements of drawing, such as line, value, texture, and shape. Study perspective and build skills for the successful transference of three-dimensional observation to a two-dimensional picture plane.

Learn how to begin making abstract work and lean into developing an individualized, unique artistic style of painting and creating visual language.

This class focuses on the process of how to work on a full 32 page children's picture book manuscript.

Learn to work with watercolors from observation, photographs, and imagination to create translucent works using this versatile medium.

Explore the art of decorative lettering to make an impact on botanical themed creative projects.

Get lost in the details of the decorative elements of drawing and illustration. Focus on decorative illustration and its application in the professional illustration field.

Over the years the Procreate app has become more and more sophisticated and an industry standard for digital illustration and graphic design.

Explore the fundamentals of gesture drawing as a dynamic and expressive approach to capturing movement, energy, and form.

Learn the essentials of landscape painting while enjoying all that summer has to offer. Painting outdoors is a great way for artists to get out of the studio and reconnect with the natural environment.

Throughout the year, Continuing Education sponsors the Figure Drawing Co-op, open drawing sessions for anyone interested in drawing from the live nude model. Open to ages 16 and above.

Characters are essential to making a successful story. Students in this class observe and discuss ways in which artists and authors establish characters in visual media, including film, animation, comics, and games. Open to ages 15-18. (Summer term)

Discover the diverse world of comics while learning visual tools, tricks, and concepts to creating comic stories. Open to ages 15-18.

Learn the basics of digital illustration and practice using the drawing and painting tools in Adobe Photoshop. Open to ages 15-18. (Summer term)

Visual branding is a critical area of competence for any designer, and a useful area of knowledge for entrepreneurs, marketers, and other professionals.

Understanding the basics of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and knowing how to apply strategies effectively can have a noticeable impact on a business or organization's success.

Follow a project brief through all phases, from concept to design system, and gain a comprehensive understanding of what aspects of design need thorough consideration throughout this process.

In this fun and exciting workshop, use plant materials as stencils to create stunning one-of-a-kind images.

Learn about the variety of continually developing tools that are available for AI image generation. As AI tools become more ubiquitous, it can be beneficial for teachers to keep up on the technology to guide students towards it's responsible use.

In this three-day workshop focused on K-12 and college level art education, experience three different topics, mediums, and studio spaces to gain inspiration for classroom teaching.

Explore the fascinating history of Alebrijes, Mexican folk art sculptures of fantastical creatures, and discover the symbolic significance behind these whimsical beings.

Have fun while learning the challenging skill of drawing from observation. Open to ages 12-15.

Learn fundamental creative artistic skills through sweet treat themed projects and exploring mixed-media. Open to ages 6-9.

This class provides a fun and exciting path to understanding the basic concepts, techniques, and materials used in contemporary acrylic painting. Open to ages 12-15.

This studio drawing class is designed to help students understand the components of the art school application portfolio, with focus on observational drawing. Open to ages 15-18.

This class focuses on the major of animation. Open to ages 15-18.

Learn the basics of hand-sewing as a way to create expressive and whimsical 2D and 3D artworks. Open to ages 9-12.

The visual arts provide creative entry points for the exploration of identity. From ancient times to now, and around the world, artists have shared stories and images of personal, familial and cultural identities. Through facilitated gallery tours and activities at the Minneapolis Institute of Art followed by art making at MCAD, gain the tools for designing lessons around the topic of identity that support State Standards in the Arts and Social Studies, including Ethnic Studies.

Explore the creative possibilities of digital art, inspired by traditional approaches and processes, with a special focus on different methods and techniques in Adobe Photoshop.

This workshop is geared towards adventurous individuals eager to explore new creative terrain and the art educator who wants to expand the way they think about drawing.

Step into the role of an architect and create blueprints, schematics, and models for breathtaking buildings. Open to ages 6-9.

Explore an expanded definition of comic artists to include everything from Egyptian hieroglyphics, to pioneer cartoonist Will Eisner, to autobiographic graphic novelist Raina Telgemeier. Open to ages 9-12.

Put your thinking cap on and become a problem solver in a class that encourages students to explore and innovate in a safe, inviting space. Learn and apply the Design Thinking process to design, develop and effectively prototype a product to solve a real world problem. Open to ages 9-12.

Create soft, squishy, cute and strange plushies. Learn the basics of sewing and turn two-dimensional design into three-dimensional soft sculptures. Open to ages 12-15.

Lighting is a key part of any creative endeavor, from image-making to art direction. Many are confused or intimidated by lighting and may become overly reliant on a handful of lighting setups. A thorough understanding of lighting principles and how images are lit is essential to creating effective imagery.

Monotypes offer the artist the spontaneity of painting combined with the structure and deliberation of printmaking. The process is exciting for everyone from beginners to experienced artists.

Cyanotype, a photographic printing process that results in a cyan-blue print, is the perfect place to start an education in alternative (non-silver) photographic processes.

Students create characters, set designs and stories as they learn how to use a variety of materials, clay, paper, everyday objects and their own body, to tell a story. Students are guided through the use of iPads and video editing software to produce animation shorts while exploring frame by frame techniques. Open to ages 9-12.

Through projects, discussions, and lectures, acquire a thorough understanding of all aspects of digital illustration.

Learn the foundational principles and practices of graphic design, including color theory, typography, design history and contemporary applications within the design field.

Learn the expansive and inclusive practice of mixed media that allows young artists to investigate a wide variety of materials to create projects in both 2D and 3D forms. Open to ages 6-9.

Participate in an accessible and cross-cultural practice that has recently been revived as a contemporary art form.

Explore the major of graphic design through imagery, typography and creating meaning through the manipulation of visual elements. Open to ages 15-18.

Explore the basics of linocut carving, relief printing and color reduction printing.

Wade deeper into the painting process and venture into a naturalistic way of painting, while acquiring curriculum ideas for the classroom.

Students create characters, set designs and stories as they learn how to use a variety of materials, clay, paper, everyday objects and their own body, to tell a story. Students are guided through the use of iPads and video editing software to produce animation shorts while exploring frame by frame techniques. Open to ages 9-12.

Dive into the world of mythical creatures and learn sketching, drawing and watercolor pencil techniques. Open to ages 12-15.

This introduction to low-tech screenprinting covers a variety of ways to work without the use of screen filler, photo emulsion or a computer. Learn about stenciling techniques, monotype methods, and hand-drawn approaches to screenprinting.

In this class, students explore the world around them, through hobbies, interests, and everyday experiences, to create paintings that tell stories. Open to ages 12-15.

This studio drawing class is designed to help students understand the components of the art school application portfolio, with a focus on observational drawing. Open to ages 15-18.

Featuring everything from cats in capes to space girls, and pandas with powers; comics allow a child's imagination to come to life in images and words. Learn how to turn ideas into characters, design worlds and how body language and expressions are used to tell a story. Open to ages 6–9.

Discover a personal means of depicting the figure with accuracy, sensitivity, and expression.

Learn the fundamental techniques of of digital painting using Adobe Photoshop. Open to ages 15-18.

Explore art history through a canon of comedy and make work in the studio with an emphasis on visual humor.

Adobe Illustrator is one of the leading tools in logo creation, animation, and graphic design. Learn how to get started with Adobe Illustrator and work toward the creation of images and text with more sophisticated tools and techniques.

Gum printing is a 19th-century photographic printing process capable of rendering painterly images from negatives and objects.

Color is a powerful and exciting way for artists to express themselves. Explore the basics of color theory and color mixing to create personally expressive artworks in acrylic, watercolor, and mixed media. Open to ages 9-12.

Create illustrations to accompany favorite stories and find new ways of bringing stories to life through drawing, painting, and collage. Open to ages 6-9.

Learn the fundamentals of game design while adding concepts and characters to make a one of a kind video game. Open to ages 12-15.

Explore the expansive and diverse world of comic book stories and drawing styles while learning the fundamental aspects of comic book creation and design. Open to ages 12-15.

Explore the world of winged creatures from birds to insects through drawing, painting, collage and sculpture. Open to ages 6-9.

Create mixed media artwork inspired by the amazingly diverse plants, animals, and habitats found in Minnesota. Students enjoy a variety of art mediums in this nature-based camp. Open to ages 9-12.

Explore nature and create nature-inspired artworks in this class that combines the outdoor world with fun and creative projects. Ages 6-9.

This class provides a fun and exciting path to understanding the basic concepts, techniques, and materials used in contemporary acrylic painting. Open to ages 12-15.

Have fun while learning the challenging skill of drawing from observation. Open to ages 12-15.

Explore imaginary worlds from a city on mars to a magical underwater kingdom. Create a fantasy world, complete with drawn and painted creatures, flora, and fauna. Open to ages 6-9.

Learn the basics of stop-motion animation, covering frame by frame techniques and basic concepts of this traditional and very hands-on style of animation. Open to ages 12-15.

This class focuses on the majors of drawing and painting. Open to ages 15-18.

Calling all authors, poets, readers, drawers, painters and book lovers! Create several unique books with personal stories and original illustrations. Open to ages 9-12.

This studio drawing class is designed to help students understand the components of the art school application portfolio, with focus on observational drawing. Open to ages 15-18.

Trace monotype is all about exploring and celebrating the line. It's an ideal form for those interested in drawing or sketching, hand printing, or experimental calligraphy.

Explore user experience in the digital and physical design worlds.

This course introduces students to a framework and processes to address complex social challenges, grounded in the principles and methods of design thinking with elements from other schools of thought, such as social entrepreneurship, systems change, lean methodology, and community-centered approaches.

No other technology has affected creativity, the arts, and business as rapidly as artificial intelligence (AI).

Because the outlines of the profession continually change, the graphic designer must know how to integrate an understanding of visual literacy with broad-based cultural knowledge.

This course merges the artistry of theater with the demands of entrepreneurship to help students develop powerful presentation and persuasion skills.

In this foundational course students are introduced to hands-on and holistic approaches to sustainability.

In this course, students find opportunities for innovation that can have a real impact and influence within an organization or community.

This course introduces the art and science of persuasion and its relationship to contemporary marketing practices.

Learn how systems thinking, languages of design, and product life cycles are intertwined and how they form the solid foundation for innovative products.

Learn strategies to develop high-quality online courses that help artists and designers facilitate the creative process remotely and conduct critiques effectively online.

This course introduces the fundamental language of the web: HyperText Markup Language (HTML).

This is the second course in the Web Development course series. In this course, students build on their understanding of HTML, and use Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) to create well crafted web pages.

Learn how to co-create workplaces where people can thrive and feel agency. Where policies, practices, language, programs and initiatives center values of anti-racism, inclusion, equity, and justice.

This is the third course in the Web Development course series. Students build towards professional-grade front-end web development.