Amanda Schroeder | Minneapolis College of Art and Design

Amanda Schroeder

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Comic page of a knight by Amanda Schroeder.

Alumni
’22

Degree
Areas of Study
Comic Art
Location
Highlands Ranch, Colorado

Describe the work you submitted for merits.

I submitted short comics that ranged in length from one page to eight pages. Some of these were daily comics about my own life trying to capture the fun moments in what feels like an otherwise mundane life. The others have a focus on fantasy, some have their own world and universe that they exist in, and the others focus on the unnatural in everyday life. 

What's next for your practice? Anything you're really excited to make?

I'm slowly trying to break into the convention scene, so alongside that, I want to make some small zines! I want to make one highlighting the bizarre drink orders I had to make while a barista at Starbucks and the other is my personal rankings of all of the MCAD classrooms (there are some that are better than others and it will be my job to figure out what).

Why did you decide to come to MCAD?

MCAD was one of the only fine arts colleges that I could find that offered a comic art major. While I do love to do illustration what I really wanted to do with my art was make comics, so learning that I could go to school for it was like a match made in heaven. 

Sunday comic about ocean life by Amanda Schroeder.

Favorite thing about college life (so far)?

If there is one thing self-isolation and online classes have taught me, it is that I miss the community at MCAD. I honestly love just being on campus and seeing what everyone is up to and talking to others about grievances and things that are exciting.

What's the best thing you've got from MCAD's free shelf?

I found a very nice rolling office chair that I put in my studio and it made it so nice to work there. It was so comfortable. I had to leave it behind in the sudden moving out of the studios and it will be missed.

Anything you're obsessed with at the moment? 

I'm catching up on Killing Eve and also listening to the Southern Reach trilogy as audiobooks. I highly recommend both!

What inspires you? 

Stories! The feeling I get when I read a well crafted comic or novel is something that I aim to be able to do with my own work. I love being able to put things together like a puzzle in order to have a fully finished story in the end.

Do you have a favorite comic?

I love a lot of comics! Here are some must-reads: 

  • Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
  • Cosmoknights by Hannah Templer
  • A Redtails Dream by Minna Sundberg

Do you have a favorite piece you've made? Describe it!

I made an eight-page short comic called No Aliens in Space where one night a person on a space station goes to investigate something on the space station for a friend and finds an alien there. She then has to deal with her own beliefs about aliens and the lies she has told while in the process. I am happy with how it all came out and was the first time I printed a comic out! 

"No Aliens in Space" by Amanda Schroeder.

"No Aliens in Space" by Amanda Schroeder.