YEAR ONE : STUDIO YEAR
MFA STUDIO 1 & 2 The MFA Studio core course is structured as a series of material-based modules that provide students with a very broad framework in which to create and prepare for their Thesis Year. The Studio Year begins with the Image Harvest Project, and ends with a Self-Directed Project.
IMAGE HARVEST This self-assessment focused project uses list-making and mind-mapping to discover key themes and ideas that are of interest to the student. ILP students develop 10 new ideas through sketching and notation, then present them to the class for feedback before bringing one idea to final. This module helps the student understand what they love to draw, what topics are important to them, and how disparate elements can be combined into new ideas. This practice also yields many idea seeds that can be grown or developed later.
WORKSHOPS Year One ILP students are involved in a variety of workshops throughout their first year. The workshops last anywhere from 1 to 4 days where students learn new primary skills, then are asked to complete a Reaction Project that references something learned and combines it with their own exploration and experimentation.
Handletters
Stop Motion Animation
Patterning / Surface Design
Lasercutting / 3D printing
Ceramics
Bookbinding / Self Publishing
Paper Engineering
Letterpress / Risograph
Sewing / Digital Fabric Printing
File Archiving
COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROJECT ILP is engaged with our community via a mentored partnership project. Writers in Baltimore Schools students write poetry that is then illustrated by Year One ILP students. The poem and illustration are designed as posters and projected on the Baltimore LED Art Board. The student collaborators meet at a project launch reception. Other community outreach projects have included Words on Wheels (Baltimore City MTA) and Womanly Magazine.
SELF-DIRECTED PROJECT The Self-Directed Project is the last project and is an opportunity to define one’s own work. It is also an opportunity for students to explore the various ideas they may have considered for their Year Two in the program.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP This course engages students in conceiving, prototyping and fabricating a unique artist product. Students learn to write a creative brief, create a pitch, research materials, learn about branding and markets, and promotion. Products are sold on a number of platforms including MICA’s Art Market.
CONCEIVE / ARTICULATE / FABRICATE Students start with sketching, then they present their ideas to the cohort for feedback. Materials and suppliers are researched, and prototypes made. Students finish with the fabrication of 25 copies of their product.
BRIEF / PITCH / BRANDING Learning how to devise a brief and a pitch of you project translate later into making a concise description of the student’s Thesis Brief. Branding helps students locate the “story” of their product and brings clarity to the student’s reason for creating it.
ART MARKET MICA’s 4-day winter marketplace is where students, faculty and staff sell artist products. MFA Illustration Practice has a specially designed kiosk to display their work. All ILP students are required to participate.