All Continuing Education Classes

Develop a working knowledge of crafting and producing comics, and learn how to develop a unique creative voice. Open to students 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.

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.

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.

Harness the design thinking process to explore each phase of the front-end of 3D Product Design. Open to students ages 16 and above.

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.

Capture a child’s imagination with original artwork while learning tricks of the illustration trade.

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.

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

Gain an introduction to the key techniques and objectives of painting portraits. Many beginning painters start out learning the fundamentals of painting through working from the still life, but soon have a desire to move on to more challenging subjects, such as painting people.

Master the fundamentals of painting with acrylics in a welcoming, engaging studio environment. Open to students ages 16 and above.

Learn the ins and outs of Adobe After Effects and build essential skills through a VFX-focused approach. Open to students ages 16 and above.

Learn the fundamentals of creating animation and motion graphics with Adobe Creative Cloud software.

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

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. Observe and discuss ways in which artists and authors establish characters in visual media, including film, animation, comics, and games. Open to ages 15 to 18. (Summer term)

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 to 18.

Over the years the Procreate app has become more and more sophisticated and an industry standard for digital illustration and graphic design. Open to students ages 16 and above.

People are drawn to watercolors due to their vibrant, delicate, and luminous qualities. Learn traditional and non-traditional approaches to watercolor painting.

During this advanced class, continue to explore and develop illustration work for a children’s book audience and industry.

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

Create of a comprehensive, portfolio-ready design campaign that demonstrates advanced mastery of graphic design.

Experiment with how to make a picture say more than a thousand words through the medium of collage. Open 12 to 15.

Create characters, set designs, and stories while learning how to use a variety of materials, including clay, paper, and everyday objects to tell a story in stop-motion. Open to ages 9 to 12.

Clip, snip, mix and match! Learn, play, and imagine through fun and fanciful collage techniques. Open to ages 6 to 9.

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

Take the next steps in graphic design and build on foundational principles, techniques and practices of the industry.

Learn to render the details and colors of plant life through drawing and watercolor. Open to ages 12 to 15.

Explore the fascinating history of Alebrijes, Mexican folk art sculptures of fantastical creatures, and discover the symbolic significance behind these whimsical beings. Open to students 15–18.

This class serves as a step-by-step guide to freelance business basics for illustrators.

The practice of User Experience (UX) focuses on a user’s journey from discovery to interaction with the goal of creating a seamless and positive experience throughout.

Sharpen a marketable editorial skillset and hone the ability to create illustrations that show clear and clever ideas! Open to students ages 16 and above.

Explore the art of decorative lettering to make an impact on botanical themed creative projects. Open to students ages 16 and above.

Join us for an immersive art educators symposium on Thursday, June 18, from 12:00–5:30 p.m. Enjoy admissions presentations, campus tours, and lunch. Register for a dynamic hands-on workshop in one of MCAD's distinctive artmaking spaces from 1:00-4:00 p.m., and conclude with a happy hour event at MCAD’s onsite events space, The Buzz.

Join us for an immersive art educators symposium on Thursday, June 18, from 12:00–5:30 p.m. Enjoy admissions presentations, campus tours, and lunch. Register for a dynamic hands-on workshop in one of MCAD's distinctive artmaking spaces from 1:00-4:00 p.m., and conclude with a happy hour event at MCAD’s onsite events space, The Buzz.

Join us for an immersive art educators symposium on Thursday, June 18, from 12:00–5:30 p.m. Enjoy admissions presentations, campus tours, and lunch. Register for a dynamic hands-on workshop in one of MCAD's distinctive artmaking spaces from 1:00-4:00 p.m., and conclude with a happy hour event at MCAD’s onsite events space, The Buzz.

Join us for an immersive art educators symposium on Thursday, June 18, from 12:00–5:30 p.m. Enjoy admissions presentations, campus tours, and lunch. Register for a dynamic hands-on workshop in one of MCAD's distinctive artmaking spaces from 1:00-4:00 p.m., and conclude with a happy hour event at MCAD’s onsite events space, The Buzz.

Join us for an immersive art educators symposium on Thursday, June 18, from 12:00–5:30 p.m. Enjoy admissions presentations, campus tours, and lunch. Register for a dynamic hands-on workshop in one of MCAD's distinctive artmaking spaces from 1:00-4:00 p.m., and conclude with a happy hour event at MCAD’s onsite events space, The Buzz.

Join us for an immersive art educators symposium on Thursday, June 18, from 12:00–5:30 p.m. Enjoy admissions presentations, campus tours, and lunch. Register for a dynamic hands-on workshop in one of MCAD's distinctive artmaking spaces from 1:00-4:00 p.m., and conclude with a happy hour event at MCAD’s onsite events space, The Buzz.

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.

Explore comics, characters, and visual storytelling through hands-on drawing and design. Open to ages 9 to 12.

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 to 15.

In this one-week course, learn the fundamentals in alcohol-based markers through a structured curriculum emphasizing technical mastery, blending techniques, and professional rendering. Open to students ages 16 and above.

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 to 15.

Step into the magical and hands-on world of puppetry and puppet making! Open to ages 9 to 12.

Lean into a flair for drama and explore theatrical expression through mixed-media hand and finger puppets. Open to ages 6 to 9.

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

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 to 18.

Produce short-form videos to hone the skills of sequencing and editing to better tell a story.

Familiarize yourself with the 19th-century photographic printing process capable of rendering painterly images from negatives and objects.

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

Explore different versions of the self through the expressive form of self-portraiture. Open to ages 9 to 12.

Unleash otherworldly landscapes and extra terrestrial beings while exploring a variety of art techniques and mediums. Open ages 6 to 9.

Learn the fundamentals of acrylic painting and apply those concepts to create unique landscape paintings. Open to ages 12 to 15.

Turn everyday materials into extraordinary wearable art. Open to ages 12 to 15.

Spend time at different locales around Minneapolis to draw on-site in unique and inspiring locations.

Learn the basics of painting with gouache, a versatile opaque water based medium. Open to ages 16 and above.

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

Learn the basics of various painting techniques and mediums while experimenting with different forms of self expression. Open to ages 9 to 12.

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 to 15.

Create illustrations to accompany beloved children's books and find new ways of bringing stories to life through drawing, painting, and collage. Open to ages 6 to 9.

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 to 15.

Join in a smorgasbord of food-themed creative fun with hands-on projects in a variety of different mediums! Open to ages 9 to 12.

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.

Explore nature and create nature-inspired artworks that combine the outdoor world with fun and creative projects. Open to ages 6 to 9.

Discover the history of early films to movie-making today and create a short film from start to finish. Open to ages 15 to 18.

Spend the afternoon discovering the power of the press!

Travel back in time and explore the world of living and prehistoric creatures through hands-on art-making! Open to ages 6 to 9.

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

Explore the furry, fierce, and fantastic world of nature through 2D and 3D artwork. Open to ages 9 to 12.

Bring characters and worlds to life and incorporate original artwork into a playable video game. Open to ages 15 to 18.

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 to 18.

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.

Journey through history and discover art forms from across the world and across time. Open to ages 6 to 9.

Create characters, set designs, and stories while learning how to use a variety of materials, including clay, paper, and everyday objects to tell a story in stop-motion. Open to ages 9 to 12.

Create a short-film from start to finish working individually and in collaboration with others. Open to ages 12 to 15.

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

This class does not meet at MCAD and is conducted entirely outside of the school environment. For the duration of the class, the city becomes the studio, where observation, exploration, inspiration, and interventions of varying sorts take place.

Discover the accessible and low-tech process of screenprinting with hand-cut paper stencils.

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 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.

Systems thinking is relational thinking, and in this course students examine how systemic relations underpin efforts to cultivate a more sustainable world.

In this course students learn how to create visually appealing, well-organized web pages using the fundamental languages for creating content and style on the web: HTML and CSS.

How do you 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? What are the tools, frameworks, resources, questions, and approaches that can help “operationalize” a commitment into a reality?