We are a unique one-year intensive program for aspiring illustrators from various educational backgrounds and experience levels
Program Overview
The Master of Arts in Illustration is a 30-credit program. Its curriculum is paced to help you develop the vocabulary, and conceptual, observational, and handcrafting skill sets, tool sets, and mindsets needed to begin professional initiatives or pursue more specialized study. In the M.A. in Illustration program, you will work independently and collaborate with others, gain a global purview through historical study and exposure to diverse contemporary practitioners, and expand the scope of your professional practice through making skills and professional development. The degree culminates in independent work in the form of a capstone portfolio project, exhibition, and review panel.
A final review with guest critics, practitioners and faculty includes a public talk/presentation of a portfolio (to secure commissioned work and employment); a written working philosophy; a web presence; and an exhibition of work. In addition to the portfolio, you will create a digital archive for future professional presentation, project proposals or other educational pursuits.
Program Facilities
Students in the M.A. in Illustration program work in an open-plan, state-of-the-art dedicated studio environment and can take advantage of opportunities to collaborate with students from other graduate programs, as well as MICA research centers such as the Center for Design Thinking.
Who Should Apply
The program seeks applicants of all experience levels, including those entering the field of illustration for the first time as well as experienced illustrators who seek to expand their skills and experience. We encourage a diverse group of applicants with experience or education in complementary fields who seek tools, abilities and context in order to pivot and launch successfully into industry positions in a shorter amount of time than an M.F.A. program. Some applicants may seek to gain experience, further develop their portfolio, and undergo appropriate preparation for an application to M.F.A programs further in the future.
Curriculum
Fall Semester
MA Studio I
This course introduces students to a number of contemporary markets and concepts in illustration including, but not limited to: editorial work, children’s books, sequential work and surface design. Each subject is approached through a combination of lectures, assignments, independent projects and related workshops, supported by and paralleled to the M.A. Illustration Lecture and Workshop Series Class.
MA Lecture & Workshop Series
Students are exposed to various practitioners in the field of illustration who provide workshops, critiques and/or lectures, on such subjects as sequential work, children’s books and artists’ products. They also provide stimulus for further work and projects within the topics covered.
Advanced Illustration History
This advanced course explores the history of illustration within global, technological, social and cultural contexts and will provide an overview of both historic and contemporary illustration and their intersections with other art forms. The course encourages students to invest in illustrative practices from various global contexts. The course structure will be a combination of lecture, discussion and research resulting in written responses.
Open Elective
You are required to have one additional elective to meet the 30-credit requirement. You can choose from Graduate-level electives, or choose to take an Undergraduate class (requiring a B average and an additional project). Some students choose to take two electives, but only one is required.
Spring Semester
MA Studio II
The focus of student work for this course is a self-initiated semester-long portfolio project guided and supported by faculty. Students work independently, meeting faculty regularly and participating in group and individual critiques. The body of work completed constitutes a large portion of their final portfolio and exhibit content and presentation for review by outside guest critics. Students can, if applicable, include personal writing as part of their final portfolio project.
MA Studio Practices
This professional development course addresses the general and specific grounding from the business side of illustration. Topics covered include copyright and intellectual property issues, taxes, and self-promotion. Students are guided and required to use social media, to create a portfolio, and web presence. They articulate their working practices in writing and verbally as part of their public presentation.
Creative Writing for Illustrators
This course introduces students to multiple ways to tell both fiction and nonfiction stories, encouraging them to develop a personal voice, thereby adding to their skill set. The course focuses particularly on image-heavy narrative texts, such as picture books and graphic novels, but students will develop their personal writing through multiple projects across genre.
Open Elective
You are required to have one additional elective to meet the 30-credit requirement. You can choose from Graduate-level electives, or choose to take an Undergraduate class (requiring a B average and an additional project). Some students choose to take two electives, but only one is required.
Rebecca Bradley
MA Illustration Program Director
Rebecca Bradley is a British illustrator who has lived and worked in the USA since 1999.
She has a B.A. (Hons) from Chelsea School of Art, and an M.F.A. from Savannah School of Art and Design. She taught at Lesley University before joining the Undergraduate faculty at MICA in 2005. In addition to being director of the M.A. in Illustration, she is a leader on the Study Abroad London trip.
Her work is based on traditional drawing and painting utilizing digital process and spans several multiple markets across the globe, which includes (but is not limited to) books, surface design and editorial illustration. Selected clients include: Flow Magazine (Netherlands), Workman Publishing, American Greetings, Target, The Guardian (UK), Chronicle Books, Little, Brown and Co, and The Ronald McDonald House.