General Course Listing

The courses that follow reflect the offerings for the 2024-2025 academic year. For additional course details please visit the Registrar page and click on the Graduate Course Listing.

ILG-5010

Critique I

Fall semester: 1.5 credits

Developing a unique visual voice is the penultimate challenge for illustrators in a competitive, ever-changing market. This course focuses on a variety of short- and longer-term assignments, challenging students to explore storytelling and problem-solving skills, while building compositions and individual content.

ILG-5015

Critique II

Spring semester: 3 credits

A continuation of ILG-5010, Critique I, this course is devoted to The Book Project, the assignment for which students produce an illustrated book in a genre of their choice. It can be a narrative essay, concept, nonfiction, poetry, children's book, graphic novel, just to name a few. The majority of class time will be devoted to reviewing progress step-by-step with occasional presentations, small group discussions and a few guest speakers. Individual meetings and class critiques are ongoing throughout the semester.

ILG-5020 / ILG-5025

Drawing I and II

Fall and spring semesters: 3 credits per semester

The development of drawing ability with a concentration on discovering a unique personal voice is the focus of this course. Through drawing from models in the studio and going out on location, students will also study and interpret the relationships between subjects and their environment, and expand their drawing vocabulary beyond the use of a two-dimensional reference. By keeping sketchbooks and compiling interviews, students will explore receptive observation, risk-taking, spontaneity, drawing from intuition and sketching from the energy and unpredictability of being on location. At least one narrative series assignment will be completed over the course of the year.

ILG-5040

Book Seminar

Fall semester: 3 credits

Students will experiment and create a body of work based on the short story. Although the course title is Book Seminar, students are not confined to the book format; however, a series of objects or an installation is encouraged. Students will outline their ideas in a thesis statement prior to the start of the course, which they will present and discuss in the first session. This written statement will serve as a point of departure and later as a point of reference while the work evolves to its final stages. The project will explore technical, aesthetic and conceptual interests while looking into professional directions and specializations.

HCG-5041 / HCG-5042

Writing Workshop I and II

Fall and spring semesters: no credit

Instructor: C. Donnelly

These required support courses for the creative writing workshop will focus on writing fundamentals (grammar, sentence and paragraph logic, idea development, organization and essay structure). Registration for these courses is by placement.

HCG-5050

Creative Writing Workshop I

Fall semester: 3 credits

This course will be a hands-on, problem-solving venue for students, as well as a theoretical examination of the nitty-gritty “grammar” of combining words and pictures for maximum impact. The common ground that illustrated texts, picture books, comics, cartoons, storyboards and new media–combinations all share–will be covered in detail. The tools, techniques, opportunities and limitations specific to each of these forms will also be explored. Above all, the primary importance of structure, clarity, precision and meaning as the foremost objectives of the work will be stressed. Successful (and unsuccessful) historical examples will be deconstructed to determine what makes them tick (or fizzle). The course structure will be fluid enough to help sharpen each student’s objectives and goals, while familiarizing them with a comprehensive range of text and image opportunities. Assignments, exercises, lectures, readings, screenings, journal/sketchbook keeping, guest artists/writers, discussions, group crit sessions and notes will all be part of the class routine.

HCG-5055

Creative Writing Workshop II

Spring semester: 3 credits

As a continuation of HCG-5050, Creative Writing Workshop I, the spring semester will focus on longer projects, including a visual research paper and capstone project. Exercises, lectures, readings, screenings, journal/sketchbook keeping, guest artists/writers, group discussions and crits will all be part of the class routine.

ILG-5060

Perpetual Appetizers

Fall semester 1.5 credits

This hands-on studio course introduces new tools, techniques and ingredients with the goal of expanding an individual visual vocabulary unique to each student. To grasp the concept that the search for creativity is not always a linear, forward movement—more often it is a series of experiments, a desire to enter unchartered territory while recognizing an accident can open opportunities more often than the safety of stagnation.

ILG-5090

Computer Illustration Portfolio

Fall semester: 3 credits

Illustrators must operate with a familiarity of an array of advanced tools that enable them to craft detailed, immersive and dynamic artwork for both print and digital mediums. This course will guide students through the expansive digital toolkit that professional illustrators rely on, including advanced digital painting techniques; comfort/familiarity with vector graphics and 3D illustration tools; animation essentials; digital publishing, interactive and augmented-reality art. The course aims to inspire and challenge you to comprehend, debate and utilize digital illustration tools and techniques that will aid you in creating compelling works that resonate with a range of audiences and will assist you in producing and distributing your brilliant projects and ideas.

ILG-5100

The Digital Book

Spring semester: 3 credits

Our desire to tell stories always has, and always will adapt to and define new mediums. The storybook is as old as writing systems themselves. The digital evolution enhanced the interactivity of storybooks through hypertext and multimedia connectivity. As digital media has shifted from desktop to multi-touch tablet computers, it has become increasingly apparent that reading, storytelling, animation and interactivity are the vernacular of artistic expression in the digital realm.

ILG-5120

Seminar

Spring semester: 3 credits

Through lectures by noted guest illustrators, political satirists, art directors and graphic designers, this seminar will explore the many specialized areas of visual commentators. The course will also include portfolio reviews from professionals working in the field.

ILG-5520

First Year Individual Review I

Fall semester: no credit

Individual First Year Review is a series of individual meetings with the department chair for review and critique of first-year work. The meetings will supplement the ongoing work in all first-year classes.

ILG-5521

First Year Individual Review II

Spring semester: no credit

This is the second part of a two-semester course. Individual First Year Review is a series of individual meetings with the department chair for review and critique of first-year work. The meetings will supplement the ongoing work in all first-year classes.

ILG-5311

Animation Workshop

Spring semester: no credit

This workshop will be an extension of your illustration practice, where you will acquire the skills to animate your illustrations. You will experiment with different types and techniques of animating and find the one that fits your style of work. We will examine the language, tools and software used as well as the principles of animation, with some tips and tricks for setting up your workflow.

ILG-6010

Thesis Project: Visual Essay I

Fall semester: 6 credits

Students will choose a New York City artist as their thesis faculty advisor to work with on an individual basis, and establish a schedule to research, write and visualize the thesis project. Emphasis will be on topics with visual essay interest such as graphic novels, comics, illustrated books, children’s books, or a series of paintings.

ILG-6015

Thesis Project: Visual Essay II

Spring semester: 6 credits

A continuation of ILG-6010, Thesis Project: Visual Essay I, this semester will focus on the completion of thesis projects. Students will participate in a group exhibition at the end of the semester.

ILG-6020

Studio Workshop I

Fall semester: 3 credits

Studio Workshop I will develop concepts and finished artwork in relation to the thesis project. Student work will be critiqued regularly by visiting professionals (illustrators, art directors, artists and gallery directors).

ILG-6025

Studio Workshop II

Spring semester: 3 credits

A continuation of ILG-6020, Studio Workshop I, this semester will focus on refining and completing thesis projects. There will be individual and group critiques; visiting professionals will continue to view and discuss student projects.

ILG-6040

Individual Thesis Review

Fall semester: no credit

This course is a combination of full class lectures and individual meetings. Lectures will explore and reflect on current and past trends in the visual arts and study the broad field of applications for illustration. Individual meetings are designed to help students to understand and use their potential to the fullest. I will help them assess their goals and strategize their workflow. Any other issue they might struggle with will be addressed as well. No homework will be assigned in this class.

ILG-6045

Individual Thesis Review

Spring semester: no credit

A continuation of ILG-6040, Individual Thesis Review, this semester will focus on reviewing final projects and plans for the thesis exhibition.

ILG-6050

Painting I

Fall semester: 3 credits

With an emphasis on figurative painting techniques, this course will focus on the uses of form, color, composition, light, proportion and perspective. Contemporary and classical approaches to oil painting will be explored. The goal is to provide a solid foundation in oil painting techniques.

ILG-6055

Painting II

Spring semester: 3 credits

This course will focus on an advanced approach to the concepts and techniques of painting in oil and other mediums, including direct, sustained observation of portraits, land and cityscapes. Emphasis is placed on a fully developed or visualized painting process that explores all mediums.

ILG-6070

History of Storytelling: Comics

Fall semester: 3 credits

This course provides an introduction to graphic media in North America, from the beginning of the newspaper comic strip through the development of comic books, the growth of graphic novels, and current developments in electronic media. Focusing on its history and aesthetics, we will compare developments in the United States, Mexico and French Canada, as well as the social and cultural contexts in which comics are created and consumed. The first half of the semester will concentrate on early comic strips and the development of the comic-book form through the 1940s. The remainder of the semester will focus on changes that affected comics in the 1950s and ’60s, the development of a comic-book subculture from the 1970s to the 1980s, and contemporary electronic media developments.

ILG-6200

Illustration Business Boot Camp

Spring semester: 3 credits

Illustration Business Boot Camp is based on intensive critique and instruction sessions. The course focuses on three main goals: The solid understanding of the professional illustration environment; the review of existing work and its transformation into a presentable and cohesive body of work; the development and application of each student’s brand and identity tools in different mediums for communicating, showcasing and promoting that work.

MFA Illustration as Visual Essay Curriculum