Summer Art Intensive Courses
All of The Summer Art Intensive instructors are professional artists and are assisted by dedicated Cooper Union School of Art undergraduates. All necessary materials and software will be provided in class.
Class size is limited to 16 students
Age Requirement: 15–18
The Cooper Union Summer Art Intensive 2025 Courses
Animation & Drawing
Tuition: $4,350.00 (Non-Refundable Registration Fee: $270)
Instructors: TBD (Animation) | TBD (Drawing)
Teaching Assistant: TBD
Animation is a powerful and ubiquitous form of storytelling, and its reach continues to expand rapidly in the hands of curious and creative minds. The medium is highly sought after for its ability to captivate and inspire the viewer, not only in entertainment but also in journalism, education, and advertising. You may not even realize it, but it’s found in almost every corner of our lives. In this course, students will learn the basic skills of animation. The aim is to equip each student with the tools so that they can fully express their creative vision. Students will participate in lively discussions, technical demos, and individual and group workshops. They will create several short animations and one long animation using a camera and a mic, employing digital software like Photoshop and Premiere Pro. Students will leave with a rich understanding of animation’s historical background and its contemporary significance, in addition to the technical and conceptual skill sets that will lay a foundation for their artistic practice.
In drawing class, students learn to handle materials, techniques, and concepts; explore form, space, mark-making, communication, planning, and develop a lexicon of marks and techniques to use in both assigned and self-directed projects. Through lectures, demonstrations, exercises, critiques students gain confidence and develop personal vision in art making.
Drawing Intensive
Tuition: $4,350.00 (Non-Refundable Registration Fee: $270)
Instructor: TBD
Teaching Assistant: TBD
Students in the drawing intensive class explore the fundamentals of line, form, space, composition and content using a variety of materials and approaches. Through a series of exercises and carefully considered assigned projects students build technical proficiency and confidence from which to move into personally meaningful and experimental approaches. Pencil, charcoal, pastel, pen and ink/brush and ink, as well as non-traditional tools will be used.
Graphic Design & Drawing
Tuition: $4,350.00 (Non-Refundable Registration Fee: $270)
Instructors: TBD (Graphic Design) | TBD (Drawing)
Teaching Assistant: TBD
Graphic Design is taught as an art medium and form of communication.
Students are introduced to graphic design history, conceptualization, graphic imagery, typography, and symbolism for visual communication. Drawing, collage, digital photography, and Adobe software (Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign) are used to execute class assignments. For all assignments, visual problem-solving will be emphasized. Students will also participate in demos, group discussions, guest lectures, and class critiques. This class is for young artists/designers who are excited to learn a variety of images that can work together to communicate ideas and messages.
In drawing class, students learn to handle materials, techniques, and concepts; explore form, space, mark-making, communication, planning, and develop a lexicon of marks and techniques to use in both assigned and self-directed projects. Through lectures, demonstrations, exercises, critiques students gain confidence and develop personal vision in art making.
Painting (NEW!)
Tuition: $4,500.00 (Non-Refundable Registration Fee: $270)
Instructor: TBD
Teaching Assistant: TBD
Description coming soon.
Studio Practice
Tuition: $4,350.00 (Non-Refundable Registration Fee: $270)
Section 1 Instructor: Andrew Ross
Teaching Assistant: TBD
Section 2 Instructor: Babe Enet
Teaching Assistant: TBD
Develop critical thinking and a unique voice in your portfolio!
This class is designed for rising high school seniors (between junior and senior years) with art-making experience who are interested in eventually attending college and focusing on the arts. Students in this section of the Summer Art Intensive will be given personal workspace among their peers with lockable storage in the sky-lit communal painting studios. The program will guide students through a process of self-realization, beginning with research and exercises to inspire personal growth as an artist. Finding meaningful subjects motivates productiveness and nurtures your passion.
A set of materials is provided for students but depending on the direction projects take, there may be the need for students to acquire more materials on their own. Students interested in working in digital media may want to bring a laptop. In this class, students will/can work with a variety of art mediums.
Please note that published instructors may change without warning in rare cases. If instructors are unexpectedly unable to teach another instructor of equal or better qualifications will be sought out and hired. Change of instructors in itself will not be considered reasonable cause for withdrawal from the program.