Fall, Winter, and Spring PreCollege

Dive Into the World of Graphic Novels!

Passionate about storytelling through images and words? Join our “Introduction to the Graphic Novel” workshop at Pratt Institute, where you’ll explore the fascinating world of graphic novels as both a reader and a creator! Led by Pratt faculty member, Sofi Thanhauser, this 3-hour workshop leaves students with copies of their original comic, beautifully crafted into zines to share and trade with friends and classmates. 

Discover the History: Start with an engaging overview of the graphic novel’s evolution, including insights from Scott McCloud’s Understanding Comics and Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis.

Creative Exploration: Participate in fun, hands-on exercises to create your very own four-panel comic, inspired by your dreams or memories. Experiment with various media like ink, collage, and stencils!

Learn & Share: Discuss distribution avenues and the vibrant communities surrounding graphic novels, emphasizing self-publishing and zine culture.

Join us for a Figure Drawing Workshop led by experienced Pratt faculty, designed specifically for high school students eager to master the essential skill of figure drawing. In this immersive 3-hour session, you’ll learn to break down complex figures into simple shapes and develop your ability to render both quick sketches and detailed pieces.

Hands-On Learning: Engage in both short and long poses, allowing you to experiment with different techniques and materials while capturing the human form.

Studio Environment: Experience the dynamic atmosphere of a working studio, where you’ll enhance your skills alongside fellow aspiring artists.

Portfolio Development: By the end of the workshop, you’ll have a collection of sketches and exploratory drawings to add to your portfolio, showcasing your growth as an artist.

No previous experience is required!

Please note: Nude figure drawing is included in coursework.

Join Kath Barbadoro, a NYC-based stand up comedian, writer, and Pratt faculty member for a 3-hour Stand-Up Comedy workshop designed for high school students eager to explore the art of humor. In this interactive session, you’ll dive into the fundamentals of joke writing and performance. Through analyzing stand up performances and engaging in writing exercises to generate your own original material, you’ll develop the tools to express yourself comedically. 

Hands-On Learning: Engage in freewriting exercises and brainstorming sessions to create your own joke premises.

Collaborative Atmosphere: Workshop your ideas with fellow aspiring comedians will spark creativity and refine your craft.

Performance Ready: By the end of the workshop, you’ll have the chance to showcase your original material in a supportive environment.

Learn from the expert! Join Mike Barry, Associate Director of Admissions, in an engaging, 3-hour workshop covering the ins and outs of what makes a compelling Portfolio, what a complete application consists of, and the importance of a portfolio for students considering a career and education in art and design. Engage in a live Q&A session for personalized advice and receive the tools to kickstart your college essay.

Reconstruct the spaces you use every day. This course is designed to introduce students to ideas, principles, concepts, and methods of architectural design in a studio setting. Through a graduated sequence of exercises, students explore the architectural concepts of space, form, function, scale, site, structure, and inhabitation through analytic and generative approaches.

Explore the impact of design and what makes a design successful in an ever-changing society. Learn basic design principles, computer graphics, and ways of thinking and seeing to create memorable, influential works. The course focuses on imagination, research methods, creative concepts, content development, and clear point-of-view through a series of projects. Design is world-making; from the typeface to the images chosen, seeking to create narratives with intention.

Translate the three-dimensional world onto a two-dimensional surface. This course covers fundamental issues in drawing and painting while enhancing perception and aesthetic awareness of Fine Art. Students will be familiarized with the visual language of line, shape, composition, proportion, perspective, and color; and are given the tools to express their ideas through a variety of techniques with a focus on graphite and acrylics.

Learn to shape your art and design portfolio in ways that reflect your creative voice. Students will research topics of personal interest, create one or more portfolio pieces that demonstrate their personal perspectives, and begin to draft an artist statement in this virtual studio class.

Note: PreCollege does not currently offer scholarship opportunities or payment plans for fall, winter, or spring students. Full payment for courses must be completed before the start of any course. Tuition does not include the cost of any materials or lab fees unless otherwise stated.