In today’s world there are many different reasons to want to
return to school whether it be to further your career, sharpen your skills, or
meet the minimum requirements for a teaching position. But if you are a
successful working illustrator, you may not think that you have time to earn
your graduate degree without interrupting your income, and falling further from
your goals. You may have a family to support, and taking time off from work
just isn’t an option right now. If this sounds like you then a Low-Residency
Program may be the solution. In this Low-Residency program, you are considered
a full time student, so you are eligible for student loans, but you only attend
classes for four weeks out of the year. Four weeks away from home out of
fifty-two weeks in the year, and you can earn that MFA degree in two years
and two weeks! There aren’t many options out there when it comes to
Low-Residency.
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| University of Hartford MFA Students in Low Residency Program |
In fact, the University of Hartford offers the only Low
Residency Master of Fine Arts program in the country dedicated specifically to
illustration. The cornerstones of the program are the three intensive two-week
summer residencies in consecutive Julys at the University of Hartford’s
campus in Hartford, CT. Between these two-week studio and lecture-packed
residencies, students meet one week each November and one week each March in
various cities across the United States with the leading illustrators and
illustration entrepreneurs in that area. Graduation from the program is always
held at the end of the third two-week summer residency at the University of
Hartford. Students enrolled in the program are given assignments to work on
throughout the year, but only have to be away from work and family for four
weeks out of the year and can devote their time to their careers.
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Classroom Lecture by Murray Tinkelman
As you can see, great art deserves great frames! |
---Fact Sheet----
This program is the ONLY
Low Residency MFA dedicated exclusively to illustration.
The low residency format provides professional illustrators and
designers an attractive and accessible opportunity to work with the country's
top illustrators and illustration educators while refining their skills and
techniques, expanding their creative intellect, shaping their illustration
career into a business, while pursuing an MFA in Illustration.
Our students all have
some professional experience in the field.
They are committed to the field of illustration and share their
passion and professionalism with equally committed classmates. Many of them are
also teaching illustration at the college and university level.
Our students are
typically non-traditional and range in age from approximately 25 to 55. Both
students and faculty come from all over the country to our July contact periods
in Hartford.
PROGRAM
•
This program accepts 20
students by rolling admissions each year with classes starting in July.
•
All students are
considered full-time for the duration of the program and are eligible for
student loans.
•
All studio classes are team
taught, making the student/faculty ratio very conducive to learning.
•
The thesis is a body of
illustrations that students plan to sell.
•
Our thesis advisors are
professional illustrators and attend each contact period, as well as always
remaining accessible by email and phone.
PROGRAM STRUCTURE (2 years and 2 weeks)
Three intensive 2-week
July residencies at the Hartford Art School, University of Hartford. Our
faculty comes to Hartford from across the country to teach each July.
Four 1-week contact periods
(1 week each November and 1 week each March) at selected cities nationally
where substantial numbers of high profile illustrators work and reside: New
York NY, Pasadena/LA CA, San Francisco CA, and Fort Worth/Dallas, TX.
Each of these professional illustrators, art directors, and
illustration representatives present their work to our students and conclude
with an open discussion relative to their work and the illustration profession
at large. Students share in the expertise of these professionals and gain
insight into the similarities and differences illustrators face in different
markets and regions across the country.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Every prospective student
completes an extensive phone interview with Murray and Carol Tinkelman so that
the student can decide whether the program is a good fit for them.
During the interview
process, we communicate our mission, vision and values to the prospective
student while educating them on how they can successfully complete a low
residency MFA while still attending to their illustration and design
businesses, their teaching commitments and their families.
Prospective students then
send a website address or a CD with at least 10 images of their work to Murray
Tinkelman for review.
Upon acceptance of your
portfolio the registration process begins.
The
Hartford Art School is accredited by NASAD.
The
University of Hartford is accredited by NEASC.
About the Author:
Shauna Leva is an alumnus of the Hartford Art School now emplyed by the MFA in Illustration Program as head of advertising and social media management. She works under the program administrator to try and spread the word about this small yet exciting program. She is also an illustrator herself and a fan of American Frame.
