Painting & Drawing Major
Major or Minor
The painting & drawing degree program nurtures dynamic and diverse explorations of traditional and alternative art making techniques, materials, and processes, culminating in a cohesive portfolio of mindful, personally significant creative work.
Students sharpen critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills and develop a heightened awareness of the union of technical, formal, and conceptual components. They will be exposed to a wide variety of traditional and progressive forms of art through intensive study of the major genres of painting & drawing, such as still life, landscape, figure and abstraction, as well as experimentation with mixed media work and concept development.
1:1
mentoring opportunities with faculty
11:1
student-to-faculty ratio
100%
of students receive some form of financial assistance
Painting & Drawing Major
Students will study wide variety of traditional and progressive forms of painting & drawing through the following class topics.
Bachelor of Arts (BA) Program – 4 years
- Intensive study of the major genres such as still life, landscape, figure and abstraction.
- Refined technique and exploration of concept development
- Critical research skills
- Contemporary art theory
- Effective career-oriented professional practices
Painting & Drawing Minor
- Intensive study of the major genres such as still life, landscape, figure, and abstraction
- Refined technique and exploration of concept development
- Critical research skills
- Contemporary art theory
- Effective career-oriented professional practices
As creative professionals, graduates of this degree are very adaptable and capable of applying their critical thinking, communication, and creative problem-solving skills to a variety of professions. Many graduates choose to further develop their skills by pursuing a master’s degree or by seeking opportunities such as artist residencies, grant-funded projects, or positions in community-based art programs.
Prepare for an exciting future as a/an:
- Professional Artist
- Curator
- Museum Preparator
- Arts Education Specialist
- Art Director
- Gallery Owner
- Archivist
- Appraiser
- Entrepreneur
You’ll gain career-shaping skills such as:
- Advanced visual literacy
- Fundamental elements and color concepts, media and formats, and the ability to apply them to a specific aesthetic intent
- Functional knowledge of the traditions, conventions, and evolutions of the discipline as related to issues of representation, illusion, and meaning
- The ability to synthesize the use of drawing, two-dimensional design, and color, beginning with basic studies and continuing throughout the degree program toward the development of advanced capabilities.
- Knowledge and skills in the use of basic tools, techniques, and processes sufficient to work from concept to finished product, including knowledge of paints and surfaces.
- The ability to explore the expressive possibilities of various media, and the diverse conceptual modes available to the artist.
- Progress toward developing a consistent, personal direction and style.
- Appropriate media relative to concepts and forms of art
- Build a Solid Foundation for further study.
Introductory-level classes assign students various projects in which subjects range from still life, to figure, to landscape, as well as their own imaginative compositions.
Other projects are based on art-historical concerns (e.g., abstraction, expressionism, realism), while students are introduced to a range of contemporary practices and ideas. Students engage with expanded practices, working with different materials, objects, and surfaces, as they develop personal professional practices with their own distinct vision, imagery, and concepts.
Painting & Drawing Major Highlights
The painting & drawing program nurtures dynamic and diverse explorations of traditional and alternative art making techniques, materials, and processes, culminating in a cohesive portfolio of mindful, personally significant creative work.
Also Consider These Areas of Study
As you’re pursuing a degree in painting & drawing, you may explore pairing it with one of the following degrees:
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