Art BFA: Concentration in Painting

Why Choose the BFA Concentration in Painting?

SRU BFA with a concentration in Painting provides opportunities to develop a personal vision, to explore with an open level of curiosity and to create an outlet for expression. Students can choose their own direction in developing content and audience, working in a variety of sizes and scopes. Painting offers diverse avenues for creative problem solving, rich with history, Painting continues to evolve and be prominent in our world culture today. Painting offers an outlet for contemplation, personal growth, and artistic achievement in developing unique aesthetics. The studio practice of painting, with knowledge of the proper health & safety standards and techniques, can be continued in a variety of studio spaces for lifelong health & wellness as well as for professional art endeavors.

What Will You Learn?

Through our national accreditation, we follow the National Association of Schools of Art & Design standards for the Painting Program in the SRU Painting Studio. We begin with learning the proper safety and health standards for a variety of painting mediums including acrylic, oil, encaustic and watercolor. The Painting program provides students with the understanding of basic principles of design & color, both formal and conceptual based in representation, illusion and meaning. Students will be provided the experience to synthesize the use of drawing, 2D, color and digital resources with painting media. Students will develop a knowledge base from introductory techniques, paints and surfaces and build through advanced conceptual modes for portfolio development. Painting experiences will be offered through all subjects from representation through alternative approaches including still life, interiors, figure, landscape, performance, digital exploration, contemporary 2D and 3D creations and collaborative practices. In Senior levels, students are encouraged to develop a consistent personal direction and style, along with opportunities to work independently to develop a body of paintings culminating with an exhibition.

Careers In PROGRAM NAME

Career opportunities in Painting are boundless. Our alumni have succeeded in attaining and achieving a multitude of directions through their discoveries in paint. Some alumni have continued on to be accepted into national Master of Fine Art graduate programs in Painting, others have become practicing studio artists, while others have dovetailed their painting practice with careers in Art Therapy and Art Education, Graphic Design and museum related endeavors. Alumni have the ability to pursue gallery representation, regional, and national art fairs, develop an online web and social media presence necessary to reach their intended audience and sustain a professional studio practice. Painting graduates may continue on to be muralists, set designers, freelance painters, create both private and public commissions of various size and scope, book illustration, attend national art residency programs. In addition, we encourage our students to be connected with their intended media and field through seeking acceptance in regional and national memberships, such as Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, College Art Association, SECAC, FATE and MACAA, among others.

• Independent Studio Artist
• Muralist
• Set Designer
• Book Illustrator
• Tattoo Artist
• Graduate School
• Art Educator
• Art commissions (both private and public)
• Art Therapist
• Art Handler/ Transport
• Painting Support/ Stretcher Builder
• Freelance Designer
• Art Museum related endeavors: docent, paint restoration, director, exhibition installer, curator
• Studio Assistant (there are contemporary guilds in larger cities that offer health benefits, etc)
• Resident Artist/ Residency Programs (there are artists who live and work to maintain art residency programs with and for other artists)

Clubs & Organizations

• Martha Gault Art Gallery
• Art Society