Painting and Drawing

Drawing Professor with Student — Image description: A drawing professor works with a student

The Drawing/Painting Area offers students the opportunity to explore a wide range of media, and helps new artists build a working knowledge of materials, technique, and the use of color. Students are taught how to use media expressively, and how to explain their media choices with an in-depth visual vocabulary. As our student’s progress, critical thinking and problem solving becomes the primary focus in creative development.

In our program, students are introduced to both traditional paintings and drawings techniques as well as contemporary practices and issues. In the beginning classes, we introduce basic distinctions between painting and drawing, by learning to use media in its rawest form. It is our belief that this gives the artist a deeper appreciation for their chosen media. In the advanced classes, the separation between medias is dissolved in favor of exploring meaningful and dynamic works. Students are afforded a great deal of freedom to explore their personal ideas and interests, while weekly discussions, readings, and assignments prepare them for the challenge of a BFA Thesis Exhibition.

Students are encouraged to take classes in the areas of photo, prints, and digital imaging, not only to further explore 2-D media, but as a way of broadening perspective and introducing the chance for interdisciplinary creation. At its best, the Drawing/Painting Area is a rich environment for making visible a student’s process of self-discovery.

Beyond Painting/Drawing, students are encouraged to take classes in the areas of photo, prints, and digital imaging, not only to further and explore 2-D media, but as a way of broadening perspective and introducing the chance of interdisciplinary creation. At its best, the Drawing/Painting Area is a rich environment for making visible a student's process of self-discovery.

Careers

All classes in the Painting and Drawing Area are designed to impart conceptual and analytical skills applicable to a range of professional careers and diverse fields of study. Many students completing the BFA/BA Degree in Studio elect to continue their studio training in graduate school in preparation for a career as a studio artist.

Students graduating from BGSU have been accepted to outstanding MFA programs throughout the country. However, graduates are not limited solely to a career as a professional artist. Others have pursued career paths that include architecture, landscape and environmental architecture, graphic design, commercial and medical illustration, as well as film animation.

Drawing/Painting courses are taught in spacious, modern studios within the Fine Arts Center. The main studio measures over 2,500 square feet. Two more studios, each half in size, sit adjacent and along with graduate studios make up the Drawing/Painting wing. All rooms boast north light and high ceilings and are furnished with the tools, materials and equipment necessary for a productive work environment. The woodshop contains all of the power tools necessary for building stretchers, panels and frames.

For more information, visit the Painting & Drawing Studios facility pages.

2-DAA

2-DAA (2-D Artist's Association) is a student organization dedicated to creating alternative study and promotional opportunities for students focusing in 2D art, especially those involved with painting and drawing (although all School of Art students are welcome). Generally, 2-DAA tries to do 2 field trips each year: one to Chicago and one to either New York or Washington DC to visit art museums, galleries, and public art.

Visiting artists invited by the club give students the opportunity to meet and work with regional and national artists. Workshops, socials, exhibitions and fund-raisers are also part of the rich experience of being a club member