Studio Art Degree with a Concentration in Drawing & Painting

Program Overview

The Drawing and Painting program at UNT cultivates artistic capabilities in a creative and intellectual environment, guiding students towards finding their individual artistic voice and developing a coherent body of work. Led by accomplished artists, the program emphasizes interdisciplinary experimentation, critical thinking, and commitment to independent studio practice, preparing graduates for careers in fine arts, commercial art, and education.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

• Program Type: Major
• Format: On Campus
• Estimated Time to Complete: 4 years
• Credit Hours: 120
• Objectives:
• Investigate a wide range of issues and media rooted in contemporary and historical art practice.
• Guide students toward finding their individual voice, culminating in the development of a coherent body of work.
• Train students to commit to an independent studio practice, consistent with that of a professional artist.
• Description:
• The Drawing and Painting program excels in supporting students as they expand their artistic capabilities by providing and cultivating an intellectual and creative environment for students to explore, experiment, and think critically.
• Students have generous access to accomplished creative professionals and visiting artists who provide excellent mentorship, encouraging an adventurous exploration of media and modeling a dedication to their creative research, interdisciplinary experimentation, and professional practices.
• Instruction emphasizes basic technical information, demonstrations, lectures, slide presentations, and individual and group critiques.
• Students are encouraged to work across a broad range of contemporary and traditional painting and drawing practices, concepts, aesthetic conventions, methods, and techniques.
• The breadth and depth of the program are built upon the diversity of expertise of the faculty and their shared commitment to excellence as working artists and thoughtful teachers.

Teaching:

• Methods:
• Demonstrations
• Lectures
• Slide presentations
• Individual and group critiques
• Faculty:
• Accomplished artists who are active and respected participants in the professional art world.
• Exhibit artwork nationally and internationally and maintain a high profile in their field.
• Unique Approaches:
• Encourages an adventurous exploration of media and modeling a dedication to creative research, interdisciplinary experimentation, and professional practices.
• Emphasizes finding an individual voice and developing a coherent body of work.
• Trains students to commit to an independent studio practice, consistent with that of a professional artist.

Careers:

• Potential Career Paths:
• Education: Graduate programs, private lessons, public workshops and classes at colleges, universities, local arts organizations, museums, galleries, community centers, artist residencies, or studios.
• Fine Artist: Creates and sells artwork to individuals through galleries, private collectors, websites, or other digital outlets for a creative career as an artist and entrepreneur.
• Commercial Artist: Produces art for greeting cards, logos, branding, advertisements, books, magazines, and billboards.
May work as an art director.
• Other Areas and Freelance: Muralist, studio assistant, restorationist, portrait artist, face and body painter, tattoo artist, cartoonist, animator, visual display or storyboard creator, illustrator, framer, art handler, or work in an auction house.
• Opportunities:
• Graduates have been admitted to some of the nation's top graduate programs.
• Many opportunities to exhibit work through competitive exhibitions held in the Art Building's Paul Voertman Gallery and Cora Stafford Gallery.
• Outcomes:
• Overall employment of craft and fine artists is projected to grow 6 percent from 2021 to 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Other:

• Highlights:
• Graduates of the B.F.A.
program have been admitted to some of the nation's top graduate programs.
• Faculty members are accomplished artists who are active and respected participants in the professional art world.
• A Living-Learning Community in UNT Housing brings together art students who live on campus to enhance academic and social experiences.
• The new UNT Art Building, completed in 2019, features state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, providing a stimulating atmosphere for exploration and growth with intellectual and academic freedom.
• Courses:
• Beginning Drawing and Painting: Painting I (3 hrs)
• Beginning Drawing and Painting: Painting II (3 hrs)
• Intermediate Drawing and Painting: Figure Drawing I (3 hrs)
• Intermediate Drawing and Painting: Experimental Approaches (3 hrs)
• Intermediate Drawing and Painting: Themes, Variations and Series (3 hrs)
• Postmodernism and the Visual Arts 1945–Present (3 hrs)
• Related Programs:
• Sculpture Studio Art Degree
• Drawing and Painting Studio Art Master's
• Similar Areas of Study:
• Arts & Design
• Department:
• Department of Studio Art
• College of Visual Arts and Design
• Contact Information:
• Art Building, Room 230