Independence of mind, a strong work ethic, and a disciplined attitude towards creativity and expression are essential qualities of any student entering the area of Drawing and Painting. Students interested in pursuing a BFA degree must first submit work through the portfolio review process. Learn more about the portfolio review process by which undergraduate students apply to their area of emphasis here. Students are expected to approach the preparation of a body of work with enthusiasm and rigor. Engaging in critiques of their own work and the works of their colleagues is an essential part of Drawing and Painting program.

Students in the 3-year Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program can elect to study with faculty in Drawing and Painting and take studios in the Drawing and Painting Area.

Across style, method, form, and subject, faculty in the area of Drawing and Painting faculty share a deep commitment to making, are passionate about the studio, and are engaged with material and its application. Faculty are dedicated to helping graduate students whose practices encompass the broadest sense of what drawing and painting can do. Graduate students will find intellectual rigor, time for studio practice, and a variety of research resources and opportunities to grow and sustain their creativity.

Community is crucial to the success of students in a graduate program. The 3rd floor graduate studios are clustered together, creating an atmosphere of comradery and dialogue. 24-hour access allows students flexible working hours. Each studio is self-contained with a door and four walls (some with floor-to-ceiling windows). Proximate faculty and undergraduate studios encourage discourse throughout the area. In addition, the nearby Glass Gallery space is available for MFA students working in any discipline to curate exhibitions and show work.

The teaching philosophy of Faculty in Drawing and Painting is to help graduate students in the MFA program work as though they will always be artists, with the intention of developing the underpinnings of a lifetime of creative endeavor. An atmosphere of risk-taking and continual collective informal discussion of the work is nurtured. This criticality is supported by studio visits and formal critiques, as well as ample opportunities to interact with visiting artists, curators, and scholars.