Painting Philosophy
The Department of Art’s painting curriculum is concerned with developing a student’s understanding of the medium in a broad and multifaceted studio experience that employs both traditional and contemporary approaches to the process of painting. Of primary importance is familiarizing students with the tools, materials, and techniques of painting while fostering perceptual development in color evaluation and interaction. At this beginning level of learning, representational replication is a good method to present challenges as well as evaluate success. And to this end most course projects are painted from observation and are accomplished using oil paints on a variety of substrates including paper, hardboard, and stretched canvas. We also investigate divergent processes of creating and pictorial resolution through collage and the use of acrylic paints and mediums. The acrylic paint experiments are less rigorously concerned with compositional harmony, but are very useful in broadening a students understanding of paint application. At the conclusion of course projects we utilize the class critique as a useful structure for the exchange of information, to gauge success, and to practice and build a visual vocabulary.
