Department of Fine Arts

Faculty and Fields of Interest

Richard J Creighton (Chairperson) sculpture

Anthony Fisher painting

Eric Lintala sculpture

Bryan McFarlane painting

Elena Peteva painting, drawing

Suzanne Schireson painting, drawing

Marc St Pierre printmaking, photography

Stacy Latt Savage sculpture

Adrian Tió printmaking

Adjunct Faculty

Pamela Hoss drawing

Andrew Nixon drawing, painting

Ellen Watson drawing, sculpture

Donald Beal drawing, painting

The mission of the Department of Fine Arts is to enable majors and elective students develop the skills to create a portfolio of paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture, and mixed media work. The faculty, themselves working artists, provide a studio-based educational experience that fosters a Renaissance approach to skill based solutions and subjective creativity.The introduction of technology in all studio classes allows students to use new tools for the development of creative work.

Fine Arts goals are:

to prepare students to become professionals in drawing, painting, printmaking, or sculpture
to enable students to gain a thorough understanding, appreciation of, and competence in drawing from life through a rigorous four-year drawing requirement
to encourage students to pursue their personal directions in art by grounding them in the fundamentals of their field
to provide students who wish to pursue graduate education with qualifications for entry and values which will contribute to their success
to introduce new technology in all studio classes

The faculty recognize the highly competitive nature of the field students will be entering. In addition to providing students with skills to become successful practitioners, the programs seek to instill respect for life-long learning, understanding of the importance of sustained work, and the ability to think critically and solve problems creatively. Fine Arts’ programs provide an educational experience that empowers students to become artists who are committed to their professions, whether exhibiting artwork, teaching, or employment in many related fields. We support our graduates’ contributions to human culture with confidence and dedication.

Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation Fine Arts majors will be able to:

express themselves competently in the field of their majors and in drawing
use their skill and technique to solve visual problems creatively and to express their ideas proficiently in written and oral form
depict 2D or 3D forms so that they convey the content intended for the viewer
discern the major achievements in art history, be aware of contemporary art issues, and be able to assess the quality of an art work’s form and content.

Minors

The Department of Fine Arts offers five 18-credit minors. For more information about each, use these links for specific information:

Additional Programs

The Fine Arts Department offers a 36 credit certificate program for individuals who want to expound upon their artistic skills. This program is targeted towards obtaining a media specific certificate in the field of art, that of painting, drawing, printmaking, or sculpture.