Fine Art
Contemporary art is constantly shifting and transforming its boundaries and Watkins is committed to staying on that "cutting edge". At Watkins we seek to teach you all the necessary skills to become a successful, practicing artist.
You will:
- come into direct real-world contact with studios, commercial galleries, museums and art professionals around the city and beyond.
- be encouraged to exhibit your work both in the college and with outside groups.
- learn to express your unique ideas through a variety of mediums, constantly gaining a better understanding of how your work fits into the world around you.
- understand the importance of critical theory, research and communication skills so that you can speak about and present your work with confidence.
Most of all you will be surrounded by a community of artists and designers who will encourage and supoort your passion to create.
OUR MISSION
The Department of Fine Art is a studio-based program committed to developing foundation skills, the use of formal language, introduction to a range of media including new technologies and the practice of historical and critical thinking. The BFA degree is designed to provide students with the skills necessary to practice their art, continue their studies, pursue their MFA or apply their creative skills and experience to posts with institutions such as museums, galleries and arts organizations.
OUR PROGRAM
The Department of Fine Art at Watkins meets the demands of teaching contemporary art by employing professional, practicing artists to share their knowledge of the disciplines of drawing, painting, sculpture, clay and time based media. An open exchange with the College's five other departments fosters an interdisciplinary approach reflecting the diversity of current artistic and technical practices. After the establishment of a broad foundational base, students begin to choose specific areas of concentration, building towards a professional portfolios and senior thesis exhibition. The Fine Arts Department's educational opportunities are extended by the college's contacts with other visual arts institutions, visual art professionals and scholars. Students come into direct, "real-world" contact with a wide range of professional practices, critical approaches and attitudes.