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Willamette University

Study Painting

Become proficient in painting through shapes, movement, colors, and balance. Experiment in a supportive studio environment and find your voice within PNCA's painting degree.

Program Snapshot

Degree Type

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Program Type

Major

Credit Hours

121

Time to complete

4 Years

Campus

PNCA Campus

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Person painting a mural with pink, orange, and light blue paint, wearing yellow shirt and pink headphones.

Our Painting Major

Develop an individual vision, voice, and mastery of forms through rigorous studio practice. PNCA's painting degree helps students develop proficiency in painting techniques. We're one of the best colleges for painting because we encourage exploration as students create and hone their craft.

Why choose Painting at Pacific Northwest College of Art?

  • Broaden your perspective. Lectures, visiting artists, and critical discourse offer new perspectives and allow for exploration of the historical, cultural, aesthetic, and theoretical contexts of the field.
  • Find your professional voice. Drive your creative endeavors and find yourself as an artist. Our curriculum includes studio management, portfolio development, galleries and exhibitions, and public presentations.
  • Connected disciplines and facilities. Our painting major encourages interdisciplinary study. Take courses in other art forms and utilize all the industry-standard equipment to expand your skills as an artist.

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Student Work

Prepare for life after PNCA by exhibiting your work, starting curatorial projects, and interning with art institutions. Our painting BFA makes it easy to utilize student-run galleries or meet other artists during First Thursday. Students also showcase their projects and work through the Senior Thesis event.

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Alumni Stories

Our painting alumni have made a cultural impact as educators, artists, activists, and entrepreneurs. Learn about their accomplishments and how they've paved their path within the art community.

Introducing Some of Our Faculty

Our faculty have years of experience not only as educators but as professional artists and painters. They work closely alongside you in our inspiring painting studios. Connect with faculty, visiting artists, and speakers to perfect your craft.

  • Meet Michelle Ross

    Michelle Ross, Associate Professor and Interim Department Head of Painting & Drawing, employs abstract painting to evoke curiosity and promote tolerance. With an MFA from Washington State University Ross has exhibited work spanning prestigious venues nationally and internationally and has received a Ford Family Artist Fellowship.

    Headshot of Michelle Ross

  • Meet Michael Lazarus

    Michael Lazarus employs a diverse range of materials to craft paintings with dynamic presence. With exhibitions spanning venues internationally and accolades including a MacDowell Fellowship, Lazarus brings a wealth of experience to mentoring students at PNCA.

    Headshot of Michael Lazarus

  • Meet Ardis DeFreece

    Ardis DeFreece, Assistant Professor and Interim Thesis Director at PNCA, merges art and ecology in her practice. With degrees from Mount St. Mary's College and PNCA, including classical drawing studies in Florence, Italy, she chairs the BFA Thesis and instructs in Foundation and Open Adult programs.

    Headshot of Ardis DeFreece

Curriculum

Explore visual art through our painting courses. Students will develop foundational skills and expand to figurative and abstract approaches. Blend traditional painting with multimedia elements, and prepare for life as a professional artist.

  • PA261 Observational Painting

    This course is intended to provide the student with a variety of opportunities to expand and refine their skill in a realist manner by painting from direct observation. From 'Plein Air" to "in-studio" practice, on subjects such as Landscape, the Figure, Portrait and Still Life, we will focus on creating work that is technically skilled and of strong pictorial construction.

  • PA464 Advanced Painting Studio

    Explore the intersections of drawing, painting, and hybrid material practices alongside principles of design and critical global art theories. Delve into the power of non-figurative art to express cultural identity and social activism.

Program Requirements

Our Painting major requires 121 credits to complete the degree. This includes: 76 in studio, 30 in Liberal Arts and Sciences, and 15 in Art History. Of the studio credits, 16 are required courses in the Foundation program, at least 36 are the required courses in the studio major, and the remainder are available for studio electives. A minimum two-year residency at the College is required.

A person painting
Admissions Information

Our Painting program is open to first-year students, transfer students, and international students. Learn more about PNCA’s undergraduate admissions process to get started.

Person working on a canvas in an art studio.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Most students receive financial aid, ranging from scholarship opportunities to federal work study and need-based grants and loans. PNCA also considers painting students for full-tuition scholarships. PNCA is committed to a better future by providing fair and equitable admission processes. The BFA program automatically considers all students applying for merit-based scholarships. In addition, we also offer BFA Equity Scholarships, Juried Scholarships, Pre-College Scholarships, International Scholarships and Community College Transfer Partner/Transfer Agreement Scholarships.
Artist's paint palette with various colors and a paintbrush on a paint-splattered table.

FAQs

Willamette University

Painting