Peter Baldes
Associate professor and chair

arts.vcu.edu/papr

Faculty and students in the Department of Painting and Printmaking work together in a professional and creative learning environment. The undergraduate curriculum enables students to adopt a specialized focus within the discipline and use elective options to pursue other areas of interest in the School of the Arts, the university and the community. It also permits students to tailor a course of study suited to their professional and personal ambitions. The undergraduate program provides students with opportunities for concentrated experiences in both practice and theory as a foundation for independent exploration and artistic development. Classroom discussions invite students to examine a range of contemporary critical issues, which enable them to understand their own studio work in relation to historical continuum. As students develop their skills in critical analysis they are challenged to articulate and justify their ideas both visually and verbally.

The size and diversity of the faculty guarantee exposure to a plurality of ideas and stylistic approaches. In addition, the department's visiting artist program brings to campus leading figures in the world of contemporary art for discussions of their work, critiques of student work and workshops.

Learning outcomes

Upon completing this program:

  • Students are expected to achieve technical proficiency in painting and printmaking, and possess the skill to translate their creative ideas through studio practice.
  • Students are expected to develop personal voices as artists based on an awareness of social, historical and critical issues.
  • Students have the ability to think critically and to articulate their ideas via conversation, public speaking and writing.
  • Students comprehend the potential impact of contemporary art on culture.

Special requirements

  • Open electives: The 12 credits required in this area may be either academic (lecture) or studio, but nine additional studio credits must be taken outside of the Department of Painting and Printmaking.
  • Studio courses are designed to be taken in the following sequence: 200 level (basic), 300 level (intermediate) and 400 level (advanced). Instructors may ask you to withdraw from a course if you lack the appropriate background of knowledge and experience.

Degree requirements for Painting and Printmaking, Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)

Course Title Hours
General education
Select 30 credits of general education courses in consultation with an adviser.30
Major requirements
• Major core requirements
PAPR 201Painting From Observation4
PAPR 231Drawing from Observation4
PAPR 290Concepts and Issues2
PAPR 292Concepts and Issues II2
PAPR 390Junior Seminar2
PAPR 402Senior Degree Project4
PAPR 490Senior Seminar2
• Additional major requirements
Select two from:4
Print Techniques: Etching
Print Techniques: Screenprint
Print Techniques: Lithography
Print Techniques: Digital
PAPR 304Paint Practice and Theory4
or PAPR 314 Print Practice and Theory
• Major electives
PAPR 300- to 400-level courses in painting, printmaking or drawing12
Ancillary requirements
Art Foundation Program
ARTF 131Drawing Studio3
ARTF 132Surface Research3
ARTF 133Space Research3
ARTF 134Time Studio3
ARTF 139Project Studio2
or ARTF 138 Project Seminar
ARTH 103
ARTH 104
Survey of Art I
and Survey of Art II
6
Additional requirements
ARTH electives9
Studio electives (outside PAPR) 19
Open electives
Select any course.12
Total Hours120
1

Select from COAR, CRAF, DANC, FASH, GDES, IDES, KINE, APPM/MHIS, PHTO, SCPT or THEA.

The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.

What follows is a sample plan that meets the prescribed requirements within a four-year course of study at VCU. Please contact your adviser before beginning course work toward a degree.

Freshman year
Fall semesterHours
ARTF 131 Drawing Studio 3
ARTF 132 Surface Research 3
ARTF 139
Project Studio
or Project Seminar
1
ARTH 103 Survey of Art I 3
UNIV 111 Play VideoPlay course video for Focused Inquiry I Focused Inquiry I 3
General education course 3
 Term Hours: 16
Spring semester
ARTF 133 Space Research 3
ARTF 134 Time Studio 3
ARTF 139
Project Studio
or Project Seminar
1
ARTH 104 Survey of Art II 3
UNIV 112 Play VideoPlay course video for Focused Inquiry II Focused Inquiry II (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) 3
General education course 3
 Term Hours: 16
Sophomore year
Fall semester
PAPR 201 Painting From Observation 4
PAPR 231 Drawing from Observation 4
PAPR 290 Concepts and Issues 2
UNIV 200 Advanced Focused Inquiry: Literacies, Research and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) 3
ARTH elective 3
 Term Hours: 16
Spring semester
PAPR 212
Print Techniques: Etching
or Print Techniques: Screenprint
2
PAPR 292 Concepts and Issues II 2
PAPR 306
Print Techniques: Lithography
or Print Techniques: Digital
2
General education course 3
General education course 3
Open elective 3
 Term Hours: 15
Junior year
Fall semester
PAPR 300- or 400-level elective 4
General education course 3
Open electives 6
Studio elective (from outside the department) 3
 Term Hours: 16
Spring semester
PAPR 304
Paint Practice and Theory
or Print Practice and Theory
4
PAPR 390 Junior Seminar 2
General education course 3
Studio elective (from outside the department) 3
 Term Hours: 12
Senior year
Fall semester
PAPR 490 Senior Seminar 2
PAPR 300- or 400-level electives 8
ARTH elective 3
General education course 3
 Term Hours: 16
Spring semester
PAPR 402 Senior Degree Project 4
ARTH elective 3
Open elective 3
Studio elective (from outside the department) 3
 Term Hours: 13
 Total Hours: 120

The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.