Painting and Drawing
Become a shaper of culture, whether as a practicing artist, educator, or creative professional.
Compose your experience
The School of Art offers a BA and BFA degree with a concentration in 2D art. We emphasize the equipping of young artists whose ambitions are to become shapers of culture, whether as practicing artists, educators, or creative professionals. Graduates of our program routinely attend the best graduate programs in the country.
Programs in Painting and Drawing
MFA
With a nationally recognized Artist-in-Residence program and critically engaged and active faculty mentors, The School of Art at the University of Tennessee is an attractive 3-year MFA program at a major research institution. A blend of consistent interaction with the Painting & Drawing faculty and the semester-long visits of the Artist-in-Residence make the MFA at UTK a unique and unparalleled experience. The program is based on a pluralistic ethos, that the range of ideas and approaches make the richest dialog. Graduate students are encouraged to question her or his assumptions and push the boundaries of one’s own practice as an artist.
Get in touch with faculty advisor Rubens Ghenov
Courses
- ART 503: Theory/Practice/Art Fundamentals — Required for all GTAs. Surveys art theory and practice as it relates to teaching art foundations. Practical instruction, professional development, and pedagogy will be introduced in the form of lectures, group discussions, readings, and project development.
- ART 504: First-Semester Graduate Seminar — Issues in art, design and art history presented by School of Art faculty.
- ART 507: Professional Practice: Teaching Internship — Individual study in development of skills and methodology in teaching studio courses.
- ART 511: Graduate Painting + Drawing I
- ART 512: Graduate Painting + Drawing II — Students are required to take topics courses in Art History, and encouraged to take elective courses outside of the School of Art, as well as graduate-level studio art in ceramics, painting + drawing, sculpture, or time-based art.
Degree Requirements
A minimum of 60 credit hours to include the following.
- A minimum of 16 credit hours of studio courses in a concentration area.
- A minimum of 9 credit hours of graduate-level academic (non-studio) courses of which at least 6 credit hours are to be in art history.
- 1 credit hour of First-Semester Graduate Seminar.
- A minimum of 14 credit hours of electives consisting of any combination of courses offered by the University of Tennessee for graduate credit. Students with a GTA are required to successfully complete 3 credit hours of ART 503 – Theory and Practice of Art Fundamentals. These credit hours are considered to be elective. A concentration area may have course requirements that reduce the number of elective credit hours.
- In lieu of a comprehensive exam, MFA students must complete a Project in Lieu of Thesis with written statements and accompanying documentation. In the third year of semi-independent study, students must have completed all required coursework prior to taking 20 credit hours of ART 599 Projects in Lieu of Thesis.
Academic Standards
- First-year evaluation. At the end of the first two semesters in residence, the student must present a portfolio for evaluation by the faculty and receive permission to continue in the program.
- Second-year evaluation. With the completion of all course work, the student must present work for evaluation by the faculty and receive permission to register for Project in Lieu of Thesis.
- If, in a review by the student’s major area faculty, the student’s progress is deemed insufficient, the faculty may recommend a work period without advancement toward the degree, probation with specific goals set for a specific time, or dismissal.
Option: Art History Minor
A graduate minor in art history may be arranged during the student’s first semester of study with the consent of the student’s area instructors and the art history faculty. Students must complete a minimum of 12 credit hours in art history that is agreed upon by the art history faculty after review of previous undergraduate course work. A reading knowledge of French, German, or Italian is a prerequisite, unless waived by the art history faculty. Graduate Council policy stipulates that a member from the minor unit must serve on the thesis committee.
BA in Art
OR Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2D
Get in touch with one of the Faculty Representatives
Details
Courses
- ARTA 212: Drawing II (3 credits) — Techniques of expression in drawing based on both observation and content. Includes a life drawing component.
- ARTA 213: Painting I – Introduction (3 credits) — Capacities of oil and acrylic painting on canvas.
- ARTA 214: Painting II (3 credits) — Techniques of expression in oil and/or acrylic.
- ARTA 215: Watercolor I – Introduction (3 credits) — Capacities of transparent watercolor.
- ARTA 216: Watercolor II (3 credits) — Capacities of transparent watercolor with attention to the individual exploration of surface, space, and concept.
- ARTA 219: Special Topics in Drawing/Painting (3 credits) — Student- or instructor-initiated course offered at the convenience of the department to enhance and expand the painting, drawing, and watercolor curricula.
- ARTA 311: Drawing III (4 credits) — Individual expression in drawing using varied media and approaches.
- ARTA 313: Painting III (4 credits) — Individual expression with varied media on canvas.
- ARTA 411: Drawing IV (4 credits) — Advanced drawing with emphasis on individual concepts and personal expression.
- ARTA 413: Painting IV (4 credits) — Advanced painting stressing individual concepts and personal expression with varied media.
- ARTA 419: Special Topics in Drawing and Painting (4 credits) — Student- or instructor-initiated course offered at the convenience of the department to enhance and expand the two-dimensional arts curriculum.
Requirements
BA in Art
The Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in art is a humanities degree with 45 credit hours in studio art and art history coursework. Many students who choose the BA path earn a second major in another field of study. The BA option allows for flexibility to pursue wide-ranging interests and career paths and to study abroad for a full semester.
BFA in Studio Art – 2D
The Bachelor of Fine Arts with a major in studio art is a professionally-oriented degree intended for students planning careers or graduate study in the visual arts.
For Current Students
The School of Art uses a combination of a professional advisor and faculty mentors to meet the needs of our students. You are assigned to our professional staff advisor upon admission to the School of Art. The staff advisor will do all primary advising (clearing registration holds, discussing graduation requirements, etc). In addition, a faculty mentor will be assigned after you pass portfolio review. You will be expected to meet with your faculty mentor at least once per year.
Portfolio Review
Portfolio Review for Drawing and Painting both take place at the end of each semester. Students who pass Drawing Portfolio can take upper-division Drawing courses. Students who pass Painting Portfolio can take upper-division Painting courses.
Prerequisites for Drawing Portfolio:
- A grade of C or better in the following courses: Art 101, Art 102, Art 103, Art History 172, Art History 173, and ARTA 211 (Drawing I). Co-requisite: ARTA 212 (Drawing II).
- To enroll in Drawing Portfolio Review, register for ARTA 312 in the same semester you are taking ARTA 212.
Prerequisites for Painting Portfolio:
- A grade of C or better in the following courses: Art 101, Art 102, Art 103, Art History 172, Art History 173, ARTA 211 (Drawing I), and ARTA 213 (Painting I). Co-requisite: ARTA 214 (Painting II).
- To enroll in Painting Portfolio Review, register for ARTA 314 in the same semester you are taking ARTA 214.
Portfolio Review Requirements
Be sure that all three of the following materials are completed and handed in to your instructor a week prior to Portfolio Review.
- A printed copy of your DARS report: Choose the print friendly option to make sure all information can be seen.
- Letter of Intent: A typed description of your interest in taking upper-division Painting or Drawing courses as part of a BFA 2D Studio Art. Describe as specifically as possible the direction that you wish to pursue and your long term goals (i.e. K- 12 teaching certification, graduate school, etc.).
- Artist’s Statement: A typed statement of your interests (material, content, concepts, etc.) in Art.
Drawing Portfolio:
In consultation with your Drawing II instructor make a selection of work from the current semester as well as a few supporting pieces from Drawing I.
Painting Portfolio:
In consultation with your Painting II instructor make a selection of work from the current semester as well as a few supporting pieces from Painting I.
Faculty
Christopher McNulty
Director, UT School of Art
Area of Study: Works on Paper
Painting and Drawing News
- Kimberly D. Iles Scholarship Awards – 2023
- Artist Lecture with Dani Levine, November 9, at 5:30 pm
- Megan Wolfkill, MFA Student, Is Finalist in Miami Young Painters Competition
- Artwork of Christopher McNulty in Philadelphia Exhibit
- Stacey Robinson Brings Energy and Collaborative Art to Knoxville
- MFA Grad Sean Heiser Enjoys Residency in Austria
- Faith Belt, 2022 BFA Grad, Excels in Puppetry
- Jered Sprecher at American Academy in Rome
- MFA Graduate Emily Roca Rice Receives Fulbright Award
- Honors Exhibition 2023 at Ewing Gallery
- Historical Figures (Works on Paper) by Holly Whisenant at Gallery 1010
- Ellen McClung Berry Professorships at the School of Art
Painting and Drawing Resources
Artist-in-Residence Program
In addition to our core faculty, our nationally-recognized Artist-in-Residence program brings a different visiting professional artist to the UT campus each semester. This artist-in-residence (AIR) teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in both areas. The AIR, who typically works and resides in New York or other urban centers, acts as an additional bridge between the university and life beyond it. The AIR brings with them differing experiences, views, aesthetics, and backgrounds. This mix of core faculty and AIR allows students to experience a wide array of perspectives as they work to find their own voice.
Useful Links
School of Art Programming Committee Lecture Series
1010 Gallery: Student Exhibitions
The Studio (UT Libraries)