Drawing

Micheal Cor (BFA '10) works on a drawing project in an ART 340 class

The Drawing area offers students in depth training in classical drawing skills, as well as contemporary approaches to the medium including its application in an expanded studio practice. Students begin their studies by learning foundational drawing skills including working representationally and developing formal skills related to composition, material, and space. Next, students work extensively with life models to develop strong figure drawing skills. After completing beginning level classes students are encouraged to work more independently, developing their own creative directions through a range of approached from traditional drawing to applying drawing in conjunction with photography, installation, digital media and performance art. This area of study is strongly based on ideas, conceptual practice and contemporary art with the notion that drawing informs many fields of study such as, the sciences, medicine, other art practices and considered a field study itself.

Your Studies

Your education will include studies in:

• Line
• Tone
• Perspective
• Figure Drawing
• Conceptual Development
• Creative Methods in Studio Practice
• Research and Theory
• Contemporary Art Issues

Careers

Careers available in this area include:

• Practicing Artist
• Cultural Sector: Art Gallery, Museum, Artist-run Centre, etc.
• Art Teacher
• Visual Art Professor/ Instructor in a Post-Secondary Institution
• Curator
• Critical writer

Students who explore the Drawing area for their Bachelor of Fine Arts degree may choose to continue on to do a Master of Fine Arts degree in order to achieve the qualifications and training needed to pursue a career as a professional practicing artist and/or to teach visual art at a post-secondary institution. Students may wish to continue their studies in the Bachelor of Education program with the intent of teaching in the K-12 system. Many of our alumni are employed in art industries and art communities locally, nationally and internationally.

UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES

After completing a common first year in foundational studies, Drawing students will study the principles and the fundamental techniques of drawing. In the second year, studio classes will focus on the application of these learned techniques largely based on observational drawing and the basic principles of design. Our students greatly benefit from our solid focus on figurative drawing. While these drawing skills are developed, students are increasingly being exposed to explorations in conceptual art.

GRADUATE STUDIES

The Master of Fine Arts in the Drawing provides graduates with an in-depth training in studio practice, including the development of refined technical, formal and conceptual skills. In addition, graduate students are mentored in creative research methodologies that enable them to more effectively support their studio practice with academic research and/or theoretical discourse related to their thesis topic. Students also gain insights into how their own studio relates and intersects with questions within the broader field of contemporary art. There are numerous funding opportunities for students throughout the program including scholarships, research assistantships and teaching assistantships.

Teaching experience is stressed in the program and there are also other opportunities for students to teach as primary instructor in foundation and drawing.

FACILITIES

Undergraduate drawing classes are held in the North Power Plant. This beautiful historic building has northern facing skylights. Drawing easels, model stands, tables, a spray booth, and large drawing boards that are available for student use. An equipped still life room houses a large variety of objects and support materials for drawing from observation and from the model. All students have access to a wood shop facility staffed by a technician.

CREATIVE RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

Recent research highlights in this Area include MFA Drawing students receiving Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) grants. In addition, undergraduate students have been recognized as the National winner of the BMO Financial Group 1st Art! Invitational Student Art Competition for 2016. Professor Tanya Harnett has exhibited internationally, holds a Queen’s Jubilee medal, and is a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (RCA).