Painting

The Painting Program is designed to introduce students to the historic and contemporary foundations of painting media. Learning is both one-on-one and collaborative. Traditional and experimental oil and acrylic painting in figurative and abstract imagery are explored to their fullest potential.

Career Profile

Careful individualized advisement prepares painters to comprehend and engage the gallery market, trends in critical thinking and reputable graduate programs for further study and professional opportunities.

Sample Course Schedules

Wondering what your typical day might be like? We used students’ real course schedules to create these examples.

Freshman Year

Senior Year

By the Numbers

Facts and figures that make this major unique:

• WVU's unique summer program in China allows students to study landscape painting in the Chinese ink style in Nanjing and Tangka (Tibetan scroll painting) in Tongren.
• WVU's art collection includes 3,000 works from artists such as Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Ansel Adams and Blanche Lazzell.
• Global Positioning Studies courses encourage School of Art and Design students to engage the world as a fertile ground for art making and critical research.
• The Mesaros Galleries in the Creative Arts Center host national and international exhibitions and distinguished visiting artists.
• Painting majors have 24-hour access to semi-private spaces in the painting studio.

English Proficiency Requirements

All applicants whose first language is not English must provide proof of English language proficiency. WVU accepts either the TOEFL or the IELTS for this purpose. Learn more about our English language proficiency requirements.

Accreditation Information

WVU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.