The Studio Art Program at OSU offers both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees. It is also possible to get a minor in Studio Art. The BA is the general degree and allows for broad-based education across the disciplines. The BFA is considered the professional, undergraduate degree with concentrated study in several disciplines. It prepares the student for entrance into graduate school or the competitive world of the art market. The Studio Art Program consists of numerous disciplines and areas of study.
Drawing/Painting
Drawing is both an aesthetic end and the abstract basis of all the pictorial arts. While normally thought of as black markings on a white or light surface, drawing media can comprise an infinite list of materials utilized to the point where a finished work is arguably painting or sculpture. Drawing is considered a basic skill for all artists and is required of all majors in the Visual Arts at OSU. Students work with a variety of mediums and may continue to study drawing at its most advanced levels including figure drawing.
Painting is the making of marks on a flat or relatively flat surface with either oil based or water soluble pigments. Paints can be applied in a variety of ways using brushes, knives, trowels, or simply using the hands and fingers. Paint can also be sprayed, poured, slung dripped, stenciled or masked for a wide range of effects. It can become so thick that is approaches relief sculpture or it can be so thin the surface of the painting is transparent. It can enhance sculptural forms. The scale can vary from intimate hand-sized Vermeers to forty foot Lichtensteins. The imagery can range from the absolute perceptual truths of descriptive realism to the absolutes of conceptualism. At OSU, students study color theory and basic paint applications in 2D Design and then may move on to various levels of oil painting and watercolor. Watercolor is the oldest painting technique, first appearing on the cave walls of Lascaux and Altamira, and has occupied a significant role in the development of western painting until the present day. Oil painting is considered the most popular technique used by artists due to its versatility and longevity.
Printmaking
OSU offers all levels of printmaking in its J. Jay McVicker print studio at the Arts Annex. Printmaking has had an illustrious history at OSU. Famous printmakers who have taught here include Doel Reed and McVicker, both of whom were well known for their regional imagery and excellent technical skills. Relief prints are made from a raised printing surface. The most common forms of relief printing are woodcuts and linoleum block prints. The image is drawn on the block and the non-image areas are cut away. Ink is applied to the raised area, paper is placed on the block, and the back of the paper is rubbed to pick up the ink. In the intaglio printing, an impression is made from a zinc or copper plate. The word intaglio is Italian and means to engrave or cut into. Lines are cut into the metal plate with acid or a sharp tool. Ink is applied to the plate, the lines hold ink, and the surface is wiped clean. Damp paper is forced into the inked lines with a press and picks up the image. In lithography, an impression is made from a stone or metal plate. The word lithography comes from the Greek words for stone and writing. The process is based on the simple principle that grease and water do not mix. A drawing is made on a stone or metal plate, which is then processed so that the image areas accept ink and the non-image areas repel ink. Pressure of the printing press causes the paper to pick up the inked areas.
Digital Photo/Video
Digital Photo and Video have increased in popularity among contemporary artists who often use these techniques in their paintings, prints, and sculptural installations. Students at OSU are exposed to digital media at the basic foundation level of study and have access to excellent facilities to produce digital art including fully equipped MAC and PC labs that provide the latest programs, high-quality printers, and 3D modeling possibilities. Students may opt to focus on digital media or use it to complement their other studio interests. Equipment, including high-quality digital cameras, may be checked-out through the Visual Resources Library.
Sculpture
Sculpture in this century provides options and alternatives not considered in the past. It may be in the form of installation art, conceptual art, or digital projections that transform a 3D space. Sculpture at OSU offers the student an opportunity to become involved with the full range of media and formats. All students study 3D Design and traditional techniques in a facility equipped to handle metal fabrication, gas/arc/ L-Tec welding, metal casting, wood construction, sand-casting and ceramic shell construction. Advanced students are involved in a broadly based course that allows them to pursue individual interests--including multi-media formats and public art--with an emphasis on further development of concepts, skill, and techniques.
Ceramics
Education through the ceramic arts can lead to a number of vocational opportunities. In today's world of mass communication, the handcrafted object offers a relief and an alternative to the impersonal products of the factory. It is now possible to make a living as a production potter or to supply ceramics objects of everyday use to an ever expanding, aesthetically aware, and educated buying public. Ceramic sculpture has also grown in popularity. At OSU, the large ceramic facility affords many opportunities for student exploration at all levels of study after the completion of the required 3D Design course.
Jewelry/Metals
In recent years the field of metalworking and jewelry design has expanded to significant new directions in materials, body adornment, and small sculptural objects. Unconventional shapes, bold lines, bright colors and everyday materials are being used in ways that defy tradition. It is not that the traditional use of materials has been rejected, but rather the whole field of metals and jewelry has been expanded to envelope the past, present, and the future. The contemporary artist in metal must keep abreast of the advances made in industry, technology, and the fine arts, as well as maintain knowledge of the traditional skills and techniques. Students at OSU study 3D Design prior to proceeding into this area, where they may continue their education to the advanced level. |
