Painting

At Western Colorado University, our painting degree program offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Art with an Emphasis in Painting, helping you develop your artistic voice through hands-on studio experience, mentorship, and professional practice. As a leading painting program in Colorado, this degree blends technical skill-building with conceptual exploration across multiple mediums.

Western’s painting program provides a focused track in studio painting, where you’ll explore oil painting, watercolor, and mixed media while building both technical skill and conceptual depth. As you advance, coursework emphasizes a balance of traditional techniques and contemporary approaches to visual art.

In our painting degree program, you’ll work closely with faculty mentors to refine your craft and develop a strong professional portfolio. Small class sizes ensure individualized feedback as you grow as an artist.

You’ll also expand your experience beyond the classroom through hands-on opportunities, including community art projects and internships:

• Visiting artist lectures and critiques
• Field trips to major art hubs like Denver, Taos, and Santa Fe
• Internships with galleries, art centers, and working artists
• Community-based projects, including murals and commissioned work

Western’s painting degree prepares you for careers across the creative industries. Alongside studio practice, you’ll build skills in critical thinking, visual storytelling, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Graduates leave with a professional portfolio and the confidence to pursue careers in the arts or continue into graduate-level study.

Career pathways include:

• Fine Artist
• Muralist
• Illustrator
• Concept Artist
• Art Director
• Exhibition Curator

Students develop technical painting skills across multiple mediums, along with composition, color theory, and visual storytelling. The program also builds critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and the ability to present and critique original work.

Many painting degree programs either require or recommend a portfolio for admission. At Western, portfolios may be used for placement or scholarship consideration and can include drawings, paintings, or other visual work that demonstrates your artistic ability.

A BFA in painting is a more intensive, studio-focused degree with a higher percentage of coursework dedicated to art and studio practice. A BA typically includes more general education courses and a broader academic focus.

Yes. Students in our painting degree program explore a range of styles and mediums, including oil, watercolor, and mixed media, while developing their own artistic approach and focus over time.

Yes. Students regularly participate in exhibitions, critiques, and showcases, providing opportunities to display work, receive feedback, and build a professional portfolio.

Painting students have access to dedicated studio spaces and equipment designed to support a range of painting techniques and large-scale work, allowing for consistent practice and experimentation.

Western’s painting program in Colorado offers small class sizes, dedicated studio space, and hands-on learning opportunities, including exhibitions, internships, and community-based art projects.