Art

Art
Student Work
Visiting Artist Lecture Series
Scholarship Opportunities
Careers in Art
Art Gallery
Art Faculty

About

We launch the careers of people who dream of contributing to the world through the Visual Arts. This may be through the making of art—or the curating, researching and/or teaching of art. Whichever degree option you choose, you’ll learn how to use your individual artistic passions to “create” your future career.

Contact Us

For further questions or concerns about Art, please contact:

Professor Jenny Hyde
Program Director for Art
P: 509.359.6997
E: ArtDepartment@ewu.edu

136 Art Building
Cheney, WA 99004

Ready to declare an Art Major? email the Art director for an appointment.

2022 BFA Studio Art Applications Now Accepted!

BFA Thesis Defense
2023 BFA Thesis Defense – TBA

BFA Application OPEN for AY2023-2024

Applications are DUE Tues May 9 at 11:59 PM

Students will be notified by Tues May 16

BFA Application OPEN for AY2023-2024

Before filling out the Application, please review the Application Guidelines.

We want to see your best work, and ask that you consult with an Art faculty mentor or advisor to help determine which works will best represent your vision and skill.

BFA AY2023-2024 guidelines found HERE 

BFA Application OPEN for AY2023-2024

Application form found HERE

Please meet with your art faculty advisor to fill out the application form.

BFA Oral Thesis Defenses
June 1st, 2022 | 2:30 – 4:30
At the EWU Art Building, Room 116
People needing accommodation should contact Leah Debellonia at ldebellonia@ewu.edu

The BFA in Studio art is a professional degree that prepares students for careers as practicing artists and/or further pursuit of a Master of Fine Arts Degree. The program offers a deeper emersion in studio practice with added emphasis on conceptual exploration, writing skills, and knowledge in contemporary art. BFA students develop, produce, present and defend a cohesive body of work.

Students must apply and be accepted into the BFA program by submitting a portfolio spring quarter of their junior year. Once accepted, students declare the BFA major and complete the program fall, winter and spring quarter of their senior year. Students interested in the BFA should consult with a faculty advisor prior to the application deadline.

BFA students are recommended to declare a minor in Art History and/or a related field of study that supports their research.

More Information

No matter which degree program you select, the following resources will be accessible to you:

  • Our scholarships help many students pay tuition.
  • We offer an amazing range of facilities.
  • Our painting and drawing studio classrooms are bright and open for use – pretty much anytime!
  • The Visiting Artist Lecture Series (VALS) brings well-regarded artists to campus to discuss their art and share real-life professional experience with our students.
  • The gallery hosts a variety of local, regional and national exhibitions – including student shows and research symposia.
  • Most of our classes have a small student/teacher ratio (16 to 1), there are opportunities for individualized attention and support.
  • The people we hire to work with you are well-regarded in their respective fields and have degrees from places like Harvard, Alfred University, Goddard and Cornish Colleges. And, they all put teaching at the forefront of their professional activities.

You should begin taking Art Foundations courses as soon as you think you might want to major in art. No matter which degree you choose, you’ll need the following:

  • ART 201 | Studio Art I: Surface/Image/Practice
  • ART 202 | Studio Art II: Space/Form/Materials
  • ART 203 | Digital Art I (except Art History majors)
  • ART 213 | The Visual Art Experience

Many art history courses require ENGL 201 as a prerequisite, so we encourage you to take that course as early as possible.

You’ll probably also take some General Education courses while taking your Art Foundations. During this time, you should work closely with a CAAR advisor to plan your degree program. Once you’ve decided to declare a major (art education, art history, or studio art), you’ll be assigned an ART advisor.

Keep in mind, while taking general education credits, the Art Program has four General Education courses that can count towards your program: ART 213: The Visual Art Experience (humanities breadth area) as well as ART 310: World Art, ARTH 303: The Body in Art, and ARTH 340: Native North American Art (diversity requirement).

Yes, the Art Program offers two art minors:

  1. Studio Art
  2. Art History

An art minor is a great credential to add to many other degrees. It shows an exposure to creative thinking and problem solving: things important to fields such as business, design, or even law!

YES! EWU Art alumni have been accepted into a variety of top-notch universities across the USA. Our BFA students alone have been placed in over 300 universities across the country, including:

  • University of Texas – Austin
  • Cranbrook
  • San Francisco Art Institute
  • Pratt Institute
  • Claremont
  • California Institute of Arts and Crafts
  • Mills College
  • University of California – San Diego
  • Alfred University
  • University of Idaho

… and more!

For our program learning objectives, please see our individual degree pages:

Overall, we understand that art represents people, cultures, values and perspectives on being human. Studying art gives students the tools to interpret the world in which they live by cultivating creativity and stretching perceptions.

Visiting Artist Lecture Series

Established in 1993 with grants from the National Education Association, the Visiting Artist Lecture Series (VALS) is a community consortium that promotes dialogue about contemporary art and art issues. VALS works with national & international contacts in the art world to bring working artists, critics, and educators to the Spokane area. Past panelists, lecturers and exhibitors have included a roster of impressive creators/scholars: Andrea Zittel, Eleanor Heartney, Amalia Mesa-Bains, James Luna, Mel Chin, Kiki Smith, Janine Antoni, Sue Coe, Enrique Chagoya, Rikrit Tiravanija, Graciela Iturbide, David Mach, Andrea Zittel, Sam Durant, and Marie Iverson.

Visit our Facebook page to see prompts about current VALS events. For further questions or concerns, please contact Jenny Hyde at jhyde@ewu.edu.

Art Scholarships

Background: Established by former faculty members Tom Askman and Barbara Miller for EWU Art Students

The recipient of this award should:

  • be a full-time junior or senior who is majoring in Studio Art or Art History
  • have a GPA of 3.0 or higher

The art faculty will select a student based on their determination of the most deserving and promising student.

Amount Awarded: $600-$1,200

 

Background: Established by EWU alumnus Phillip D. Grub in honor of his appreciation for art classes.

This award is for students who:

  • are juniors or seniors
  • demonstrate financial need and/or superior ability in art

Amount Awarded: $600-$1,400

Background: Established in honor of Ruby Gould Tyler and her love of Art.

The recipient of this award must:

  • be an art major
  • have a 3.0 GPA or higher
  • demonstrate financial need

Amount Awarded: $200-$500

Background: R. A. Hanrahan established her biannual scholarship in 1975.

Amount Awarded: $200-$1,000

Interested in an art scholarship? Complete the general EWU scholarship application to be considered.

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Careers in Art

  • High School Art Teacher
  • Elementary Art Teacher
  • Art Education Director
    • Museum programs
    • Community based programs
  • College Instructor or Professor
  • Visiting Artist
  • Artist Residency Instructor or Technician
  • Art Teacher
    • Community centers
    • Art centers
  • Workshop Leader
  • Workshop Coordinator

  • High School Art Teacher
  • Elementary Art Teacher
  • Art Education Director
    • Museum programs
    • Community based programs
  • College Instructor or Professor
  • Visiting Artist
  • Artist Residency Instructor or Technician
  • Art Teacher
    • Community centers
    • Art centers
  • Workshop Leader
  • Workshop Coordinator

 

  • Working Artist
  • Grant Writer
  • Public Artist
  • Art Consultant
  • Curator
    • Gallery
    • Museum

  • Gallerist
  • Art Agent and Business Manager
  • Online Vendor

  • Art Therapy

  • Archivist
  • Foundation Accounts
  • Arts Preservation
  • Membership Officer
  • Museum Shop Manager
  • Preparator
  • Public Relations Officer
  • Registrar
  • Receptionist
  • Program Assistants
  • Curatorial Assistant
  • Museum Program Assistant
  • Research Assistant
  • Social Media Managers or Assistants
  • Marketing Assistants
  • Corporate Sponsorship
  • Grants writer
  • Press/PR Assistants or Directors
  • Event Management

  • Commercial Photography
  • Professional Photography
  • Illustrator
  • Graphic Designer
  • AV Technician
  • Studio Artist
  • Muralist
  • Studio Artist
  • Potter
  • Production Design
  • Set Design
  • Studio Artist
  • Freelance Illustrator
  • Freelance Designer
  • Creative Technologist
  • Craft Artist
  • Industrial Designer
  • Animator
  • Multimedia Specialist
  • Digital Designer
  • Digital Content Strategist
  • Tattoo Artist
  • Digital Image Specialist
  • Digital Video Editor
  • Videographer
  • Digital Asset Manager
  • Studio Assistant
  • Studio Technician

With 3.48 million people working for arts businesses, arts education is a critical tool in fueling the creative industries with arts-trained workers as well as new arts consumers.

“The arts develop skills and habits of mind that are important for workers in the new economy of ideas.” – Alan Greenspan, former U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman

Sample Art Courses

ART 303. DIGITAL ART. 5 Credits.

Notes: ART 201 Image and Technology (2020-21) is the prerequisite not ART 201 Surface/Image/Practice (2018-19, 2019-20).
Pre-requisites: ART 103 or ART 105 or ART 201 or ART 203 or DESN 216, or permission of instructor.
This course explores the use of digital media in the creation of studio art. Methods of vector and raster imagery is the focus along with an introduction to 2D animation techniques. Topics within the field of digital art will be introduced and discussed. Skills from this course can be applied to a number of artistic interests—both creative and practical.

Catalog Listing

ART 390. ART IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. 3 Credits.

Children’s development in visual expression. Teaching procedures and materials used in structuring children’s art experiences and the development of skill in basic studio practices.

Catalog Listing

ART 404. PHOTOGRAPHY: ADVANCED PRACTICE. 5 Credits.

Pre-requisites: ART 305, ART 308 or permission of the instructor.
This is an advanced course that seeks to synthesize the skills learned in analog and digital photography courses. Students will engage with the broad history of photographic techniques in the creation of lens-based artworks. This course blurs the lines between these distinct approaches and helps students to create project-specific processes. Emphasis will be put on conceptualization and the artistic application of photographic technologies both old and new.

Catalog Listing

ART 225. CERAMICS I. 5 Credits.

This is a beginning ceramic art course that introduces the possibilities for creative expression, aesthetics and techniques using clay. Students will develops skills in ceramic construction and use of surface on ceramic artworks. This course examines historical and contemporary ceramic art and design practices relevant to the use of clay as a creative medium.

Catalog Listing

Art Stories

Print works from Students of 2023 Summer Bridge Program

Art Prints from Students in Summer Bridge

Displayed in the Secrist Gallery

Summer Bridge at EWU, designed for incoming freshmen, provided an opportunity to explore campus, meet...
Visit the ‘Sacred Spirits’ Exhibit

Visit the ‘Sacred Spirits’ Exhibit

Summer 2023

‘Sacred Spirits’ Exhibit Celebrates Cultures
Rococo Repoussé: Student Work Display, ARTH 302

Rococo Repoussé: Student Work Display, ARTH 302

Feb. 3 - Feb. 23, 2023

The students of ARTH 302 “Art Across Time: 17th century-Present” investigated the complex nuances associated...
Eastern Students at the Getty Museum

Visit to the Getty Museum

Eleven EWU students enrolled in Catherine Girard’s art history seminar travelled to Los Angeles, California,...
Student looks at the Women of the Bauhaus exhibit in the JFK Library.

German Week 2019 – Wunderbar Together: The Women of Bauhaus

Bauhaus Exhibition in the JFK Library. Included pieces were written by German students and artwork...
100 Years of Bauhaus

100 Years of Bauhaus

With the support of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany and the College...
Students walk past Patterson Hall

CALE Highlights

Summer 2019

Summer 2019 The College of Arts, Letters and Education is always excited to share some...
Visiting Artist Matt Lipps comes to EWU

Visiting Artist Matt Lipps comes to EWU

Los Angeles artist Matt Lipps will be on campus at noon on Thursday, Apr. 18, 2019, in...
Abstract pieces of art

EWU Gallery of Art Presents: Field Research

The Eastern Washington University Gallery of Art proudly presents Field Research, an exhibition of work designed...