Printmaking
BFA Printmaking: The Program
The BFA printmaking program at Shepherd gives the undergraduate student an opportunity to explore lithography, intaglio, relief and monoprint processes. The first two years of the program provide an introduction to printmaking and to fine art theory and practice. Students are encouraged to develop compositional skills in printmaking classes as well as in all studio art classes. Problem solving techniques and exposure to a variety of media and processes are encouraged and developed during the first two years. The last two years the student will be expected to develop a personal style through exposure to contemporary art, theory and practice. Students will explore contemporary applications of print media and will develop their own unique methods and visual vocabulary.
What is Printmaking?
Many students considering art as a major are unfamiliar with the term Printmaking. Printmaking makes use of skills and talents utilized in both painting and drawing for the creation of multiple images. In drawing or painting the student produces only one original work of art, whereas in printmaking the student has the ability to produce as many identical images as he or she desires. Printmaking is an old and honored method of creating original works of art. There are many methods and ways of generating images. At Shepherd the faculty enjoy watching students learn new and exciting ways to create printed images utilizing intaglio, lithographic and relief processes.
Careers in Printmaking
A BFA in printmaking does not in and of itself promise job placement opportunities for the graduate. Rather, the student must love the craft of print and be willing to discover innovative ways to utilize print skills to further their financial opportunities. Printmaking graduates have successfully: opened their own Printshops where they print for others and offer classes, teach college level printmaking, sell their work at craft shows, galleries, and other venues, work in museums with print collections, or as exhibition curators, or installation workers, earn a teaching certificate and teach in the public schools, or own or work in frame shops.
Internships and Opportunities
Shepherd University is lucky to be located near Washington D.C. and Baltimore MD. Both of these cities are home to reputable studio printshops willing to engage interns. Pyramid Atlantic in Silver Spring, MD and Goya Girl Press, Baltimore have excellent national reputations and offer internships. The Torpedo Factory in Alexandria has a teaching printshop with internship opportunities in both the shop and the gallery. The Smithsonian Institute has print related opportunities for archival and curatorial work with paper, prints and drawings.
Printmaking Curriculum
| General Studies Courses | 48 Hours | |
| Humanities (ENGL, COMM, MUSC, ART) |
20 | |
| Social Sciences (ECON, HIST, PSCI, SOCI) |
15 | |
| Life or Physical Sciences (BIOL, CHEM, GSCI, PHYS) |
8 | |
| Mathematics | 3 | |
| Physical Education | 2 | |
| FINE ARTS CORE | 39 Hours | |
| ART 140 | Visual Thinking I | 3 |
| ART 170 | Visual Thinking II | 3 |
| Art History Core | ||
| ART 104 | Intro to Visual Art (Gen. Studies Credit) | 3 |
| ART 203 | Survey of Western Art | 3 |
| ART 204 | Contemporary Art | 3 |
| ART 304 | Special Topics in Art History | 3 |
| Professional Practices Core | ||
| ART 208 | Professional Practices I | 3 |
| ART 390 | Professional Practices II | 3 |
| ART 490 | Capstone | 3 |
| Group I | 9 Hours | |
| Must select 3 classes to total 9 hours | ||
| ART 305 | Illustration I | 3 |
| PHOT 281 | Black and White Photography I | 3 |
| ART 230 | Painting I | 3 |
| ART 250 | Sculpture I | 3 |
| GRDS 173 | Graphic Design I (non-majors) | 3 |
| Group II | 6 Hours | |
| Must select 2 classes to total 6 hours | ||
| PHOT 282 | Black and White Photography II | 3 |
| ART 405 | Illustration II | 3 |
| ART 330 | Painting II | 3 |
| ART 350 | Sculpture II | 3 |
| Printmaking Concentration | 42 Hours | |
| Each of the following 42 hours must be taken by all Printmaking majors | ||
| ART 260 | Printmaking I |
3 |
| ART 361 | Printmaking II | 3 |
| ART 115 | Drawing I | 3 |
| ART 215 | Drawing II | 3 |
| ART 403 | Art Criticism | 3 |
| PHOT 385 | Computer Digital Imagery | 3 |
| ART 410 | Advanced Drawing | 3 |
| ART 464 | Advanced Studio Printmaking | 9 |
| ART 475 | Interdisciplinary Studio | 6 |
| Select 6 hrs. from the following (to be discussed with advisor): | ||
| ART 391 | Internship |
3-6 |
| ART 400 | Special Topics in Studio Art | 3 |
| ART 375 | Research Studio (summer only) | 3 |
| ART 410 | Advanced Drawing | 3 |
| ART 464 | Advanced Printmaking Studio | 3 |
| ART 475 | Interdisciplinary Studio | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours Minimum | 129 | |
Suggested Sequence of Courses to graduate in 4 years with a BFA
| 1st Semester (Freshman Year) | 15-17 Hours | |
| ART 140 | Visual Thinking I | 3 |
| ART 104 | Intro. Visual Art | 3 |
| ART 115 | Drawing I | 3 |
| ART 260 | Print I | 3 |
| ENGL 101 | Written English | 3 |
| GSPE 210 | Fitness for Life or MUSC 111 | 2 |
| 2nd Semester | 15-17 Hours | |
| ART 170 | Visual Thinking II | 3 |
| ART 215 | Drawing II | 3 |
| ART 360 | Print II | 3 |
| *Select from Group I | 3 | |
| ENGL 102 | Written English | 3 |
| MUSC 111 | Intro to Music or GSPE 210 | 2 |
| 3rd Semester (Sophomore year) | 18 Hours | |
| ART 203 | Surv. West. Art | 3 |
| ART 464 | Adv. Printmaking | 3 |
| ART 410 | Advanced Drawing | 3 |
| *Select from Group I | 3 | |
| *Select from Group II | 3 | |
| *Select from General Studies | 3-6 | |
| 4th Semester | 16-18 Hours | |
| ART 204 | Contemporary Art | 3 |
| ART 475 | Interdisciplinary Studio | 3 |
| PHOT 385 | Comp. Digital | 3 |
| *Select from Group I or *Select from Group II | 3-6 | |
| ART 208 | Prof. Practices | 3 |
| *Select from General Studies | 3-6 | |
| 5th Semester (Junior Year) | 14-18 Hours | |
| ART 465 | Advanced Printmaking | 3 |
| *Select from Group II if needed | 3 | |
| ART 490 | Prof. Prac. II | 3 |
| ART 403 | Criticism | 3 |
| *Select from General Studies | 3-9 | |
| ART 410 | Adv. Drawing | 3 |
| 6th Semester | 14-18 Hours | |
| ART 403 | Criticism |
3 |
| ART 400 | Interdisciplinary Studio | 3 |
| ART 490 | Prof. Practices II | 3 |
| *Select from Gen. Studies | 3-9 | |
| *Select from ART 304, 400, 410 | 3 | |
| 7th Semester (Senior Year) | 15-18 Hours | |
| ART 464 | Adv. Printmaking |
6 |
| *Select from General Studies | 3-9 | |
| *Select from ART 400, 410 ,304 | 3 | |
| 8th Semester | 15-18 Hours | |
| ART 490 | Capstone | 3 |
| *Select from Gen. Studies | 3-9 | |
| *Select from ART 400, 410 ,304 | 3 | |
| * Indicates choice should be made after consultation
with advisor. - A student should maintain 16 hours a semester to graduate in four years. - A BFA student must complete 129 hours/45 upper division hours to graduate. |
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