Explore themes in life painting, classical representation, abstraction and conceptual approaches through a wide variety of painting and drawing classes including portraiture, still life, figure composition, invented and conceptual approaches, large-scale figure painting and pictorial composition. Drawing is encouraged in all stages, including figure drawing, object and nature drawing, landscape and abstract approaches in a wide range of drawing media. 

At the advanced level, students receive a private studio and work with personal mentors and critics. Workshops and critiques with visiting artists further artistic development and prepare students for professional painting careers. In the Annual Student Exhibition, students mount a professional-quality show of their work.

Faculty

Al Gury (Chair)
Jan Baltzell
Astrid Bowlby
Anthony Ciambella
Patrick Connors
Vincent Desiderio
Peter Van Dyck
Renee P. Foulks
Michael Gallagher
Neysa Grassi
Alex Kanevsky
Doug Martenson
Scott Noel
Carolyn Pyform
Jill Rupinski
Bruce Samuelson
Bill Scott
Stuart Shils
Patricia Traub

Facilities

All advanced Certificate and BFA students are provided with studio working space. Students have 24-hour access to the studios, which are maintained in a facility with safety and security features.

The Samuel M.V. Hamilton Building has outstanding facilities for drawing and painting, include two skylit studios, a number of large painting classrooms, drawing studios and painting studios, and a rooftop terrace often used for cityscapes. 

Cast drawing classes and life drawing classes are held in the breathtaking cast halls of the Historic Landmark Building. These six studios have 20-foot vaulted ceilings and skylights with northern exposure. PAFA’s famous cast collections of antique and Renaissance sculpture have been part of the curriculum for nearly 200 years.