Painting & Printmaking

Key Facts

Staff

Programme Overview

How to Apply

Institution Name: GSA
Institution Code: G43
UCAS Code: W120

Award

BA(Hons) Fine Art. All GSA degree programmes are validated by the University of Glasgow. Established in 1451, the University of Glasgow is a member of the prestigious Russell Group of leading UK research universities and a founder member of Universitas 21, an international grouping of universities dedicated to setting worldwide standards for higher education.

Assessment

Coursework, essays, practical design projects. Formative (i.e. advisory) assessments take place at key points throughout the year with summative (final, graded) assessments at the end of each academic year.

Glasgow Clyde College Associate Student Scheme
This programme participates in the scheme supporting year 2 entry to selected programmes at the GSA - find out more here.

Facilities
All students have access to their own studio space, and electronic media resources in the Media Studio. Printmaking facilities include a range of presses (offset proofing; stone lithography; etching; Columbian relief), Zinc-plate stone and photographic litho are also catered for and there is a purpose-designed acid room, photo-etch and photo-polymer facilities and a number of Kippax and Natgraph vacuum beds. There is also a Natgraph self-contained exposure unit.

Indicative Additional Costs
Individual departments levy material fees as indicated on this page. You should budget for each year of your programme of study and should allow for costs over and above your fees and maintenance, particularly if expensive materials or projects are chosen.

Graduates
Graduates pursue careers in numerous fields, including: community education, electronic media and web design, teaching and arts administration and include some of Scotland’s leading artists including Lesley Banks, Steven Campbell, Robert Colquhoun, Robbie Coltrane, Stephen Conroy, Ken Currie, Emilio Coia, Joan Eardley, Peter Howson, Margaret Hunter, Jack Knox, Toby Paterson, Jenny Saville and Alison Watt

Acting Head of Department
Dr Marianne Greated

Tutors
Sara Barker
Laurie Figgis
Charlie Hammond
Annette Heyer
Louise Hopkins
Lynn Hynd
Dr Graham Lister
Stuart Mackenzie
Craig Mulholland
Susanne Nielsen
Fiona Robertson
Eddie Stewart
Dr Amanda Thomson
Hanneline Visnes
Richard Walker
Dr Michael Stubbs

Programme Overview

The Department of Painting and Printmaking is the largest specialist department within the School of Fine Art and the programme of study provides an increase the breadth of experience and learning opportunities for students.

The programme aims to equip students with the necessary skills and expertise to realise their full creative potential and to pursue a career in the visual arts or other chosen professions. Each year is designed to ensure that it builds upon the previous year in terms of content, skill development and individual research. Students are provided with a sound knowledge of the theory and practice of their subject before developing personal study paths and self-motivated programmes of work in the final year. Staff will help students to acquire the theoretical and practical skills needed as a practising artist and all students will be exposed to a wide range of views and approaches to painting and printmaking practice.

Painting

Painting is a very long-standing human activity, and as well as having a practical application is often the outcome of thought and reflection. An awareness of the history and traditions of painting are fundamental to our programme of study.

Painting at The Glasgow School of Art reflects the complex and changing conditions of art today, responding to new ideas and encouraging innovation. Painting is understood as a vehicle of thought and an intellectual discipline capable of great expressive powers. The Department encompasses a wide range of approaches to the subject and students have the opportunity to extend their work, in addition to printmaking, into areas such as electronic media and photography.

Printmaking

Print exists as a vital force in our everyday lives, providing an effective means for communicating ideas and disseminating information. Printmaking at The Glasgow School of Art is based on an exploration of visual representation allied to the materials, processes and formats of established and developing technologies.

For the student, an understanding of the continuing relationship between reproduction and expression, the original and the copy, fine art and printed information, will engender an awareness of the print as a primary form of visual art, whilst supporting the creation of work informed by critical debate.

The three main areas of technical provision in the workshops at The Glasgow School of Art are etching, lithography and silkscreen. There are also extensive facilities for relief printing, photo-mechanical and reprographic processing and a comprehensive print-specific digital imaging suite.

Fine Art Critical Studies

A element of the programme is delivered by Fine Art Critical Studies. For most of the four years of undergraduate programmes in fine art, approximately one day per week of the student timetable is allocated to FACS. It is an externally linked critical mass of diverse research expertise in broad-based critical studies for contemporary creative practices. More information on the department and staff profiles can be found here.