Studio Art (BA)
A practical, meaningful program for multi-passionate artists.
- Available as
- Major
- Degrees/Options
- Bachelor of Arts
- Length
- 4 years
- Locations
- Fort Wayne
- Available Concentrations
- 2D, 3D, and Photography
Why Earn a Bachelor of Art in Studio Art?
The Bachelor of Art in Studio Art is a flexible degree, combining a strong liberal arts education with studio practice. This degree allows you to deepen your artistic practice while leveling up your liberal skills.
With accomplished artists as professors, you’ll develop skills to communicate about visual media more effectively, connect your art with the broader community, and provide unique contributions such as discerning artistic analysis and judgment.
Experiment with multiple media. Build a personal catalog of interdisciplinary themes and inspiration. Connect your artistic growth to your other passions.
Student Work
Jaliyah Rice
Watercolor
Emma Emch
Oil on canvas
Amanda Gargac
Acrylic on canvas
Advanced Ceramics Student
Soda fired cone
Leah Hall
Watercolor
Katie Slick
Watercolor
Studio Art Student
Metalcraft brooch
Alicia Gonzales
Vandyke brown print
Why Saint Francis for Your Bachelor of Art in Studio Art?
We focus on teaching visual arts by diving deep into visual awareness and expression. In your studio classes, you’ll explore the creative process. Start with foundational courses and get comfortable with various techniques and materials. Then, specialize or continue to sample from a range of courses in drawing, painting, ceramics, printmaking, photography, sculpture, experimental, and media arts. It’s about crafting your own artistic journey your way.
At Saint Francis, our program is all about flexibility and building the skills you need for the career you want. With the BA in Studio Art, you can mix things up by adding a second major or a minor. Imagine pairing it with journalism for a media or advertising career or art history for a journey into curation. Business more your style? Combine your BA with business courses for a path into non-profit arts management.
Explore Your Creativity: Courses and Concentrations
In your core art courses, you’ll develop your composition skills and build your technique. You can then hone your talents in one of three concentration areas:
- Drawing
- Painting
- Printmaking
- Illustration
- Ceramics
- Metalcraft
- Fibers
- Sculpture
- Digital photography
- Traditional darkroom
- Lighting
- Digital imaging
“One of the biggest things I’ve learned at Saint Francis is to focus on what I love. For me, that’s art. The professors teach us how to be stable and productive in the field we love. They teach us to live our dream and to apply our art and creativity wherever we are.”
August Pengelly ’20 Studio Art Major
“I am impressed with how the professors work with us and how intentional they are. They really get to know the students – our interests and goals — and they challenge us to dream big and work hard. It’s also very exciting to have high-quality artists as my professors. They inspire me to do well.”
Sophie Knox ’19 Artist and Graphic Designer
“I was learning from professors who are also professional artists. They model and teach what it takes to succeed, and it worked: I was hired by BFA Photography and had a job lined up when I graduated.”
Eva Toscos ’23 Photographer & Assistant, BFA Photography
Faculty Spotlight
Steve Garst
Linocut
Cara Lee Wade
Lumen print
Tim Parsley
Oil on canvas
Justin Johnson
Mixed media on board
Cara Lee Wade
Mordencage print
Cara Lee Wade
Film, archival print
Where You’ll Find Our Graduates
Saint Francis Studio Art graduates are making, creating, teaching, designing, curating, and managing projects in places such as:
- Britton Marketing & Design Group (art director)
- Brumbeloe Fine Art Photography
- BFA Commercial Photography
- Cornerstone Schools (art teacher)
- FiberyGoodness.com/tinyStudio Creative Life Magazine (assistant editor)
- Fort Wayne Civic Theater (prop master)
- Fort Wayne Museum of Art
- Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum (assistant director)
- Hillsborough Community College (gallery director)
- Indiana Tech (creative director)
- Lure Creative Design (lead designer)
- LUC Illuminaire (creative brand strategy manager)
- SwitchedOn Training Inc. (user experience designer)
- The TAG Art Company
- Vera Bradley (assistant art director)
They also own studios, run art collectives, and work as independent artists and makers, freelance photographers and designers, and private art teachers and instructors throughout the region and around the country.
Some Saint Francis art majors and minors pursue graduate programs and have been accepted into MFA programs at schools such as:
- Ohio University (Ph.D., interdisciplinary arts)
- Kendall College of Art and Design (MFA, photography and painting)
- Coluusfs College of Art and Design (MFA, photography)
- Miami University (MFA, painting)
- Illinois State University (MFA, ceramics)
- University College, Dublin, Ireland (Museum Archives and Records Management)
Alumni Work
Tony Frantz
Drone photography
Kelsey Martin
Digital photography
Claire Wiedman
Digital photography
Karina Serapio
Cyanotype and monoprint