School of Fine Arts

A Fine Art education at Academy of Art University will not only teach you the fundamentals of the classical tradition, it will prepare you for a successful career in the real world. You will learn the foundational skills of composing, designing, drawing, painting, and sculpting while building a professional-quality portfolio of work beginning on day one of the classroom instruction.

Our faculty is composed of working artists who understand what it takes to transform talent, technique, and vision into a career in the arts. We’ll teach you to develop your unique artistic point of view and how to translate that into a professional portfolio geared for success. You will learn how to find apprenticeships, attract representatives, and gain exposure in the art world while staying true to your artistic vision.

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Areas of Emphasis

Fine Art Area of Emphasis
Painting expand_more
Our Painting degree track will give you a deep understanding of composition, color, style, and technique. You’ll gain all of the fundamental skills required to be a still life, watercolor, portrait, landscape, abstract, or figure painter.
Sculpture expand_more
In the Sculpture program you will learn traditional skills for both figurative and non-figurative work. We’ll expose you to traditional methods and cutting edge technologies that can be used to manifest your personal artistic vision in the world.
Printmaking expand_more
At the Academy, printmaking comes alive through etching, silkscreen, monotype, book arts, lithography, and relief printing. You will gain a solid foundational knowledge of all print media, produce a professional quality portfolio, and a compile your own book of prints. We’ll teach you traditional printmaking processes while preparing you for their application in the real world of the 21st century.

Allied Skills

Animation & Visual Effects expand_more
Join one of the most dynamic Animation and VFX programs in the country. If you’re an aspiring storyboard artist, visual effects artist, 2D or 3D Animator, come learn from some of today’s most accomplished professionals in the heart of the animation industry.
Illustration expand_more
You’ve been drawing your entire life and you like to tell stories in pictures. Are you ready to go pro? Take the first step by earning an illustration degree. Learn the skills to pursue a career as a graphic novelist or comic book artist, storyboard artist, concept artist, interactive illustrator, children’s book illustrator, editorial or advertising illustrator or any number of positions that require the boundless imagination and skills of an illustrator.
Visual Development expand_more
Students learn to add further depth and texture to their creations by building on the most fundamental of skills, such as gesture drawing and shading. Using the latest in industry technology, students are equipped with the technical skills to make not just beautifully designed images, but more importantly, images that are effectively designed to move.

Online Learning

Academy of Art University has been a bold leader in online art education for over two decades. Each of our Fine Art degrees can be fully completed online, allowing students from anywhere in the world to receive a top-quality accredited degree. The fine art degrees curricula mirror the on-campus content; students can study online on-demand, or in real time via Zoom.

As students of the fine arts, critique and assessment of your work is as important as the work itself. The School of Fine Art provides a collaborative space where you can post and share your work with your peers to gain constructive feedback. Our custom online gallery also allows you to submit images of your artwork for evaluation and critique by your instructors.

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Student Work

Fine Art students painting

Fine Art Careers

  • Commission Artist
  • Curator
  • Gallery Artist
  • Gallery Owner
  • Printmaker
  • Muralist
  • Professor
  • Sculptor

Professional Network

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It’s already been ten years since I’ve gotten a job , I’ve just been selling my paintings. They have art classes that are geared to the art business and the art practice. At the Academy Art they really give you the facts, they want you to feel what it’s like to be out in the real world.
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Lucas Bononi

BFA of Fine Art

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