B.F.A. in Studio Art 
The B.F.A. in Studio Art is an intensive professional program, which allows for the greatest specialization in Studio Art. Concentrations are available in:
Painting/Drawing/Illustration
The Fine Arts Department offers classes in drawing, figure drawing, painting, watercolor, figurative painting as well as illustration (both traditional and digital). In our classes we emphasize the development of a strong foundation of basic skills as well as the conceptual side of the creative process.
Sculpture
Our sculpture program focuses on providing students with experiences in a variety of media and processes while emphasizing individual concepts and directions. The facilities include a fully equipped woodshop along with a room for plaster work and a foundry area for bronze casting.
Printmaking
If you love to draw and work with an image to develop a rich surface then printmaking is for you. Printmaking combines aspects of drawing, painting, sculpture, photography and ceramics all into one. Traditional printmaking is combined with new technology to offer a myriad of creative possibilities. The Kean University print courses offer students the ability to work with the processes of non-toxic intaglio, digital and photographic applications for printmaking, relief, silkscreen and lithography. Students are taught a wide and solid grounding in the medium while a broad range of techniques are learned by all levels. Beginning students typically work from observation as a vehicle to focus on technical issues while intermediate students begin to address conceptual concerns while learning advanced techniques in printmaking. Advanced students focus on developing self-initiated themes and processes geared to help them explore the difficult task of defining their own personal voice through art. Students are regularly engaged in supplemental activities such as, visiting artists, slide presentations, inter-collegial portfolio exchanges and collaborations, and field trips. Students focusing in this area will be well prepared to enter graduate school printmaking programs as well as to enter into the professional world.
Furniture/Woodworking
The furniture and woodworking courses are unique to Kean's studio program in Fine Arts. Not only do students learn how to safely use the small hand and power tools, but are as well instructed in the use of heavy stationary woodworking machines. Each student works within design parameters to complete a piece of furniture or woodworking— the end result of a process that stresses individual expression using contemporary woodworking techniques.
Our well equipped studio has the space, equipment and tools to support the storage, fabrication and finishing of both undergraduate and graduate student work.Ceramics
Ceramics courses at Kean University have as their focus an emphasis on Low Fire techniques, and exploration of sculptural and conceptual ideas. The understanding of clay through the potters wheel and traditional hand building techniques is stressed in the introductory course. In the intermediate and advanced courses individual student development of complex ideas, structures, and intellectual modalities is stressed. The ceramic studio is a multipurpose facility. The equipment available includes 16 potters wheels including, kick, electric, and Kick-electric wheels. Additionally, 2 slab rollers, 2 extruders, 1 clay mixer, 4 electric kilns, and one downdraft gas kiln. The facility includes a damp room, clay preparation and storage room, kiln room, glaze mixing and application area and a large community throwing and handbuilding area. The teaching faculty includes 1 full time faculty member and guest adjunct faculty who bring traditional and nontraditional approaches such as "Paper Clay", "Slip Casting", "Raku", "Terra-Sigillata" and "Tile Making."
Metals/Jewelry
Metals courses at Kean expose students to a variety of techniques for working with and expressing oneself through the use of non-ferrous metals. Students are encouraged to extend their ideas beyond traditional notions of the field in order to create unique jewelry, containers, vessels or sculptural objects. The studio includes: acetylene soldering stations, casting equipment, various hand tools, forming/raising stakes, hydraulic press for die forming, sheet metal fabrication equipment and will soon include enameling equipment. There are 14 individual workstations along with several common work areas and a library of metals publications for students to use as a resource.
Fibers
Students taking fibers courses work on and off looms in various techniques including (although not limited to): coiling, twining, plaiting, weaving, knitting, knotting, crochet, stitchery. Surface design, fabric embellishment, use of dyes, resists and papermaking can be explored individually. This program is focused on creating fiber work as an art form within a contemporary context. Students develop skills through personal expression. Fiber students concentrate on developing their own portfolio. This aesthetic and practical experience helps them to pursue careers in design or fine arts.
Computer /Video Art
Students are introduced to the many aspects of using video as an art form. Areas that are covered include animation, movie making, music video, and installation art. Formats include digital editing systems.
The digital arts continue to grow and command more attention by artists. Our Fine Arts computer lab contains state-of-the-art Macintosh workstations. Tablets, scanners, digital cameras, web cams and printers are also available for student use. The computer art foundation class is based upon PhotoShop and Illustrator using the Adobe CS2. In Computer Illustration and Painting original art works are composed and manipulated in PhotoShop. The Digital Multimedia course integrates video, audio and image manipulation to create highly expressive presentations.
Studio Coordinator:
Jennifer Crupi / jcrupi@kean.edu
VE 203 / 908.737.4394
Student Testimonial by Sylvia Brandt, (B.F.A. Studio Major)
The BFA program at Kean really brought out my strengths and helped me work out my shortcomings. The faculty were always eager to lend a helping
hand whether it be through useful advice or by just listening.