Visual Arts

Hands-on learning

Your teachers and technicians are all professional artists who foster a spirit of creative thinking and experimentation. In your first year of study, you'll work though an intensive foundation of exploration and design intended to promote disciplined inquiry, experimentation, vocabulary, skill, critical awareness and an openness of mind.

You'll continue that exploration and design in your second year, with a particular emphasis directed toward contemporary concepts and media. You'll also establish an in-depth program of personal research.

Residencies

As a Visual Arts student, you'll benefit from the presence of experienced artists through the Camosun Artist in Residency program. Established in 2009, the program provides the time and space for the artist to research new ideas and experiment with different techniques and means of production. Jess Willa Wheaton was selected for 2014 and showed her work Sept 5 to October 4.

Camosun also offers a Van den Brink Residency program to a second-year student or recent graduate of the Visual Arts program who is strongly self-motivated, shows creativity and who fosters community spirit. The Visual Arts department provides studio space and a faculty advisor through an Independent Study course.

After graduation

At the end of the program, you'll have a portfolio that illustrates your competence and achievement to prospective clients, employers and advanced art degree programs.

Your Visual Arts diploma can open doors to employment opportunities, and into further education. Past graduates have successfully transferred into third-year studies at universities and art colleges, such as UVic, Emily Carr University of Art and Design and Concordia University. Consult with an Academic Advisor or the Visual Arts department to learn more.

Where can you work?

As a graduate of the Visual Arts program you will leave with broad knowledge, skills and abilities suitable to work in various fields. Our graduates have many roles, including:

• self-employed practicing artist
• animator and special effects technician
• art teacher and professor
• illustrator
• painter
• gaming concept artist
• printmaker
• museum and gallery personnel
• art historian and curator
• filmmaker and film technician
• costume and set designer
• ceramicist and potter
• photographer and photography technician

Part-time studies in Visual Arts

In addition to the full-time diploma program, the Visual Arts department also offers a variety of art courses that can be taken part-time through the University Transfer program.  

These courses are generally offered in the evening, and are popular choices for personal development or as a transferable arts elective, or while you're waiting to get into the full-time program.