Louise Kames, MFA
Chair and Professor of Art
I love to take students abroad and help them learn new things, such as how to navigate the Paris Metro or the London Tube. I encourage them to experience a sense of awe in unexpected places.
Studio Art
Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Arts
Maybe you are career driven and know exactly what you want to do with your art degree. Great! Clarke is the place for you. Or, maybe you don’t quite know what to do with your interest in art. Clarke is the place for you, too. All art students take the same foundations courses in the first year of study. These courses will ground you in contemporary practice in drawing, design, digital skills, 3D structures, and art history and guide you as you discover yourself.
The studio art program includes coursework in painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, sculpture, and ceramics. You choose a studio emphasis in one of these areas to develop both a technical expertise and a personal creative voice. You will often work one-on-one with a professor in an advanced course so your instruction is individualized and rivals that of an art or graduate school program.
Program Details
Clarke offers bachelor of arts (BA) and bachelor of fine arts (BFA) studio degrees. What is the difference in the studio degrees? The bachelor of arts degree requires 48 credits in art. With this option, students can double major or minor in a complementary area like communication or business, or complete K-12 art education certification. The bachelor of fine arts degree is a professional degree with over 60 credits in art. A professional and critical atmosphere encourages students to extend their artistic involvement beyond studio exercises into juried exhibitions, internships, independent study, and travel.
Admission to Clarke University
In addition to an application to Clarke, high school transcripts and SAT/ACT scores, freshman applicants must submit a portfolio of 12-20 examples of their work.
Applicants are considered on an individual basis. Apply to Clarke today to begin your journey.
Program in Pictures
Quigley Art Gallery
Students work on press printers
Erik Brolin puts on the finishing touches to his ceramic mugs.
Students draw on campus
Dubuque Art Scene-Gallery
FINE ART TALENT AWARDS_Art
Students participate in a body extension project.
Students make masks
Students draw landscapes off campus.
Jessie Rebik, MFA
Associate Professor of Art
My ultimate goal is that, through developing their artist selves, students will become self-aware, empathetic, and have a clearer realization of who they aspire to become, as well as their relationship to their world.
Jessica Teckemeyer, MFA
Assistant Professor of Art
Approaching course content with excitement adds to an energetic atmosphere. Through my dedication and accomplishments, students are inspired to find their artistic voice.
Eric Wold, MFA
Associate Professor of Graphic Design
I believe that teaching graphic designs as a process-oriented activity helps students to develop life-long skills of thinking and tinkering; to establish habits that become practice; and to develop a process that maintains creative curiosity across disciplines and technologies.
There’s more to college than going to class.
The Classroom and Beyond
Study Abroad
Art students go abroad more than any other major at Clarke. Walk through museums in Florence, study Japanese art in Nagasaki, or paint landscapes in Wales.
Careers in Studio Art
What can I do with a degree in this major?
Internships
Score cool internships at local businesses, marketing and design agencies, galleries, and museums.
Facilities & Equipment
The main painting and drawing studio is a beautiful space with skylight and windows on three sides offering views of the Mississippi River. The sculpture and ceramics studios have been renovated in recent years with the addition of a wood shop, welding equipment, and new gas kiln.
The Clarke Compass
Through your Clarke experience, you will be involved in many different activities that will guide you on your college journey. By your senior year, you will have a résumé of all your awesome involvements packaged and ready for your first interview.
Dubuque Art Scene
The Art + Design Department maintains a professional atmosphere that directs students to be actively involved in the art and design world beyond the Clarke campus.
But don’t take our word for it…
Our Students & Alumni
Hannah Goldsmith
Studio Art/Sculpture '16
When I first came to Clarke, I was shy and introverted. The professors encouraged me to go beyond the classroom to visit local exhibits and galleries, as well as submit my work to various shows.
Megan Kalmes
Studio Art '08
I received my BFA in studio art and went on to achieve my MFA at the School of the Art Institute in Chicago, and now I am a visiting professor of art at Clarke. I’ve come full circle.
Jenn Rood
Studio Art with an Emphasis in Painting '16
I was part of the Clarke Art Slam Team for the Voices from the Warehouse Art Slam competition. I learned a lot about working to make a collaborative piece of art and also how to manage time and paint with an audience watching.
$5,000
Scholarships
Amount in renewable Fine Arts Talent Awards given yearly.
Two weeks
Senior exhibit
The senior capstone includes a professional, solo, two-week gallery exhibit.
February 1
Deadline
February 1 is the deadline for priority application to studio art program.
Other Programs to Explore
Experience Clarke Studio Art for Yourself