Painting is the largest department at the NAS and aims to maintain the historic values and practice of painting within a contemporary context. As the face of contemporary painting changes, innovative responses are encouraged whilst maintaining a foundation of traditional practice.

The First Year of the undergraduate program offers an introduction to:

• Materials

• Techniques

• Aesthetic problem-solving through the observation of colour, tone, composition, form and space and other fundamental elements of painting

Projects cover the research and the preparation of

• supports

• grounds

• archival properties

• issues of occupation health and safety

Undertaking a painting major requires the consolidation of technical, aesthetic and conceptual concerns through traditional methods and the development of research-based projects that are supported by regular critiques and tutorials. Over time, work becomes proposal driven and individually tailored to suit students' development with further analysis of paint, mediums and techniques appropriate for self-directed research.

There are over 20 practising painting staff who collectively offer a diverse range of critical opinion and advice.