CREATIVITY. Scripture starts with it. Being made in His image means we, too, have a desire to follow Him in creating and enjoying creation.
Because creativity is an act of worship, our work is infused with our faith. The Art Department at Grace is committed to equipping students not just to create, but to communicate with expertise in a visually oriented world.
Competing professionally requires intense, quality training. We believe art professionals who expect to build a career as artists need to begin with the fundamentals of good design, rather than hiding behind the excuse that art is pure self-expression and nothing more. For this reason, we start with the basics, which allows all students to build on a firm foundation, regardless of their prior art background or educational environment. Our goal is for each art graduate to be competent in communicating visually, to possess professional creative and technical skills, to have the ability to analyze works from both a historical and cultural perspective, and to own a mature worldview that can articulate God’s truth, both in their own work and in evaluating trends of contemporary art.
The Art Department is one of the largest departments at Grace, with nearly 100 students. Over the last forty years, more than 300 graduates have gone out across the nation and around the world to serve in multitudes of ways: as designers (print, Web, and display), photographers, art directors, marketers, typesetters, printers, publishers, editors, multimedia artists, teachers, professors, missionaries, pastors, counselors, illustrators, potters, fine artists, muralists, gallery managers, performing artists, furniture makers, caricature artists, art historians, set designers, and freelancers.
Our students achieve these goals through experience—in the classroom through hands-on problem solving and discussion and outside through real-world internships, exhibits, designing, and teaching.
Art Majors 
Graphic Design: Graphic artists are essential in communicating information—the look of print or digital material is critical to successfully communicating its message. Revolutionary changes are occurring in this field, so a graphic artist’s training must be technologically up-to-date, while built on a strong foundation of traditional design skills. At Grace, future designers develop both, using traditional materials along with computer training on the latest software utilized by professional designers.
Art Education: The opportunity to touch the next generation makes teaching a rewarding career choice. Grace’s art education program develops skills in curriculum planning, art production, classroom management, child development, and instruction for a broad range of media and grade levels. Grace graduates are employed in both public and Christian schools in the U.S. and abroad.
Illustration: Successful illustrators are highly talented artists who possess the ability to communicate ideas or carry a narrative. The most effective illustrators have not simply mastered skill or style, but have eloquently used symbols and metaphors in their work. Because illustration is the Art Department’s most challenging program, only students judged to have sufficient talent will be accepted into this major and are often the first recommended for internships and freelance work.
Drawing/Painting: Meeting the needs of the career-oriented fine artist, this major deals exclusively with the two-dimensional studio arts in traditional hands-on media. Students learn to use diverse materials and techniques, with an emphasis on the rendering of imagery and developing their own individual language or signature style. Each student also receives a foundation in art history, art criticism, and aesthetics, as well as various techniques for self-marketing.
Web Design and Development: This program is designed to prepare students for professional careers, which utilize both artistic design and technology development skills. This major provides a foundational understanding by integrating courses and competencies from both the Art department and the Information Systems program. Uniquely balancing both aspects of design and development, the student will be capable of creating an aesthetically pleasing design, as well as implementing their design through the development of a functional web product. Successful graduates will be equipped to pursue a focused career path in either web design or web development, or to pursue project management for both.
Art Club Blog
Our Faculty
Our faculty spends time with you individually and gives you practical encouragement as you grapple with artistic challenges. Active professionals in the areas they teach, they bring practical, personal knowledge to the classroom, along with over 100 years of combined teaching experience. They can help you develop your best.
Kim M. Reiff, MBA, M.F.A.
Assistant Professor
Chair, Department of Art
Prof. Reiff earned her bachelor of fine arts degree in graphic arts from Indiana University, her MBA degree from Indiana Wesleyan University, and master of fine arts degree in visual arts from Azusa Pacific University. In addition to her academic accomplishments, she has worked in industry as a marketing communications manager, graphic designer, and production manager.
Telephone: 574-372-5100 ext. 6022
E-mail: reiffkm@grace.edu
Timothy W. Young, M.F.A
Associate Professor of Art
Interim Student Advising Coordinator
Prof. Young joined the Grace College faculty in 1997. He holds his B.F.A. degree from Bowling Green State University, M.F.A. degree from Miami University (Ohio), and has participated in additional studies at Circulo de Bellas Arts, Madrid, Spain. Prof. Young is accomplished in painting and drawing and has exhibited and sold major works in the U.S. and abroad.
Telephone: 574-372-5100 ext. 6024
E-mail: youngtw@grace.edu
www.timothywyoung.com
Gary Nieter, M.A.
Associate Professor of Art
Prof. Nieter joined the Grace College faculty in 1977. He holds his B.A. degree from Grace College and M.A. degree from St. Francis College. Prof. Nieter is a well-known professional photographer and potter.
Telephone: 574-372-5100 ext. 6023
E-mail: nietergl@grace.edu
J. D. Woods, M.S., M.Div.
Associate Professor of Art
Prof. Woods earned his B.A. degree from Oakland City College, M.S. in Art Ed. from Indiana University, and M.Div. degree from Grace Theological Seminary. Prof. Woods also teaches in the college's prison extension program.
Telephone: 574-372-5100 ext. 6331
E-Mail: woodsjd@grace.edu
Kelly Brubaker, B.A.
Part-time Instructor
Kelly Brubaker earned a B.A. degree in Graphic Design from Grace College.
Scott Holladay, B.S.
Part-time Instructor
Scott Holladay earned a B.S. degree from Grace College. He is a full-time illustrator in the areas of book, medical and editorial illustration.
Don Swartzentruber, M.F.A.
Part-time Instructor
Don Swartzentruber holds his B.S. degree from Grace College and M.F.A. degree from Vermont College of Norwich University.
Telephone: 574-372-5100 ext. 6022
E-Mail: dswartzentruber@warsaw.k12.in.us
Facilities
The Grace College Art Department is located in the spacious and historical Mount Memorial Hall. Built over a century ago, this newly restored Renaissance Revival structure houses our state-of-the-art computer graphics lab; drawing, painting and pottery studios; darkrooms; workshop; offices; lecture rooms and the Mount Memorial Art Gallery, with a different exhibit each month of the school year displaying the work of students, faculty and regional artists. Art Gallery Schedule
Opportunities for Art Graduates
Art scholarships are available to those with the talent and ambition to be artistic leaders in the department. A portfolio and recommendation are required. Contact the Grace College Art Department for more details.
Internships both locally and globally give students invaluable practical experience:
* Our top graphic design and illustration students have interned at Biomet Orthopedics, BMH Publishing, the Grace College Art and Publications Departments, Kosciusko Community Hospital, and other local businesses.
* Art education students observe, assist, and teach under the supervision of professional art educators. Future teachers will find many opportunities to hone their skills through Children’s Art Encounters, our after-school art program for grades K–12, as well as volunteering in the community or giving private lessons. Each senior spends sixteen weeks teaching in a local school system and may also opt to complete part of this experience at an overseas American school.
* Opportunities abound for drawing and painting majors to exhibit in various shows, do commissioned projects, and interact with professional artists in the adjacent art district, the Village at Winona.
* Department work-study jobs are available for those with interests in photography, pottery, graphic design, and gallery management.
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Students can also choose to spend a semester or a summer taking graphic, fine arts, and liberal arts courses in Australia, China, or 20 other locations overseas or in the U.S. This also fulfills the cross-cultural field experience for the liberal arts core.
Senior students culminate their college careers by organizing an exhibit of their own work each spring. All seniors prepare a solid portfolio and self-marketing tools.
Eighty percent of our graduates are employed in the art field sometime after graduation, in positions such as:
- Calligrapher/Art Marketer
- Graphic Designer
- Medical/Health Marketing
- Newspaper Layout
- Magazine Production
- US Government Publications
- Book Publisher
- Design Agency Owner
- Missions Designer
- Webmaster
- Printer
- Owns own agency
- Software Media Production
- Videogame Production
- Art Director
- Advertising Director
- Freelance Artist/Designer/Illustrator
- Muralist
- Gallery Manager
- Marketing
- Arts & Crafts Instructor
- Sign Shop Owner
- Software Implementor
- Window Display Designer
- Photo Dept. Manager
- Art Center Director/Promoter
- Web Designer/Administrator
- IT Services
- Typesetter
- Professor
- Potter
- Teacher
- Photographer
- Author
- Furniture Maker
- Director of Communications
- Caricature Artist
- Fine Artist
- Inner-city Arts & Crafts Coordinator
