Bachelor's Degree in Painting at the School of Fine Arts, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
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The Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) is one of the most renowned and oldest higher education institutions in Brazil. Founded in 1920, UFRJ is located in the city of Rio de Janeiro, encompassing various campuses spread across the state capital and other cities in the state.
UFRJ offers a wide variety of undergraduate courses, totaling more than 200 options in different fields of knowledge. Its academic diversity spans from exact and human sciences to engineering, arts, and health sciences. The university is known for its academic excellence and significant contributions to research and scientific development in Brazil.
To enroll in UFRJ's undergraduate courses, students need to go through a highly competitive selection process. Currently, the most common form of admission is through the National High School Exam (Enem), in which candidates take the exam, and their scores are used as a selection criterion. In addition to Enem, UFRJ also offers slots through the Unified Selection System (Sisu), which uses Enem scores as a classification criterion for various federal universities in Brazil.
UFRJ is a globally recognized prestigious educational institution, and its nearly century-long history is marked by remarkable achievements in research, education, and contributions to society. It continues to be a top choice for students seeking quality higher education in Brazil.
The painting course at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) is a fundamental part of its renowned School of Fine Arts. Founded in 1816, it is one of the oldest and most prestigious art education institutions in Brazil, with a history of excellence in visual arts education.
This course provides students with a broad education in painting techniques, art history, color theory, composition, and other disciplines related to painting. Students have the opportunity to explore various media, from oil and acrylic painting to contemporary and experimental techniques.
Over the years, UFRJ's painting course has made significant contributions to the Brazilian art scene, producing talented and innovative artists. Many alumni of the course have achieved national and international recognition through their works and artistic careers.
In 2022, I was accepted into the 3rd place in the Bachelor of Fine Arts program at the School of Fine Arts of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
This achievement came after long hours of studying the Portuguese language. It resulted in 900 points in the National High School Exam (Enem) essay, which secured my admission. You can read the article about it in the city's newspaper here.
The experience of studying in the capital city of Rio de Janeiro was unique because it allowed for closer contact with the culture and traditions of the carioca population.
This influenced my way of seeing things and perceiving art. Furthermore, the need to leave the state of Paraná and reside in Rio de Janeiro city helped me develop my perception, enhance my personal growth, and expand my cultural repertoire.
In the following paragraphs, I want to show how my first semester of the Painting Course at the Academy of Fine Arts of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro was, indicating academic work and activities carried out during this period.
The course offers painting and drawing classes. In the first year, the idea is to introduce students to the study of images and composition, and to introduce the various materials used by visual artists, such as oil paint, charcoal, colored pencils, and graphite, as well as the supports that can be used.
In theory, any material can serve as support (depending on what the artist wants to express). This also applies to the materials that can mark this support.
In the case of introductory studies, the idea is to restrict students to the most common materials, such as charcoal, ink, and conventional papers.
Next to this, there are some freehand model drawing exercises that allow the student to loosen their stroke, improve the use of lines, and agility in drawing.
In addition to the exercises carried out at the academy itself, the teachers determine the completion of complementary composition and drawing activities at a different time from the class in order to encourage students to learn on their own and practice drawing.
The compositions above were done at home and completed in class with the assistance and guidance of the teacher. This discipline, called Artistic Drawing I, aimed to empirically demonstrate the exercise of composition on paper. Students were free to choose the media they wanted to use as well as the materials they wanted to draw, as long as they were everyday objects. The activities also included copying drawings from renowned masters, which helps develop the students' perception of how to represent what they see on paper.
Let's see.
During my brief semester in the Bachelor's degree program in painting at UFRJ, I had the opportunity to delve into the world of art in a deeper and more comprehensive way. This short period of study provided me with valuable experiences and lessons, allowing me to envision what my academic journey in the field of painting would be like.
The professors and colleagues I met during this semester were essential to my education, as I was able to better understand the teaching methodology and artistic approaches valued at UFRJ. The practical and theoretical classes helped me refine my technical skills and develop a deeper understanding of visual language.
However, a significant turning point came when I received the opportunity to study in Russia with a scholarship for the preparatory program at the Repin Academy. This unique and incredible opportunity led me to make the difficult decision to interrupt my course at UFRJ. The pursuit of artistic improvement at one of the world's most renowned institutions proved irresistible, and I knew it was the path I needed to follow at that moment.
Although my time at UFRJ was brief, I am grateful for all the knowledge and experiences I gained during that period. I believe that these foundations will be valuable to me in my artistic journey in a new context. My journey in the Bachelor's degree program in painting at UFRJ represented an important chapter in my development as an artist, and now I am looking forward to exploring new horizons and challenges in my artistic journey in Russia.
