From foundations to graduation, the painting area at UTEP places a strong emphasis on the technical skills required to make paintings that are personally important, socially relevant, and visually brilliant. With a first year focus on painting from direct observation and understanding color, students are increasingly encouraged to integrate their interests and ideas with imaging technologies that can take painting to new and exciting places. From the traditional to the contemporary, students learn through practice how to build a unique and original world of painted imagery. UTEP has four 900-square-foot painting studios, all with north-facing floor to ceiling windows, abundant easels and color printing capabilities. The Fox Fine Arts building also houses a full-scale woodshop, photo studio and the Glass Gallery, a space dedicated to student exhibitions.