The goal of the Visual Arts Department of The Governor's School for the Artsis to provide a venue where students can explore their artistic interests and potential in various mediums of visual arts to ultimately find their own vision. The program provides intensive and challenging instruction and experiences designed to help students develop a strong conceptual basis as well as the technical skills necessary for creating and evaluating their own style and sophisticated works of art. The program is designed to prepare students for college and a career in their chosen visual art medium.

The visual arts department encourages in-depth exploration and research in an array of studio courses in the field of printmaking, painting, photography, computer imaging, video imaging additive, subtractive, and constructed sculpture (as well as welding), design, and other areas such as medical illustration and fashion design. Additionally, students take continuing drawing and art history classes as well as classes which focus on conceptualization, analysis, and criticism.

The schedule for Visual Arts students is based around two-hour elective studios which are taken daily, along with either art history, concepts and criticism. Each student chooses two elective studios from a variety offered each nine weeks. Portfolio development is an integral part of the visual arts program. With guidance from the department chair, students select two electives for each of the four nine week grading periods. In addition to the typical electives, advanced students may apply for independent study in a particular area.