Now that Mira and I are freshman in college, it’s time we handed the blog to fresh minds. Of course, we’ll still be around.
If anyone is interested in helping run this blog, please contact me through the ask box.
Write your name, age, school year, and list credentials that may convince me to let you help run this blog.
Thanks,
Dan
Now that it’s spring break, I don’t really have an excuse for neglecting this blog, do I?
This is what I’ve discovered while being a student at Carnegie Mellon:
When it comes to the art portfolio, not only is the content important, but what you have to say about it. Why did you create what you created?
If you’re not feeling confident about your portfolio, keep in mind that people behind admissions realize that everyone may not be at the same level of experience and are willing to accept you as long as they see potential. They want to know that you’re capable of thinking!
If any of you have any questions, (particularly about any of the CFA programs at Carnegie Mellon) feel free to ask.
My expertise lies mostly within the School of Design, but know a lot of people in the School of Art and Architecture to know enough about the basic premise of how the program sort of works.
And as admissions results start rolling back, I want to say one more thing:
If you don’t get into your top choice school, make the best of the choices you have. Rise above! I genuinely believe that it’s not the program that develops you into a worthy artist, but it’s you. You’ll understand that once you get to college, everything is truly what you make of it.
- Dan
Apply to schools that will provide connections! Make sure that school has connections to internships, employers, and successful artists. In the end, getting that job matters a lot - you want them to choose you over a kid from another school. Connections are what will get you far in the art world, and catapult you to greatness. You can only get certain jobs through connections, anyways. Competitive places such as Dreamworks don’t hire solely based on talent. So apply to large schools so that you make solid, long lasting connections!!!
-M
“
i laughed so much during this video.
If there’s one thing i regret in the making of my portfolio,
it’s not including enough drawings from life.
A school can tell when you draw from a picture.
If you copy a picture absolutely perfectly, and then include a still life that’s not rendered well,
they’ll realize that you have absolutely no idea how to draw from life.
Which is the backbone to knowing how to draw anything, including manga.
So draw draw draw draw from life!!!!!!!!!!
You’ll get into any college that way! (disclaimer: ok maybe not but it’s still really really important.)
-M
Summer is approaching, and for all you rising 11th and 12th graders out there, you might want to consider taking classes at a local community college, throwing yourself into private art lessons at a studio, trying out for governor’s school, or maybe even attending a pre-college program at an art school. Summer is a good time to buff up your portfolio!
On the topic of pre-colleges, I suggest going to one for the experience of art school- here you’ll find out whether you really want to throw yourself into an art school for 4 years, living and breathing the life of an art student.
I’ve had friends who have gone to Pratt, RISD, and MICA pre-colleges, and they’ve all had very positive experiences. Not only is pre-college fun, you learn a lot from your college professors.
I went to pre-college at MICA in 2010 and after my one-month experience, I decided that studying art would be the best dream I could choose to pursue in life. I got several portfolio pieces out of it and memories that kept me motivated through the rest of high school.
Feel free to ask if you want more in-depth answers!
Daniel’s been to governor’s school, so we both know a little something about summer-y art experiences.
-M
From what I gather, there are 3 types of education to pursue in college:
1. Schools of conceptual thought
2. Schools that train you in traditional media
3. Trade schools
(And, schools that are conceptual and traditional.)
Conceptual schools, like SAIC, like to see fresh and original ideas. This can churn out really amazing stuff from students- a lot of the art I’ve seen from SAIC makes me very contemplative.
Trade schools give you an education directed towards a job market. Some say that this is good because you’re guaranteed a job, and some say that they’d rather stretch their minds; explore other types of art at a traditional school.
(I personally favor this because I think that I would be immersed in art, 24/7, around students all motivated to really discover how far they can take their artwork.)
Anyways, trade schools like Art Center College of Design really drill you in your field. This way you’re totally prepared for a job in whichever field you choose, although you can work hard anywhere and also have a job (so don’t worry.)
-Here’s a post I found on CollegeConfidential that helps out with the portfolio and college-choosing: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/visual-arts-film-majors/751316-art-schools-more-conceptual-vs-traditional.html
(Quotes:
most schools are looking for students who demonstrate technical ability AND originality with conceptual development being somewhat of the icing on the cake.
It would seem that you are much more likely to get in most schools with mediocre traditional work than mediocre conceptual work.SAIC, SMFA, Calarts and MICA tend to look more for originality and innovation in their applicants as opposed to technical skill.
RISD and Pratt on the other hand seem to have a higher technical standard
SVA, Art Center and CCA (california college of art) are somewhere in between the poles.
I hope this helps with you on your journey!
-Mira
oh my fucking god you guys
today in art 120, my intro to design class
our professor asked us to ‘draw a picture of a creature riding a bike’ to get to know us
and when he said creature I thought he meant like, monster, that kind of thing
and about a minute in I look around
and the three other people at my table have drawn an elephant, a squirrel, and another elephant, respectively
and I’ve drawn
A HUMAN CENTIPEDE RIDING A BICYCLE
HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW
Source: conversationparade
to pichyu:
Tenku! :D I was going to personal reply, but I can’t find your ask box.
For anyone interested in MICA, here is a breakdown of my visit:
1. The program is nearly flawless
It’s clear that if you go to MICA, and put in the work, you’ll definitely learn a lot.
The teachers (I met the ones for Illustration) are passionate and helpful, the programs for each major are strong, and MICA is structured so that you can take classes in many different majors (not just be confined in one major), as well as liberal arts courses. They offer a great program, for both art and academia. If you’re serious about liberal arts studies, they focus just as much on the liberal arts as they do for academia.
2. The food is scrumptious :D
Organic, local, and fresh. There’s a salad bar and cereal bar and adklfjadgh-
There’s Cafe Doris and the Meyerhoff Dining Hall, and a cafe that I think isn’t owned by MICA called “On-The-Hill” that makes really great sandwiches. The best sandwiches.
3. Illustration is the biggest department, if you’re into that.
The teachers are passionate about what they teach and their artwork is amazing. It would be an honor learning from them. (Ask if you want websites!)
4. The administration cares a lot about its students.
There are buses you can call that’ll take you back to your dorm at any hour of the day, a department that’s intended to help students find employment, etc. Very service-oriented.
5. Basically everyone gets financial aid!
Affordable education woo! :D
6. Highly respected art school.
A lot of the people I met applied to SAIC, RISD, and MICA if they considered themselves competitive and into the East coast schools. During the speech, the president made a comment about how he was humbled to have so many top notch artists apply to MICA, including National Scholastic Winners and Fulbright Scholars. I thought that was nice.
7. There’s actually a campus, housing, and food.
You would be surprised at how many schools I’ve applied to have no housing and no meal plan. And if the school is in the city, there’s no campus. I find that annoying- I’m just a noobish 18 year old fresh out of high school :( Oh, and there’s clean bathrooms. The buildings are always fairly clean, and they’re very nice too.
8. Art all the time.
You’ll be surrounded by hundreds of passionate art students. You’ll basically be submerged in art 24/7 - it’s impossible to escape. This gets you excited to work on art though. The energy at MICA is unavoidable.
9. Lots of hipsters. (observation)
I don’t have anything against hipsters at all, although since I just wear jeans and a shirt most of the time, I feel like I don’t quite fit in. (Sort of ironic because it’s art school though D:)
I guess it sounds like I’m biased, but my visit really was just impressive. My parents and sister want me to go here, although I’m still looking into VCUarts.
If you’re interested in art school, definitely consider MICA :)
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