(maybe) Southwest Art Schools

[draculahunter]

Hey all.
I'm really interested in sculpture (mainly making maquettes) and illustration. The school I'm going to right now though, the University of Arizona, has a kind of crappy art department. So to hell with it, I said, I can probably do better.
The problem is, I really haven't heard of any good colleges for sculpture (the illustration I'm not as worried about); I've browsed the internet a little, including a small part of this forum, and didn't really see anything. So anybody know any places?
I'd really prefer it if it wasn't a school that focused on modern art, not too fond of that... not at all fond of modern art. Want something a little more traditionalish... like a good school for concept arts?

Also, I would like a place in the southwest, less moving and all that, but if you think there's a place that's worth going to more-so than a southwestern school, by all means go for it.

[Ramon Hurtado]

hola. i think LCAD would be a good fit for you...they offer an illustration bfa, along with a strong minor in sculpture, the sculpture department (http://www.lagunacollege.edu/Programs/Sculpture.aspx) looks seriously sweet...it's in laguna beach...sorta expensive, and tuition is around 18,000 last time i checked........check it out at www.lagunacollege.edu.....

student work (http://www.lagunacollege.edu/Galleries/Default.aspx?galleryType=Student&galleryId=1&disciplineId=9&spi=1&si=5&showGallery=true)

faculty (http://www.lagunacollege.edu/Galleries/Default.aspx?galleryType=Faculty&galleryId=2&disciplineId=9&spi=0&si=6&ssi=1&facultyId=119&showGallery=true)

[draculahunter]

No, no. Not quite what I had in mind.
I was thinking something more like making maquettes - things like the cave troll and barlog sculptures they did for Lord of the Rings. Plus I'd be more interested in a getting a BFA.

[Ramon Hurtado]

look, if you know how to sculpt you can do anything you want...you really shouldn't limit yourself to "trolls, barlogs" or what have you...if you master traditional skills and apply them to fantasy creatures or whatever, you'll be miles ahead of the hundreds of kids that are only interested in making cool looking monsters and never really learn anything in terms of sculpting.

art-making is like writing....if you want to write science fiction, you don't major in cool "science fiction writing" you major in writing and literature and apply those skills to your particular field of interest.

I bet you the people that did those LOTR maquettes are well versed in traditional sculpting...also, having a degree is a LOT less important than you think, your skills are what matter...

[draculahunter]

Point well taken (though I'm not really that into the whole hobbit, troll and talking beaver thing- just the first thing that popped into mind). And on my second look, the school actually does look good.

And I'm not really sure the importance of the degree - nor do I pretend to know. Frankly I just want some good classes. The things that were throwing me off about it were that they only had 2 types of 3d classes and the online gallery only had 2 sculptures in it. Also, only being able to do a minor - like I said, I'm not sure if a bachelor's really that significant or not (or any degree in the art world for that matter) - but I think if it's really a good school for sculpture they'd at least have the option of majoring.

But I'll give it a shot anyways - thanks.

[Ramon Hurtado]

I'm actually not positive that it's just a minor...it could have been upgraded to BFA by now....but even last time i checked out the catalog (0-07) they had enough sculpture classes to make sure that you'd know the craft by the time you leave the school..sadly, there aren't too many choices when it comes to figurative sculpture programs....LAAFA has some classes, Watts Atelier has a few, but those are the ones i know about.

[Eurysaces]

If you just want figurative sculpture, I think gage academy of art in Seattle Washington has an atelier... wait scratch that. I don't think they have a sculpture atelier but they definitely have some AMAZING sculpture classes and many figure sculpture open studios. Their sculpture program is mostly taught by Tip Toland, whose work is excellent. http://www.gageacademy.com if you're interested. You wouldn't get much in the way of industry tips, if any.

And Seattle is not even remotely "South West", but if you're from the Southwest then it would certainly be an experience and it's only 3-4 days away by train :)