Goin' to School, Folks!

[Pezz]

Heya!

So after some long thought during the past few months, and going through a rocky depression I've decided something as I've come to terms with life:

A) I hate community college, and thusly quit.

B) I want to go to art school. No I mean it. I really want to learn. I don't want to go for that piece of paper that I will end up getting, but for the experience and the learning! I want to better myself as an artist.

I have also decided, after touring campuses, that I want to go to either Tyler @ Temple U for my BFA in Drawing and Painting or to Parsons in NYC for Illustration.

So, that being said, I am nervous now that I am creating a new portfolio for myself. I want it to be the best portfolio I can make, and as such I don't want to include works from 2 years ago that I shudder at in horror. Parsons did not have portfolio requirements written anywhere on the site, which struck me as completely odd. Tyler did have requirements:

Freshmen applicants submit a portfolio that should consist of fifteen to twenty works, completed during the previous year, that represent as broad a selection as possible. This may include drawings from life; work in both color and black and white media, design examples, photography, prints, metal works, crafts, or sculpture. The portfolio must include at least five strong examples of drawing from observation, regardless of the major you wish to pursue. Select your best work and include examples that you have done on your own initiative beyond your class assignments. You may bring sketchbooks as well. Do not include work copied from photographs.

So I have a few questions that I've generalized.

1) Do these portfolio requirements stay generally the same from school to school? The requirements for the NY School of Visual Arts was very similar, but I am not sure about submission to Parsons.

2) It says do not submit work copied from photographs, but very often my boyfriend cannot hold a complex pose for extended periods of time, and I will take a photograph of this pose. Is this a no-no? These photographic references of all sorts of poses have helped me immensely over the past few months, and I'd hate to think I'm committing art suicide here. Do they mean more of like "do not pick a magazine ad and copy it" sort of thing?

3) I draw mostly from observation, so would it be a crime to include more drawings from observation than the list suggests? Also, by drawing from observation do they mean completely rendered from observation or drawings that used observational reference in their structure?

4) How taboo is digital painting? I do a lot of my work in Painter X and Photoshop CS3. For purposes of proving it wasn't some magical filter I suppose I could supply supplemental WIPs, but I don't know. I changed the life of my life drawing teacher at community college (one of the few great classes they offered) by showing him my tablet. He was amazed at what I could do, and just how much like life drawing on paper it could be if you let it... but I'm rambling.

5)Related to that, What ratio of digital painting/digital drawings should I have to my graphite/pastel/acrylic/alcohol marker work?

6) I also plan on including some of my sculptures. These include fantasy busts and 28-32 mm miniatures, as well as free standing sculpture in the 54 - 70 mm size range. Should I only submit photographs of them in their pure, unaltered pink clay and green epoxy goodness? Can I also include photographs of them painted up by me? I consider that one of my painting talents of course! It can be considered mixed media I suppose?

and finally

7) Should I experiment with media I don't normally work in? Such as (for me) linoleum block prints, wax sculpture, and metal embossing? Or do you think the inexperience in these areas would just pull the overall quality of the portfolio down?

THANK YOU SO MUCH for looking this over and giving me a pointer or two. I'm so exciteable right now :D! I keep working on drawings over and over because i'm so excited. I just don't know what I should put in there... I have to think it out strategically!

Love you guys.

- Brittany

[Elwell]

1) Do these portfolio requirements stay generally the same from school to school? The requirements for the NY School of Visual Arts was very similar, but I am not sure about submission to Parsons.
Pretty much.
2) It says do not submit work copied from photographs, but very often my boyfriend cannot hold a complex pose for extended periods of time, and I will take a photograph of this pose. Is this a no-no? These photographic references of all sorts of poses have helped me immensely over the past few months, and I'd hate to think I'm committing art suicide here. Do they mean more of like "do not pick a magazine ad and copy it" sort of thing?
Don't worry about it, they mean the magazine thing.
3) I draw mostly from observation, so would it be a crime to include more drawings from observation than the list suggests? Also, by drawing from observation do they mean completely rendered from observation or drawings that used observational reference in their structure?
Either one, and include whatever you think best represents your work.
4) How taboo is digital painting? I do a lot of my work in Painter X and Photoshop CS3. For purposes of proving it wasn't some magical filter I suppose I could supply supplemental WIPs, but I don't know. I changed the life of my life drawing teacher at community college (one of the few great classes they offered) by showing him my tablet. He was amazed at what I could do, and just how much like life drawing on paper it could be if you let it... but I'm rambling.
Again, if it's good, include it.
5)Related to that, What ratio of digital painting/digital drawings should I have to my graphite/pastel/acrylic/alcohol marker work?

It's probably good if the majority isn't digital, but not a problem either way.
6) I also plan on including some of my sculptures. These include fantasy busts and 28-32 mm miniatures, as well as free standing sculpture in the 54 - 70 mm size range. Should I only submit photographs of them in their pure, unaltered pink clay and green epoxy goodness? Can I also include photographs of them painted up by me? I consider that one of my painting talents of course! It can be considered mixed media I suppose?

Show both.
7) Should I experiment with media I don't normally work in? Such as (for me) linoleum block prints, wax sculpture, and metal embossing? Or do you think the inexperience in these areas would just pull the overall quality of the portfolio down?
Now is not the time for experimenting, now is the time for putting on your best face. There will be plenty of time to experiment once you get in.

[Storyboard Dave]

Pretty much everything Elwell says is dead on.

The one suggestion that I would include is do NOT put in any piece that is weak. You can have 17 great pieces and if there's as so much as ONE lousy piece in there, that'll be the piece people will focus in on. So I can't repeat how many times on the importance of putting in only your best stuff.

Do realize that most art schools are willing to accept people that aren't superstars just yet. They want people who've got a good grasp of foundation drawing skills; from there they'll mold you to becoming a superstar. That being said, it still behooves you to bust butt once you're in art school. None of it will be handed to you- you'll still have to push yourself and work really hard to succeed.

Good luck with it all!

[Pezz]

That being said, it still behooves you to bust butt once you're in art school. None of it will be handed to you- you'll still have to push yourself and work really hard to succeed.



I just wanted to comment on this reply before I went to bed... what you just said sums up the reasons why I decided to sever my ties with the community college. Everything was literally handed to me on a platter, everything was a pat on the back!

[Storyboard Dave]

I just wanted to comment on this reply before I went to bed... what you just said sums up the reasons why I decided to sever my ties with the community college. Everything was literally handed to me on a platter, everything was a pat on the back!

I'm glad you realized this. But don't wait for the competition to offer up motivation for you. It'll be there, but just unsaid. I think your choice to go to a much more competitive school will also offer harsher and much more blunt criticism of your work as well and it'll help you grow.


Again, good luck!

[Pezz]

Update:

The portfolio guidelines of Parsons School of Design are pretty cool. They actually encourage digital media in the portfolio, and prefer I submit a sketchbook with my portfolio (of course I'll do the personal interview too, why not?) so they can see how I work.

A lot of my sketches are done in photoshop as well as during D&D, but it's annoying because the guy I play D&D with always grabs it out of my hand mid stroke. >-<, but that's a tangent!

I'll be submitting my portfolio and application in two months. I am sending it to the only community college teacher that ever bothered to critique me, as well as posting it up on the forums.

Thanks for all your help everyone!

Getting scared that Parsons might be toooo liberal though. http://www.parsons.edu/departments/courses.aspx?pType=1&dID=75&sdID=99 these courses look OK? I like the sound of ringling's courses better I think... I see more figure drawing and less "lets make crap that nobody gets".

[UrsusArctos]

Hey there- I totally understand what you mean about community college just patting you on the back- I took a watercolor course through a CC and didn't learn a thing... still got an A. I dont know a darn thing about watercolor.

However, while you are building a portfolio, I'd encourage you to stay at the CC- even just one or two classes, if you have access to a decent studio. A life drawing class- clothed or nude- will be helpful regardless of a crummy teacher, and even though some drawing and painting classes are boring and frustrating, being enrolled in a class may help you to actually set aside the time you need to draw and create art.

If its not an option for you, I'd encourage you to still seek out drawing venues- be it a local figure drawing group or courses online. I am applying to graduate school in the next few months, and to boost my skills I signed up for an online digital painting course which I am hoping will really help round out my skills. You may want to consider something like that to help you.

Also, I am not sure if you will have access, but consider contacting instructors to get honest opinions of your work- your strength and weaknesses. Best of luck to you

[MeliMidland]

2) It says do not submit work copied from photographs, but very often my boyfriend cannot hold a complex pose for extended periods of time, and I will take a photograph of this pose. Is this a no-no? These photographic references of all sorts of poses have helped me immensely over the past few months, and I'd hate to think I'm committing art suicide here. Do they mean more of like "do not pick a magazine ad and copy it" sort of thing?

If you take a photo, even if its your reference and you are trying to draw realistic, its not going to look as good. Those who judge your portfolio, they can tell if the image is photo is real; most art students can as well, - it starts to look "flat". Try to have him take a lot of short breaks instead.

[Storyboard Dave]

Getting scared that Parsons might be toooo liberal though. http://www.parsons.edu/departments/courses.aspx?pType=1&dID=75&sdID=99 these courses look OK? I like the sound of ringling's courses better I think... I see more figure drawing and less "lets make crap that nobody gets".

I wouldn't let the course descriptions bother you too much. For all we know Ringling's just got a better course description writer than Parsons! I would try to make a more informed judgement based upon the students' work that come out of those classes.

If you can, see if you can actually sit in on their classes during your campus visits and see how they fit you. When it comes right down to it, you've got to be the one that feels right and motivated in there.

[rsoffar]

also with parsons they have the little home test thing you have to do also. (its one of the schools im applying to for the fall also)
gl with the applications!

[Maxine Schacker]

Go for it, rsofar. You've gotten lots of good advice. Now, just give it your best shot, which is all one can do in life. If you know you did your homework, and tried hard, you can be at peace with yourself. Even if you don't get in to these schools, it doesn't mean you can't pursue art. You may just need to do more work, and then apply again.

My best wishes and Happy New Year!