CalArts or BUST - Danuh has a few questions...

[Danuh]

HELLO WORLD

I'm currently 17 - just getting out of my junior year and ready to get a head start on college work, requirements, and what-have you. At the moment my goal school is Calarts and their character animation program. I'm fairly confident in my portfolio so far (I'll still be working my ass off over the summer). Though I have a dilemma! - A few of them actually.

At the moment I do not have access to any figure drawing class with nude models, and I know those tend to help out one's portfolio GREATLY because it shows one's understanding of the human body. I'll be spending the summer in Russia, and though while doing a gratuitous amount of observational work, I doubt that anyone would voluntarily strip for a poor american wannabe-art student such as myself. TIPS? ADVICE? Am I absolutely screwed without those nude drawings or do clothed figures work just as well?
(And also if some kind soul could look over my sketchbook *pokes signature* and tell me what I should be working on/what I should not be working on/if I just suck at life and I should give up and go work in a firm/any advice at all it would be greatly appreciated.)

On to the next problem, shall we? Artist statement/statement of purpose! Though I've been forced to write a few in my AP studios I've always ended up half-assing them in spite of my over-joyful teacher (she craps prozak, I swear to god).
*Getting off topic*
In any case, where can I find an example of a well-written artist statement? Or a really bad one so I know what not to do? Any help in this area would also be greatly appreciated.

Another inquiry! Huzzah! I visited the calarts website. I swam through those links; I've practically memorized the damn thing. But the digital portfolio? Are those planning on entering the character animation program allowed to use the digital portfolio or do they HAVE to send the original pictures? The only reason I'm etchy about that is that I'll also be applying to RIZD, Parsons, Pratt, and Sheridan and I don't want to be stuck with crappily scanned images when fixing up portfolios for those schools. Any knowledge in that matter?



Thanks for your time if you decide to answer this. And sorry for the rambling. It's early in the morning and the only reason I'm up is because I've got a case of the summer-before-applying-to-college-jitters.

[Eva K]

I live in a country where it's impossible to get access to a model, let alone a nude model, so I use www.3d.sk (http://www.3d.sk) and its neighbouring sites to keep me in practice.

Granted you need to buy a subscription, but if you're diligent then those sites could work well for you.

As for the other questions, I cannot answer those, sorry :/

[Lizzybeth]

If you can't draw nude models then just draw clothed ones. Go out and draw FROM LIFE, people, animals, but mostly people as they're the most important. In portfolios they generally don't look for your original/from imagination work so keep that to a minimum in your actual portfolio. That doesn't mean to just stick completely to life in your drawings and make everything literal. Use a variety of approaches to your subject, experiment, take risks, and show your INTERPRETATION of your subject. Don't imitate others they always press for you to draw your way and strive for students to find their unique artistic vision and whatnot.

Your sketchbook looks really good but in your portfolio you would need a lot more drawings from life. That's primarily what they're looking for, that you can convincingly draw figures from life and retain that escense of life.

I would also reccomend that you send in a supplemental sketchbook in addition to your portfolio, the general consensus is that it tends to help.

And with the whole actual works thing, send them in if you can. I don't know of anyone who actually sent in a digital portfolio so I don't know if it really affects anything but I would imagine that sending in your actual works shows them that you really want to go there and they can get more information with them. I'd say you're better off making nice prints to send instead of a portfolio on CD.

Oh, and on your artist statement just be honest. It's not what's going to make or break you anyways, the most important thing is your portfolio. I thought my statement was the worst thing ever. It was under 300 words, I think, and with just one paragraph answering each question. I didn't want to beat around the bush and write any bs garbage like I always do in ap english so I just didn't. I still got in.

If you haven't already you should check out animatedbuzz.com it journals Mario's four years at CalArts and the forums are really helpfull. They're down right now for some unknown reason but they should go back up sometime.... There's even a thread where everybody posted their artist statements.

fyi, I applied to CalArts this past year to character animation and was accepted. I even visited the school and it's a really awesome place. However I'm going to Ringling's computer animation program for financial reasons, among others.

[Danuh]

Eva K - Wow that looks like a great ref site *3* Thanks so much for the link!

Lizzybeth - Thanks so much for all that info, it really helps~ (And congrats on getting into calarts and ringling!) I'll definitely be doing people studies over the summer. It's just catching some of them sitting still for more than 10 minutes is going to be a pain in the ass I imagine.
Thanks again for the advice and the link *checkin it out now*

[mayumi-chan]

If you've got a group of willing friends, you could split the cost and pay for a model..? If not, there are a handful of pose sites on the internet (a personal favorite of mine is Pose Maniacs (http://www.posemaniacs.com/blog/)).

Adding to what Lizzybeth has mentioned about drawing from life, carry a sketchbook around with you. Whenever you stop for the bus, or grab a bite to eat, whip it out and capture the people, places, or things you see around you. Think about what kind of people they are from the way that they carry themselves, or what kind of quirks they may have from the way that the dress, or what their life's story might be. I also suggest that you hit up your local zoo. Not only is it a great place to get quick gestures (especially of kids), you can get all types of animal drawings as well.

[Danuh]

mayumi-chan - thanks for the advice, and yes, pose maniacs is one of the most awesome sites I've ever seen *3* My only problem with that is my computer sucks ass and can't load alot of the pictures. *works from lowly thumbnails*

[eromenos]

... get a friend to strip for you XD hums porn can be good reference since they show movement but dunno how that'd swing with the parentals. Are you sure there are no nude models close by? Cause I didn't know about one until I asked my teacher and he told us there was on in our local community college and then another art center 30 minutes away on Tuesdays. You could ask your art teachers cause.. usually they'd know though it might take awhile to get there.

[evanjones]

HELLO WORLD

I'm currently 17 - just getting out of my junior year and ready to get a head start on college work, requirements, and what-have you. At the moment my goal school is Calarts and their character animation program. I'm fairly confident in my portfolio so far (I'll still be working my ass off over the summer). Though I have a dilemma! - A few of them actually.

At the moment I do not have access to any figure drawing class with nude models, and I know those tend to help out one's portfolio GREATLY because it shows one's understanding of the human body. I'll be spending the summer in Russia, and though while doing a gratuitous amount of observational work, I doubt that anyone would voluntarily strip for a poor american wannabe-art student such as myself. TIPS? ADVICE? Am I absolutely screwed without those nude drawings or do clothed figures work just as well?
(And also if some kind soul could look over my sketchbook *pokes signature* and tell me what I should be working on/what I should not be working on/if I just suck at life and I should give up and go work in a firm/any advice at all it would be greatly appreciated.)

On to the next problem, shall we? Artist statement/statement of purpose! Though I've been forced to write a few in my AP studios I've always ended up half-assing them in spite of my over-joyful teacher (she craps prozak, I swear to god).
*Getting off topic*
In any case, where can I find an example of a well-written artist statement? Or a really bad one so I know what not to do? Any help in this area would also be greatly appreciated.

Another inquiry! Huzzah! I visited the calarts website. I swam through those links; I've practically memorized the damn thing. But the digital portfolio? Are those planning on entering the character animation program allowed to use the digital portfolio or do they HAVE to send the original pictures? The only reason I'm etchy about that is that I'll also be applying to RIZD, Parsons, Pratt, and Sheridan and I don't want to be stuck with crappily scanned images when fixing up portfolios for those schools. Any knowledge in that matter?



Thanks for your time if you decide to answer this. And sorry for the rambling. It's early in the morning and the only reason I'm up is because I've got a case of the summer-before-applying-to-college-jitters.

My first piece of advice is go to a National Portfolio Day where CalArts will be present. They will give you the best advice on your portfolio. For the Character Program. they want to see a lot of life drawing - people and animals. They want less finished and more quick work. My son sent mostly 2 to 10 minute pencil, charcoal and pastels. If you send any time-based material, they are looking for a story. My son sent in four 1 minute animations that he did.

They want originals - absolutely. My son asked them about this and the CalArts person said if CalArts is not your first choice then you could keep the originals for what ever first choice and send digitals. I read through that to mean that you better send originals. Nudes are preferred, but not required. You would be surprised how easy it is to find models. Just go to a local art store and ask.

They are most interested in how you see the world, movement and your personal touch to drawing. leave in all of your construction marks on your drawings.

As for the artist statement - be honest. If you have the right chemistry, you will be accepted and fit in. If you send them something that you think they want to hear, you might get in but not be happy.

They want to see commitment, potential and a strong base in drawing. Character animation is about story telling and directing the characters in the film. My son wrote about how story telling filled his life in a variety of ways from his earliest schooling.

That was his strategy and he got in on his first try out of HS.
Good luck.