Dear Art Center college folks

[fell]

Right now I am considering applying to the Art Center of L.A.

I searched alternatives over here and what I’m experiencing isn’t fulfilling, consumes a huge amount of time and it feels like I’m doing it for nothing (it’s like walking backwards). Also all the work opportunities that I’m facing are coming from the States.


The best way to know an education institution is to know who goes over there. Fine Arts is the major I’m looking for, and I know all about the tests I must take on the embassy over here.

If any Art Center students have something to say about the school, or the fine arts course, or anything else related, please do, I’m open to comments and suggestions.

[captnblack]

by fine arts do you mean you want to put paint in your anus and fart it on to a canvas or do you want to learn draw the figure and paint?

[fell]

wait, are you saying Anus Art is out?! my mommy said i can draw good, specially the dragon ball z characters, but my real pation is Fart Art.

[Kortez]

just out of curiosity, how old are you fell?

[Redder]

I was a fine arts major at ArtCenter and found it to my disliking. I left the program around my third year along with several other people. I have learned more outside of ArtCenter then I would have learned when I was there. If you would like to know my reasons why I'll glad share them with you.

It comes down to what you as an artist want learn or do in the field of fine arts.

[I.was.ink]

Hmmm..... I go there now and I would suggest illustration. If you want to learn how to paint, and draw, then illus imo is the major to choose. You don't necessariliy learn much of this in the fine art major. I.E there's a class wher you actually build a macquette of a human, one half is the bone structure, and the other side is the muscle tissue. It'l things like that, that I love about accd. I dont know much about the fine arts program, but I know the illus is pretty sweet. They've got some really good teachers, and you learn a lot.

Ummm....do you have a catalog of the school? You should call em and ask for info, they'll send it out to ya.

Anymore questions? What type of work would you like to end up doing btw?

-Oskar-

[togusa]

i would suggest either transportation or product design majors while we are on that subject. it seems like the industries are moving in a direction where most things must be designed in such a way they can be modeled unlike a lot of magical "perspective" i've seen come from other majors. sure learning to paint is fairly important and so is drawing the figure, but its tough competition out there with all the illustrators and animators. from seeing your character work, u already have a leg up on the competition in terms of drawing the figure so i would suggest coming to the design side of things, where perspective is your friend. plus prod and trans have pretty leniant department chairs. not sure of the status of those in illustration.

[fell]

Thanks for the income so far guys, really enlightening. I already have some skill in drawing, but I want to go deep with it, learn all I can (and painting of course, I can miss painting), and I heard from various sources that the Art Center could be a good choice.

Of course, if there is a better option in the States, I can take a look at it. I just don’t know where.

I didn’t know they had illustration as a major over there, which sounds perfect. I’ll take your advice I.was.ink, and ask for the catalogue. (btw, since you are a student over there, how are you liking your course so far?)

Togusa: I fear the rulers, like the devil from the cross. I’m taking this year in Visual Design, and didn’t touch geometry yet, but still the work so far is way too “rational” for my taste. Maybe I can switch courses once I’m there, who knows, but thanks for the opinions, I’ll have it in consideration.

Kortez: I’m 21

edit: wtf togusa. aaron just told me you were seb! how could i know, you guys are always changing nicks. its good to know your opinion dude, i was about to ask you via email, but i posted at your forum anyways. so, hows life? i miss your enviromental concepts btw.

-fell

[captnblack]

seb is a fool... like me.

[I.was.ink]

Seb's got some good points about product guys. I have a couple of friends that are product guys. They build a lot of stuff, but many of them get some sweet classes, and about half way they start to take more entertainment classes. I'm going to be doing the same thing.

My classes are okay right now. Since its first term, a lot of the classes are for beginners though.:mad: But it starts to get damn sweet second term. Also, be prepared to to work your arse off.

-Iwasink-

[fell]

seb is the man, strong concept work, but i can't take industrial design.
but yes, i understand what he is talking about.

concept design, illustration, anything figurative, thats what i'm doing right now, but if i put a ruler on it, it will brake my guidelines. school will probably improve my skills, and i could use a bfa. i guess illustration is my response, but it must justify a trip from europe to states. (oh yes, i'm living in europe, which means even more work, like an english test on the embassy and waiting for the visa, but i can manage that if i find the proper school).
and all my work as i stated is coming from the states, so everything is in favor

[jmascho]

Good luck with all of this Fell, big decision. Have you thought about the whole car thing? I know they have no on-campus housing, so you'd need a vehicle and driver's license. I wonder how that works with international students.

[togusa]

they are working on creating something like dorms in the not too distant future. plus they have a lot of crazy, although im not sure how practical ideas on moving between the different campuses.

[gasmask]

I hope they are thinking of ways to lower that crazy ass tuition. Man if only i had a tree that grew money.....

[captnblack]

they will never reduce tuition. they always show charts of accd's rates vs those of other schools and how accd's is "much much lower." they are trying to working on increasing the endowment so that means more scholarships in the future so possibly it could be cheaper if your good and get good money on getting in. accd is really for the rich kids and those with financial aid/grants/scholarships. i was in the second catagory. that got my folks lived 10 minutes away. otherwise i would have never been able to afford to go there.

in all seriousness tho, its a great school that will teach you the ethic and make u smart in terms of working. transitioning from school to the working world has been fairly easy. i doubt other schools make it so easy.

[Fisa]

Originally posted by togusa
plus prod and trans have pretty leniant department chairs. not sure of the status of those in illustration.

thats hilarious man. i went there for trans, leniant is not a word i would have used...ever. i had an instructor that made 2 illustration students cry. ID is not for the light hearted.

[captnblack]

Originally posted by Fisa


thats hilarious man. i went there for trans, leniant is not a word i would have used...ever. i had an instructor that made 2 illustration students cry. ID is not for the light hearted.

thats cause illustration kids are pansies.

[jlo]

you don't want to call illustrators pansies... my goodness there are so many of them that they might just act really nice, invite you over for beer and all... but once you get a little tipsy...

WHAMMO!

they'll swarm you and that'll be the end of that.

beware the illustrators....

[Redder]

My loyalty is to Fine Arts, so "BOOO" to Illustration!

[Ian Mack]

If I wanted to get into conceptart for videogames, what sort of courses would you suggest I take? And do you know of any good ones in Canada ?

I'm taking animation right now and I'm sure that'll help me to get into the industry @ least.

[gasmask]

unless ur pretty dam good with concepting or know someone, jobs are rare for concept art so id stick with animation until u get real good but in the meantime it depends, do u want to be more like an illustrator because they can do concept work like paint etc. or more like people like spinefinger as in using perspective alot more markers, real tech like, thats industrial design, if i were you i would take ID courses, but u dont really need school to be a concept artist, just practice and ull get there w/out school. lots of great concept artists never went to school, warren fu, nathan camobell did but dropped out of all of them, that carlos guy, etc oh and God i dont think went to school and hes the best artist

[togusa]

jobs in animation are a lot more rare and coveted than concept art. its like joining a not so secret society with all sorts of cool industry perks, etc. movies and feature animation beat video concept work any day of the week. just think of it this way, there are tons of game companies and developers, few animation studios/houses. the odds are you can break into games before animation. plus animation is more "mature" in terms of the process and the subject matter usually lacks the adolscent fantasy of boobs, guns, and killing. people tend to need school to learn process, a way of thinking. some people are lucky and able to learn that on the job or by teaching themselves, but those people are rare and it seems to take great dedication. not everyone can be an exception.

fell - i keep forgetting to email you. it should be coming some time soon.