UNT

[Belligergerum]

What does everyone think of here think of UNT as a school to go to in pursuit of and fine arts degree?
If you dont know thats the college in Denton, near Dallas Tx.
thanks for your time. i appreciate it.

[tanjaw]

Hey Belligergerum,

I went to UNT back in 1990. I enjoyed my time there and felt like at the time that the best schools in Texas for Illustration or Fine Arts were either UNT or East texas State. I chose UNT because it was a little closer to home and at the time they had a pretty decent Ad art program where I could get an emphasis in illustration. The reality ended up being, however, that they shut down the illustration program part way through and fortunately, enough students complained that they hired several adjunct instructors to finish out my class but after my class they shut down the program sadly. I think that UNT has gone through quite a few phases over the years and it seems like when they choose to really get alot of working professionals involved the program keeps it's life - when they are relying to much on the long term full time instructors the program probably starts losing a bit of it's value but in the end it's really the individual instructors that make the difference.

One thing I will say is that if you're really interested in learning Fine Art (painting, figure drawing, illustration etc.) I think that I would highly recommend getting out of Texas. Try California!
there are way more options and tons of good art programs. Art Center is a good one, but there are many good schools here and since it's a very Art friendly area you get alot of instructors that are really excellent. Of course, no matter where you go it always boils down to the individual instructor. If you find a program with several artist/instructors you admire go visit them and see if you feel like it would be a good situation. Just do yourself a favor and investigate - don't just go to the best school in the state look across the country if you can.

[jaboonday]

I too am interested in learning a bit more about this program, I'm thinking about moving to Dallas soon and I've heard some decent things about UNT's Fine Art program, but I'd love to hear more about it. I'm interested in learning about drawing, painting, photography, and 3-D. I was also intersted in learning about ETSU's program (btw the name of the school has been changed to TAMU-Commerce), they've got a pretty decent New Media program that I've been hearing about, where the courses for the upper-level part of the major can be taken in Dallas instead of Commerce.

[Southwick]

Well came across the boards today so this is my very first post. Im just posting here because at the moment I am going to UNT. Its a well known respected art program. Unfortunatly I am deciding in the next couple of days whether to leave it and persue a degree in biology or not.

As for the art program its a great program. The professors have been really good and the uper level courses get pretty open as to what you can do.

Teachers to look for.

Millie - Beginning watercolor. Great teacher
Falsetta- This guy is an amazing prof. I suggest you get him for at least begin. paint with oils and acrylic.
Jessup - had this guy for figure2 and he was great. His own work is amazing.

Teachers to not take.
Bourbon- whatever you do avoid this prof.

Suggestions I would make is have a clear understanding of the schedule to graduate. Realize that you will have portfolio reviews and if you do not pass one it will set you back. Also know this ALL ART CLASSES ARE 6 HOURS. No one mentions this, but while your friends are saying..pooyie you are getting an art degree thats easy..you will be taking around 21 hours for their 15 plus having mas homework. Then again its art so thats fun.

UNT is also fairly easy to get into and very affordable when compared to many other universities.

I would suggest staying in Kerr hall(dorm) or if you want a musicy artsy dorm and are very liberal stay in Bruce.

[jaboonday]

Thanks for your input southwick! I have a question about the work of the teachers and students at UNT. I've been to UNT's art department website, but I'm unable to find any galleries displaying the work of students & teachers in the program. Do you know of any websites at UNT that display their work?

[Southwick]

I realized that as far as I know there is no faculty/ student sight for artwork. It migth seem wierd in retrospect, but the college always has the work of students on display in the galleries so I am used to seeing it all of the time. They recently had a faculty show, but I would have no clue if there were pics.

I did some digging though and came across some web pages for some of the profs.

Robert Jessup.
His work might seem a little strange, but all I can tell you is that it blows me away. His studio is amazing. In person his paintings are so wierd, bright, textured and mesmerizing.

http://www.robertjessup.com/

Doing a search for Vincent Falsetta will take you to his work. He works in pure abstraction, which is not exactly my cup of tea. He is a very good prof. though and well schooled in what he does.

Ed Blackburn only thing I could find quick was this at the modern art museum in FT Worth
http://www.mamfw.org/f_html/blackburn.html

Rob Erdle & Millie Giles
http://www.watercolorworldwide.com/about_wcw.html
Mr. Erdle, while I havent had him seems to be something of a big deal. Even if I do drop the art and go the route of science I will come back and take him for intermediate water color; I love his work.
Hmm after all that i run across this page
http://www.art.unt.edu/artbase/index.html

Hope that kind of helps.
Unt operates interestingly and they are very liberal in thier practices. In this I mean they are very quick to let you do your own thing. Starting in art 3000 its pretty much up to you what you paint and hwo you paint it. The catch here is that you will be judged so not slacking through the beginner classes is your best option.

[jaboonday]

Originally posted by Southwick
Robert Jessup.
His work might seem a little strange, but all I can tell you is that it blows me away. His studio is amazing. In person his paintings are so wierd, bright, textured and mesmerizing.

http://www.robertjessup.com/


Those are cool, I see he likes to play around with different methods of creating color in his paintings, they look very bright and vivid. Is Color Theory an important part of his painting courses?


Originally posted by Southwick
Doing a search for Vincent Falsetta will take you to his work. He works in pure abstraction, which is not exactly my cup of tea. He is a very good prof. though and well schooled in what he does.

I've found that abstract art is useful for playing around with colors and basic shapes, however I must agree with you that it isn't my cup of tea either. What courses did he teach? I think the only thing I could tolerate abstraction in is Color Theory or Basic Design. Are the majority of the profs at UNT abstract artists or are they into more traditional methods? I ask because I'm much more interested in learning traditional methods at this point than I am in learning abstract stuff (of course abstract art has its place, but I just wouldn't feel comfortable in a degree program that was mostly in abstract art, personal preference I guess).


Originally posted by Southwick
Ed Blackburn only thing I could find quick was this at the modern art museum in FT Worth
http://www.mamfw.org/f_html/blackburn.html

That's an interesting piece. It's very dark and edgy, and the rough texturing reinforces that concept. It actually looks like a scene from one of the Godfather movies. Is he also a painting prof?


Originally posted by Southwick
Rob Erdle & Millie Giles
http://www.watercolorworldwide.com/about_wcw.html
Mr. Erdle, while I havent had him seems to be something of a big deal. Even if I do drop the art and go the route of science I will come back and take him for intermediate water color; I love his work.
Hmm after all that i run across this page
http://www.art.unt.edu/artbase/index.html

Thanks for the gallery, are those images representative of what all the students produce, or are these from a select group?


Originally posted by Southwick
Hope that kind of helps.
Unt operates interestingly and they are very liberal in thier practices. In this I mean they are very quick to let you do your own thing. Starting in art 3000 its pretty much up to you what you paint and hwo you paint it. The catch here is that you will be judged so not slacking through the beginner classes is your best option.

That's good to hear, because I've noticed that their degree plan is very rigid (there doesn't seem to be much opportunity to take elective courses in things that pique your interest).

Thanks so much for your information Southwick! I'm trying to decide between studying at UT-Dallas, UNT, and UH, and this is going a long way towards helping me clarify some things. Have you taken any computer art courses at UNT, I've heard they've got some in the Photography program - If so, how are they?