ocad or sheridan illustration?

[biancaeris]

Hello! I am aware that maybe this question has been asked many times but I still haven't gotten very much information.

I got accepted to OCAD and Sheridan for illustration for this fall term and I don't know what to decide. What I want is focus on fine arts and digital art as well. I also really would like a lot of life-drawing classes (which I heard, are a lot in Sheridan)

I would visit the institutions or ask people but the thing is, i'm still moving to Toronto on May and it will be my first time going there and I don't know people from that area. And I have to decide before 3 weeks x_x...

Nevertheless, I know it's what you get out of the school is what counts, so there is no wrong answer in this.

Any information or advice would be very, very helpful. Thank you :)

[ikken]

both are good, I've seen great artists from each of these universities.

you will have to invest more time and $$$ into your digital training later on, but the traditional schooling at both will give you very decent results.

[kennygeeze]

Hello! I am aware that maybe this question has been asked many times but I still haven't gotten very much information.

I got accepted to OCAD and Sheridan for illustration for this fall term and I don't know what to decide. What I want is focus on fine arts and digital art as well. I also really would like a lot of life-drawing classes (which I heard, are a lot in Sheridan)



Unless OCAD has changed in the past few years Sheridan offers far more extra life-drawing classes in the afternoon and evening.

I went to sheridan, but I know both programs share some of the same teachers as well as life-models.

I had been accepted to OCAD and sheridan as well. If I could go back and do it again I would probably choose sheridan again and go to even more life-drawing/painting than I did during those first couple of years at the school.

Sheridan is also in Oakville and far, far cheaper rent-wise than living in the dowontown core of Toronto.

I'm currently an artist in movie production and was hired shortly after graduating sheridan.

[RyerOrdStar]

Disclaimer: I go to Sheridan.
Let's just say I don't think I've heard many good reviews of OCAD's Illustration program...at least when comparing the two. And this from people that go there/teach there. Definitely if you have the choice, I'd go to Sheridan. It's also harder to get into Sheridan, which probably means something. I think. Anyways, for life drawing especially, I think they have to pay for extra life at OCAD, and there's free extra life 6 days a week at Sheridan.

[biancaeris]

ikken - I see, thank you for that. I probably will also get more digital training in the future as well but after I earn/save enough money for that. Art schools are quite expensive x_x
Thank you again!

kennygeeze - Yes, the life-drawing classes really entice me! I really want to go to as many sessions like that to improve myself. Thank you for your insight. And I am quite happy to hear you are an artist working in movie production because that's exactly what I want to do as well since I also have a background in film production. Thank you so much!

RyerOrdStar - Yeah I was actually worried if I would get in to Sheridan since their requirements are more than OCAD and a bit harder. And those free classes are really a plus for me as well. Thank you for your reply :)

[Sacari]

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but I have a similar question so I figured I'd come here :)
I have an acceptance to OCAD's Illustration program, and an acceptance to Sheridan's Art Fundamentals (I'm on the waiting list for their Illustration program).
So my options are:
a) 1 yr Art Fundamentals at Sheridan, then the 4 years of Illustration.
b) 4 years Illustration at OCAD.

So basically my question is: Is the extra year worth it to go to Sheridan? Or not?
Sorry if that's confusing!

[kennygeeze]

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but I have a similar question so I figured I'd come here :)
I have an acceptance to OCAD's Illustration program, and an acceptance to Sheridan's Art Fundamentals (I'm on the waiting list for their Illustration program).
So my options are:
a) 1 yr Art Fundamentals at Sheridan, then the 4 years of Illustration.
b) 4 years Illustration at OCAD.

So basically my question is: Is the extra year worth it to go to Sheridan? Or not?
Sorry if that's confusing!

In my opinion the extra year is worth it if you spend it doing the right things.

If you go all in and do as much figure drawing and studio painting as possible before entering an illustration program then you'll be in far better shape than someone who went into an illustration program directly and is still struggling with the fundamentals at the end of year 2.

Year 3 and 4 at sheridan (although there are still life-drawing classes) already assume at that point that you're competent enough at drawing/painting to start applying those skills to a 'style' and taking on mock illustration assignments from the real world. The teachers start role-playing the art director and show you how to accomplish as well as find jobs. There isn't as much time at that point to go to figure drawing 5 nights a week.

But I'm biased though... because I wish I had done far more figure drawing and life-painting before doing the 4 year illustration program. I still got a job after I graduated, but there are things that I wish I had the time to learn 4 years ago rather than trying to learn them in the evening now.

Sorry if that doesn't answer your question. If could go back and do it again I would still do the 5 years of art school vs. the 4, however I know it often comes down to money, etc.

[biancaeris]

Thanks for your insight on the Sheridan illustration program, kennygeeze. I'm really going to take advantage of the extra sessions.

Sacari - I'm really not one to give advice and I don't know much but this is my opinion.

I think i'd probably take the art fundamentals as well. Now i'm actually a bit worried because I haven't really had much formal training in art and i've never really been to a life-drawing session. So in short, I lack experience and I personally think I should go take art fundamentals before the illustration program but unfortunately, that extra year of college will be hard on me financially because i've actually already finished a 3 year university degree (which cost a lot as well!). So i'm just going to work harder than others to make up for my lack of experience. But if you have the time and money to take art fundamentals, I say go for it!

[Sacari]

kennygeeze & biancaeris - Thanks for the replies! I think I'm leaning towards Art Fundamentals since I know that coming straight out of high school I need to build up some stuff, especially life drawing. And my parents said financially the extra year should be ok... I'm going to go down in a week or so to look at the schools but I think I'll end up taking the extra year.

[Visona]

kennygeeze & biancaeris - Thanks for the replies! I think I'm leaning towards Art Fundamentals since I know that coming straight out of high school I need to build up some stuff, especially life drawing. And my parents said financially the extra year should be ok... I'm going to go down in a week or so to look at the schools but I think I'll end up taking the extra year.

WOW lucky you, you've decided. Im in the exact situation (accepted to ocad illu. and art fundies, but i applied to sheridan's animation instead) I want to go to art fundies as well but my parents don't want me to because they said it was extra money, wasting another year and that ocad is also know for its art programs. AND since theres no guarentee that you'll make it to either illustration or animation after fundies, they said that they don't want to run the risk of wasting tuition money PLUS im going to have to move to oakvill. Can someone help me?