Ringling info I need!

[EmilyROAR]

Gwah! I'm planning on going to ringling, hopefully (loans loans loans scholarships!) but anyways. I need advice from anyone who's going there or whos gone there, blah. Right now I'm trying to figure out what I need in a portfolio and trying to put it together and stuff and I'd like to...see what people have sent to Ringling in their portfolios, what kind of stuff I should put in my portfolio, how much stuff, etc. Aaaaaand the basic stuff like hows the city around there, how are the people that go there and the teachers there.. hmm what else.. cant think of anything else currently, bah. And since I'm lazy if anyone has a tuiton comparison with ringling and other good art schools id luuuv to see it :D

blah!

[clayrodery v.03]

Hey, so are you a junior this year and are going to apply this fall or...? Anyway, I just got accepted to ringling for computer animation and start freshman year this fall.

Well first thing you'll need in your portfolio is a LOT of drawing from observation. I'd say at least half of what you send in needs to be like that. They also like to see figure drawings, so find yourself a fig drawing class and draw a lot. If you can't find a class, get some friends to come over and pose for you or something. For the amount of things to put in, they say to send at least 10, but there's no harm in sending more than that. Hell, I sent 58 pieces in my portfolio. You can check out some of the stuff I sent here:

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3183

This is only a small percentage of what I did send, but it'll do. They also want to see some self-portraits, so do one or two of those. Now also, a lot of people, including myself, have started sending their portfolios on CD. This is better than sending slides because the admissions people look over the slides for around one minute and already pretty much know if you should be admitted or not. The CD forces them to look at high-definition images in large format, instead of having them squint at some slides.

Sarasota is a great city, not really alot to do in the city closer to ringling, you have to drive down the road for 10 minutes to really find stuff to do. The people are great, the teachers are excellant.

ok, hope I helped you out a little,

clay

[alantoid]

howdy

My names Alan and comming up on the end of my 3rd year. This program is serious, and as with all things, you get what you put in. do not send a CD portfolio. The faculty does not want to crowd around a monitor to be "forced" to view high res images. Slides are good enough, they know what they are looking for. Yes they decide very quickly from your slide reel, thats the way it is. Also 58 images is overkill, pick your best 10-15. life drawing and gestures are key.

Be ready for the fact that this program places a gigantic emphasis on story development.

Sorry, but i think its funny that some people post so often about a school that they have yet to attend:)

good luck

[Ark]

Well, I just got accepted into CA as well (I went to Precollege with Clay btw); only sent in 27 (or was it 20? I forget) digital slides. Basically, make sure everything you send in is good clean work; try to have some variety as well. You don't necessarily need 50 bajillion slides, just enough to show that you can do it. I only sent in 7 figure drawings; I also sent a few hands, feet, design work, character drawings, sketchbook, blind contour.... etc. Just send in a few good and consistent figure drawings, and then send in a variety of other stuff so that they can see your at the very least, diversified. Make sure everything you send in looks presentable...craftmanship is a good thing. If you send in digital slides, don't make the images super huge, just make them monitor sized. Since I don't actually start school tell next semester, I can't really tell you how any of that goes though; however, as far as acceptance, just put your best effort into your application and keep your fingers crossed. Although I'm not certain, I believe CA is the only major that has a cut off limit, so your chances of acceptance will vary from major to major.

I haven't spent 3 years in Sarasota (rather, only 4 weeks) so I don't really know a whole lot about the city. It's definately a comfortable city to live in though.

As for loans and scholarships and stuff...well I'm kinda in a rut there too ^^; MAKE SURE TO SEND IN YOUR FAFSA though.

Best advice I can give is just not to worry too much. You'll make yourself old stressin' about gettin' accepted (*cough* clay *cough*); you'll only shorten your lifespan that way. Once you send off your app, just chill, work on your art, and forget about Ringling until your letter of acceptance comes in the mail. If you don't get accepted, it ain't the end of the world. Ringling is a great art school, but it isn't the only great art school in the US.

[DragonGX]

I live in Sarasota, but do not attend RSAD.. Im thinking about applying, but Im not sure.. I wanted to go to school for industrial design, and not straight illustration or computer graphics.. I really wish they had an Art Center campus in FL..

[illustrator77]

Hey there,
Glad to see that your interested in attending Ringling. Lets see....you want to know about the area and stuff like that....Well town is nice...It is true that you have to travel about 10 minutes to find something to do, but with all the homework that you should be doing....it works out to be better that way....The teachers here are good and they are typicaly concerned with teaching the students who want to learn...If you don't care and plan on just cruzing through classes, like high school, If you Apply your self in classes and show progress in your work you should do fine....
As far as portfolio work....I only put in about 10-15 pieces, 58 is WAY TOO MUCH!....just choose your best out of the 58....if you have the school catalog, it should say what they want to see in there....I think that it is like self portrait, still lifes, and some sort if narrative....and some of your own choosen work.

I would not worry about your portfolio too much...after all if you were a perfect artist you would not need to go to school.....If I remember right the teachers look at your portfolio for you potential....

Hope that this helps and Good luck with your application.
Josh