Really need some advice.

[HAJiME]

Hi everyone.

I'm currently doing my foundation year. It's nothing like I'd hoped. I don't feel that I've done anything worthy of a portfolio...

I done fine art (a-level) before now and I'm worried that i was more at home being told what to do and simply following a working scheme. I can apply media very well and i think my life drawing abilities are good, what lacks is the substance driving whatever I'm doing which is why I'm now struggling.

I'm a little worked up and depressed about the whole issue. I'd like to study Illustration and Animation, but my options are greatly reduced because i do not want to move out yet. I simply do not feel i could cope with living in halls and don't have the money for other options.

I really have no idea what to put in a portfolio. I don't want to end up taking a load of stuff my lecturers suggest which i hate and thus have nothing emotive to say about it. But on the other hand I struggle to define why i like drawing dragons in my free time. My lecturer says i need to say something different about dragons and despite her jokey nature I'm simply not finding the situation funny.

Can anyone help me out with some sort of idea about what i really need to include in a portfolio?

The other thing that's terrifying me is my personal statement. I've taken a day out of college to start on it and simply have no clue where to start. The 'help' sheet my lecturer handed out just says "open the statement with something interesting/unique/memorable phrased in a personal way" ...er?

Thank you for reading, any advice is greatly appreciated.

~Joey

[Seedling]

Hello Hajime,
Sorry, I'm not so familliar with European educational levels. I take it you are working on an application portfolio to get into your next level of education. If so, then yes, you will want to lay ff the dragons and demonstrate that you have a solid grasp on art fundementals. Later, when you are applying for jobs that could possibly involve dragons, that's when you'll be safe to put dragons in your portfolio.

Check out the "Concept Art 101" link in my sig for assignment ideas that can help you get where you want to be.

As for the essay, use it to answer the question "why do you want to make art for a living?" Explain it as if you were talking to someone who has never made a piece of art before.

[Storyboard Dave]

Seedling's got it 110% right when he speaks about your dragon drawings. While it might be fun for you, your instructors who ultimately want you to be a better more rounded artist, want you do develop your overall fundamental skills. They want you to see a bigger picture- which includes environments, backgrounds, objects, people, etc. and not just a singular dragon. Your storytelling/ picture making had better be much more than that in order to compete and it needs that sort of sophistication.

From what I gather you're applying for a program of some sort and need a portfolio. Well simply put- you need to put yout strongest stuff in that portfolio that demonstrates you can handle the basics and fundamentals for whatever program you're applying to. They want to know your competancy. That's what portfolios at your level and even the professional level are all about. Show a range of what you can do but tailor it in such a way that it demonstrates exactly what it is you're looking for. Look at it from their point of view- what do you think they would be looking for?

And just possibly your assignments aren't what floats your boat at the moment but that doesn't mean you still shouldn't try to inject some sort of passion into them either. Rest assured that not every job we professionals do are award winners and gorgeous pieces of art either! Sometimes it borders on drudgery but the trick is to try to own it somehow and still make it you.

All these issues; the moving out, lack of satisfaction with your work, the sensitivity towards a lecturer's remarks, all seem to be based upon your own lack of confidence. My suggestion would possibly try to take some baby steps- build up some sense of confidence. Take a chance! Life's based upon taking chances and you need to expand your own horizons beyond your own comfortable niche. You've literally got nothing to lose and everything to gain by trying different things. What's so horrific about living a term on your own (you can move back), drawing something other than a dragon (you might be able to incorporate it later with the dragons), taking some criticism (they could be right) and expanding your own artisitic scope. It all adds up to your own benefit.

And seedling's suggestion to the essay is a perfectly good rationale to put in that paper. Why are you doing art? What are the tools & methods that you use? What has been an inspiration? Break it down simply as to what makes you tick and put it to paper.

Good luck with it all. It's not that uncommon of a struggle that you're going through (I think we've all been through it), but how you deal with it is what's going to matter.

[HAJiME]

I was joking about the dragons. :)

I think i do have a grasp on the fundamentals, i just don't know what the best way to show off that i do is. I seem to have a problem combining ideas with application. Good ideas look terrible and are badly executed, while bad ideas look fantastic. The "trying to hard" syndrome.

The things you cover in that topic are some amazing ideas for adding some individuality into life drawing. I personally adore life drawing, so I'm keen to try out some of the stuff you've suggested and have already taken a shot at it.

As for my personal statement, I'm struggling to say anything about why i like art without telling a life story. I keep typing a paragraph and then deleting it realising I'm going off on one. I'm also not overtly keen on paying attention to (let alone talking about) 'proper' artists/designers, so I'm struggling to show any interest outside of "i enjoy doing it."

EDIT: Dave posted whilst i was typing.

portfolio that demonstrates you can handle the basics and fundamentals for whatever program you're applying to.This worries me. I've been told that i am not expected to do this by current lecturers...

Thank you both for taking the time to read and reply.

[ron lemen]

truthfully, I cant be objective without knowing where you are studying, but I can say this, if the school is halfway descent, then what your instructors are telling you are truths...you might need to take really basic classes. Imagine, you want really badly to write the greatest novel ever but didn't finish 10th grade, and up to that point didn't really pay any attention in school, so the reading and writing thing is a little adolescent to say the least, but you have a great idea. You go to a JC class and the first teacher you study with says you need to go back to remedial reading and writing...do you take offense or do you suck it up as the truth and move forward with his comments?

If you moved forward, you would probably find his comments, or rather, suggestions were leaning toward the truth, since he knew better than you did where you fit in the grand scheme of things. If you are told to take a then b and then c, although you want x y and z, you better start at the beginning.

It makes no sense to go right into your passion with no way of helping yourself. THe classes do not teach you what you do not know, and expect you to know many things before interacting with them. Basics are what your portfolio should be filled with to prove to the next rung up, the next more advanced set of classes you belong there. IT is not for you to decide. IF you cant do it, then my last statement is true. If you are a virtuoso, then we will talk about diverting a few of those basics, but you will still need to know why you do them and not just that you do them.

Your book should show you have a grasp on form, light and shade, edges, complex form, spatial relations, i.e. perspective, composition, etc., composing imagery of any kind even placing letters on a page, color, etc.

Those are the elements your book should have currently. I would never take an artist on a job without those covered well. And the book I should be seeing is very different than the book you show upper division classes, etc.

Everyone your age wants the golden apple, if you develop patience and learn the way you should, the golden apple will drop into your lap without ever having to climb the tree.


Ron

[Seedling]

Seedling's got it 110% right when he speaks about your dragon drawings.

Oh, thanks. :-) (It’s “she”, actually.)


As for my personal statement, I'm struggling to say anything about why i like art without telling a life story. . . I'm struggling to show any interest outside of "i enjoy doing it."

What is wrong with a life story? As for enjoying making art, *why* do you enjoy making art? It’s a more important question than it sounds. Do you like being emotionally moved by images, or having your opinions on serious subjects swayed? Do you enjoy being able to emotionally sway or change the opinions of others? Is there a particular kind of story that you are itching to tell? Do you like the process of making images, or are you interested in the product? Are you driven by the desire to be recognized for your efforts by others? Do you want to leave a legacy? Is art your loudest “voice”?

Not all of the above are necessarily good reasons to make art or good things to admit to on a college essay. However, the answer to the question “what is so bloody important that I am willing to devote my life to making art” is something that you should think about, and it’s probably a good place to start your essay.

BTW, my own essay could be boiled down to the highly un-profound “if I have to spend the rest of my life making art only on the weekends, I’ll go mad.” They seemed okay with that. ;-)

[Storyboard Dave]

Oh, thanks. :-) (It’s “she”, actually.)

Slap me senseless for making that assumption. :$

My sincere apologies.