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Why is it that a student’s desire to declare art as a career path strikes fear into the hearts of so many parents? Is it the myth of the “starving artist”?
For many reasons, this shouldn’t be the case. The arts currently employ more than 1 percent of all Americans. Art is a skills-based degree. It is a degree that qualifies students to work in design, film, publications and business with a skill base that few possess. One doesn’t just decide to be an artist. Art requires years of training, disciplined practice, focus and production.
Students applying to programs in the visual arts begin their preparation for college on a slightly different path than those applying to traditional academic programs. The portfolio and the interview is fundamental to college admissions for these students. Attending a performing and visual arts college fair can be the first step in finding the right program. Students often feel they have to attend an art college.
A growing number of art colleges, such as traditional academic colleges, are requiring essays, strong transcripts and even testing for admissions. Some traditional colleges and universities not requiring portfolios will often have merit aid available to entering students presenting strong portfolios.
Students of the visual arts will need to build a portfolio and prepare to present their work in an interview. Explaining and defending your work articulately is essential for any artist. Portfolios should be neat, clean and organized. The quality of work is more important than quantity. The work should show consideration of the background and composition. Prospective students should show their strongest work with earliest works first.
It is not necessary to show work only in the media in which a student intends to major. It is more important to present pieces that show concepts, originality and creativity. Present a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 20 pieces of your best and most recent artwork. If showing your sketchbook, be sure to flag the best pages to allow smooth viewing. Include at least eight works from real-life observation such as still life, figure drawing, portraits, self portraits and landscapes. Include works in other media including sculpture ceramics, drawing and painting. When presenting a portfolio during an interview, large or three-dimensional works can be represented by high quality photographs, slides or disks.
I always recommend that students seek out a portfolio program (http://portfolioday.net/) to explore art programs and have their portfolio reviewed by admissions officers from art colleges around the country. This is also crucial to the student if seeking financial aid. Traditionally, art college programs, once geared to older students, can be very expensive. There is a recent trend to gear these programs toward students leaving high school and include financial aid programs. Entering freshman often have developed their portfolio within high school AP courses and are ready to delve into the challenges of an art college. The Pacific Northwest Art College in Portland’s trendy Pearl District, is one such program. PNCA will celebrate its centennial next year. The college was housed within the Portland Arts Museum until 10 years ago when the current facility with a wide array of workshops, gallery space and a fine arts library was acquired. The college offers a B.F.A. degree with a traditional liberal arts curriculum, culminating in a senior thesis. A joint degree is obtainable with Reed College. Financial aid is available to students submitting a 3.1 or above GPA. During a recent visit, admissions staff member Patrick Melroy, himself an artist and alum, eloquently discussed PNCA’s objective of teaching students to “reproduce successes more than failure” in their work, as they learn to “control color like breathing.” His enthusiasm and caring is evident when he states that, “Art is a very personal thing and to get that support from the president to the front desk is a very important factor.”
More and more colleges are integrating the visual arts into other fields. Groundbreaking programs at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Carnegie Mellon, University of Pennsylvania and University of California-Irvine marry the fine arts with electrical engineering and computer science programs, to explore the digital media arts. Students are graduating with Bachelors of Science in engineering and finding the job market eager for these artistically talented graduates.
Beginning to think of yourself as an artist is a crucial part to applying to visual arts programs. Being well versed and educated in the work of other artists is imperative.
The ability to explain your work is essential when applying to art programs and will become even more important when looking for employment.
Art is a road less traveled by, and that makes all the difference.
Sharon Schladow is a college admissions adviser from Davis, Calif.
For many reasons, this shouldn’t be the case. The arts currently employ more than 1 percent of all Americans. Art is a skills-based degree. It is a degree that qualifies students to work in design, film, publications and business with a skill base that few possess. One doesn’t just decide to be an artist. Art requires years of training, disciplined practice, focus and production.
Students applying to programs in the visual arts begin their preparation for college on a slightly different path than those applying to traditional academic programs. The portfolio and the interview is fundamental to college admissions for these students. Attending a performing and visual arts college fair can be the first step in finding the right program. Students often feel they have to attend an art college.
A growing number of art colleges, such as traditional academic colleges, are requiring essays, strong transcripts and even testing for admissions. Some traditional colleges and universities not requiring portfolios will often have merit aid available to entering students presenting strong portfolios.
Students of the visual arts will need to build a portfolio and prepare to present their work in an interview. Explaining and defending your work articulately is essential for any artist. Portfolios should be neat, clean and organized. The quality of work is more important than quantity. The work should show consideration of the background and composition. Prospective students should show their strongest work with earliest works first.
It is not necessary to show work only in the media in which a student intends to major. It is more important to present pieces that show concepts, originality and creativity. Present a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 20 pieces of your best and most recent artwork. If showing your sketchbook, be sure to flag the best pages to allow smooth viewing. Include at least eight works from real-life observation such as still life, figure drawing, portraits, self portraits and landscapes. Include works in other media including sculpture ceramics, drawing and painting. When presenting a portfolio during an interview, large or three-dimensional works can be represented by high quality photographs, slides or disks.
I always recommend that students seek out a portfolio program (http://portfolioday.net/) to explore art programs and have their portfolio reviewed by admissions officers from art colleges around the country. This is also crucial to the student if seeking financial aid. Traditionally, art college programs, once geared to older students, can be very expensive. There is a recent trend to gear these programs toward students leaving high school and include financial aid programs. Entering freshman often have developed their portfolio within high school AP courses and are ready to delve into the challenges of an art college. The Pacific Northwest Art College in Portland’s trendy Pearl District, is one such program. PNCA will celebrate its centennial next year. The college was housed within the Portland Arts Museum until 10 years ago when the current facility with a wide array of workshops, gallery space and a fine arts library was acquired. The college offers a B.F.A. degree with a traditional liberal arts curriculum, culminating in a senior thesis. A joint degree is obtainable with Reed College. Financial aid is available to students submitting a 3.1 or above GPA. During a recent visit, admissions staff member Patrick Melroy, himself an artist and alum, eloquently discussed PNCA’s objective of teaching students to “reproduce successes more than failure” in their work, as they learn to “control color like breathing.” His enthusiasm and caring is evident when he states that, “Art is a very personal thing and to get that support from the president to the front desk is a very important factor.”
More and more colleges are integrating the visual arts into other fields. Groundbreaking programs at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Carnegie Mellon, University of Pennsylvania and University of California-Irvine marry the fine arts with electrical engineering and computer science programs, to explore the digital media arts. Students are graduating with Bachelors of Science in engineering and finding the job market eager for these artistically talented graduates.
Beginning to think of yourself as an artist is a crucial part to applying to visual arts programs. Being well versed and educated in the work of other artists is imperative.
The ability to explain your work is essential when applying to art programs and will become even more important when looking for employment.
Art is a road less traveled by, and that makes all the difference.
Sharon Schladow is a college admissions adviser from Davis, Calif.
