Hard core art school here I come!
Tonight at City College there were speakers from Academy of Art University (SF), Art Center College of Design (Pasadena), and San Francisco State all talking about their art programs and answering any questions that students might have for them. I went to see the speakers as I have major interest in attending The Art Center. Its there or New York for me and I think I want to stay in California for now, and maybe do my grad work in NYC.
So, the presentation was really thourough and covered all the art programing (it wasn't a photography department thing so it was more broad) of the different schools. I was really impressed by the existing work of the students and of the faculty. The student to teacher ratio is 12:1, and most of it is studio time. The school is highly technical and more commercial based but the lecturer said that the new department chair is making a push to incorporate more fine art into the curriculum. Which is fine with me, and I'm highly fine art based, but I want to make money as well, and so the commercial aspect will be very needed for me. Basically the school's philosophy is to combine art with industry. Its highly structured which is good for me as I need that, and the assignments are approached in a way as if your teacher is your client and you have meetings to go over concepts and work with the "client" through the process as you would in the real world of professional commercial photography.
Anyway, after the lecture I had some questions for the woman who was speaking. We went into the hallway as the SF State speaker was starting his presentation. I asked her questions about what are they looking for in a portfolio and what a solid body of work meant to them. I had put together a varied portfolio in chance that they were having reviews tonight which they weren't. I told her I had a selection of works with me and she offered right if I wanted her to take a look at it. Turns out she's one of the counselors that would be looking at, and admitting my work anyway.
So, I drag her over to the photography department where there are tables to lay out my work, and good lighting. So she starts going through everything and tells me that she likes what she sees and that I'm ready to apply! This is a harder school to get into because your portfolio has to be really put together and has to meet a high standard. The average incoming freshman age is 23 as they don't want people straight out of high school that haven't really figured out what they want to do yet. They want people who've taken classes, worked on their craft and definitely know what medium they want to use and have gained that focus that's needed for this school.
She thought my work was highly consistant in quality, that the series pieces show strong continuity, that while I mostly work with people the images are varied and imaginative. She liked the fact that I've worked on locations, and in studios, have color and black and white. And that I have fine art work, and more modern commercial type work. Basically. she was really excited and told me that I can apply for as soon as the Spring semester. Woo!
I'm really pleased with myself at the moment. This is good because I've been beyond discouraged and hating everything that I'm making because I'm just hating my life in general right now. I've been depressed and unexcited and haven't been able to see anything without a cloud of disappointment covering everything I do. This makes me happy to know that someone who sees amazing art all the time sees potential in me. And while I know right now that I'm not the best at what I do, that there is a good chance that someday I will be. I'm excited. All the hard work, and crying and nervous breakdowns and long hours covered in chemicals that will surely one day give me cancer or lung disease isn't for naught.
Today was a very good day.
(photographer's note: This picture doesn't do the actual image justice. This was taken with a 4x5 view camera so there is IMMENSE detail in the environment, while the figure is slightly blurred intentionally to show movement, but the rest is in crisp focus.)
So, the presentation was really thourough and covered all the art programing (it wasn't a photography department thing so it was more broad) of the different schools. I was really impressed by the existing work of the students and of the faculty. The student to teacher ratio is 12:1, and most of it is studio time. The school is highly technical and more commercial based but the lecturer said that the new department chair is making a push to incorporate more fine art into the curriculum. Which is fine with me, and I'm highly fine art based, but I want to make money as well, and so the commercial aspect will be very needed for me. Basically the school's philosophy is to combine art with industry. Its highly structured which is good for me as I need that, and the assignments are approached in a way as if your teacher is your client and you have meetings to go over concepts and work with the "client" through the process as you would in the real world of professional commercial photography.
Anyway, after the lecture I had some questions for the woman who was speaking. We went into the hallway as the SF State speaker was starting his presentation. I asked her questions about what are they looking for in a portfolio and what a solid body of work meant to them. I had put together a varied portfolio in chance that they were having reviews tonight which they weren't. I told her I had a selection of works with me and she offered right if I wanted her to take a look at it. Turns out she's one of the counselors that would be looking at, and admitting my work anyway.
So, I drag her over to the photography department where there are tables to lay out my work, and good lighting. So she starts going through everything and tells me that she likes what she sees and that I'm ready to apply! This is a harder school to get into because your portfolio has to be really put together and has to meet a high standard. The average incoming freshman age is 23 as they don't want people straight out of high school that haven't really figured out what they want to do yet. They want people who've taken classes, worked on their craft and definitely know what medium they want to use and have gained that focus that's needed for this school.
She thought my work was highly consistant in quality, that the series pieces show strong continuity, that while I mostly work with people the images are varied and imaginative. She liked the fact that I've worked on locations, and in studios, have color and black and white. And that I have fine art work, and more modern commercial type work. Basically. she was really excited and told me that I can apply for as soon as the Spring semester. Woo!
I'm really pleased with myself at the moment. This is good because I've been beyond discouraged and hating everything that I'm making because I'm just hating my life in general right now. I've been depressed and unexcited and haven't been able to see anything without a cloud of disappointment covering everything I do. This makes me happy to know that someone who sees amazing art all the time sees potential in me. And while I know right now that I'm not the best at what I do, that there is a good chance that someday I will be. I'm excited. All the hard work, and crying and nervous breakdowns and long hours covered in chemicals that will surely one day give me cancer or lung disease isn't for naught.
Today was a very good day.
(photographer's note: This picture doesn't do the actual image justice. This was taken with a 4x5 view camera so there is IMMENSE detail in the environment, while the figure is slightly blurred intentionally to show movement, but the rest is in crisp focus.)