A Guide to Choosing an Art Institute or School.
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Today, I just want to go over some basic things to look for in an art institute or school. Later, I'll talk about some specific schools and see how they are.
If you are in high school, then it's time to start looking for a college, institute, school, or atelier to get your degree. If you are out of college and wanting to get a more advanced degree or further your education, then this applies to you too.
What to look for...
Okay, let's go over what to look for. First, what kind of art do you do, and what kind of art would you like to do? It is important to consider what you enjoy and what you don't. After all, you don't want to get stuck doing something you hate.
I originally was majoring in graphic design. The further I got in my classes, the farther away I seemed to get from my original intentions with art. I wanted to draw people and paint landscapes. Everything in graphic design was leading me away from that. Now, graphic design is a fine field to go in, but if you're like me and have been spending your whole life drawing and painting, then you may either get bored or feel "limited" in graphic design.
So, this is why it is important to look and see what kind of work you will be doing. Take a look at both the student work and the professor's work. Is it similar to what you'd want to do? Can you see yourself doing it? Now, I'm not saying to ask yourself if you have the skills to be able to do it. They are supposed to train you and teach you to be able to do it. No, what I'm saying is if you "could" do it, would you want to?
If you can't find any student work to look at, look at the work of the professor. At the least it'll give you an idea of what kind of stuff he'll be teaching. Realism, impressionism, abstract work... whatever. I myself prefer to blend realism with impressionism and would most likely not enjoy a class that is purely abstract.
A closer look...
You can get an idea of how long the students spend on their art by looking at it usually. Classical drawing that is very detailed and meticulously rendered takes a considerable amount of time compared to loose, less-detailed work. So, ask yourself whether you like spending a lot of time working on a drawing or painting that is near "perfect" or spending less time on a work that is loose and expressive.
Equipment and facilities...
Second thing to look at is the quality of the equipment. If they draw or paint, is it on a desk or easel? Does it look like it's on a low budget? Is the art building large or is it just tacked on to the math department?
I prefer having plenty of my own space. I don't like being crowded. Of course, I also prefer a smaller campus that doesn't have me trudging for miles just to get to my next class.
You will most likely be using their "large" equipment and buying your own paints and pencils. So, go ahead and try some to see what you like. See my articles to get some ideas. I also think that if you can, try to get a good space to work from home. This is in case you ever need to do an out of class assignment or need to finish a certain project.
Websites...
Any worthwhile school should have a website. I will list some and write about them soon. In the meantime, look at different school's websites and see if you can spot anything I've mentioned so far.
Other things to consider are the size of the classrooms. You will get more direct training in a small classroom with less people than you will an overcrowded huge class. Some teachers even have their own websites, so do a google search on their name once you see who is teaching. You may also find some examples of their work online doing a search for their name.
A final note...
Before you go to any school, feel free to improve your skills by reading my articles and any books or videos that I recommend. You don't have to be a "master" before you go to school, but it helps when applying for scholarships and doing well in class. Basically, art classes are easy if you already have a good foundation. Just watch out that you don't train too much in one style because your professor may have you try something else. Be well rounded if you can. Work in different media and different styles. I do that anyway. It's a great way to learn.
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