With the intense competition facing potential artists, professionals need to start their career with a great education. Art colleges provide prospective artists with all the tools they need to succeed. A few easy and simple choices can help professionals enjoy their education.
When applying to art colleges, professionals need to be prepared to submit additional documents. Some of the information that needs to be submitted when applying to art colleges is:
- ACT scores
- Art portfolio
- High school transcript
- SAT scores
Some programs may ask for an essay about a topic that the student chooses. For top tier institutions, an interview may be conducted between an admissions officer and the student. Such an interview may be similar to a job interview.
However, most programs scrutinize a student’s art portfolio. Each college has different submission requirements for a portfolio. For example, some may want landscapes or portraits while others only ask for art from specific practice exercises. Depending upon the college, the portfolio may need to include the original artwork instead of copies or duplicates. If a college asks for the original artwork, students should be sure they understand whether or not the artwork will be returned.
Students should not judge which artwork goes into their portfolio on their own. Asking an admissions officer can give a better idea of what the college is looking for. Art events such as National Portfolio Day will link young artists with admissions officers and professors. Consulting with other people can help a student receive independent feedback about their artwork and portfolio. Some institutions even accept students’ portfolios on the spot at a National Portfolio Day.
Depending upon the institution, students may have to balance general education requirements with art requirements. This can include only basic 101-level courses or requiring a minor in a non-art subject. Other institutions allow students to focus solely upon their art. Students should look at what art majors will have to complete in order to graduate at their intended college.
Students should create art in different mediums and with different tools at college. Expanding their skills beyond what they are comfortable with will show employers versatility. For commercial artists, it can be important to have a diversified skill set. Commercial artists may not always be able to choose what mediums or tools to use for commissioned artwork.
No matter what artists create during their collegiate career, it’s important to keep all of their artwork. This is especially true for professionals who intend to work in a commercial art field. Having a wide amount of artwork to choose from for a commercial portfolio can be the difference between landing a job or being passed over. Professionals may need to create different portfolios for different job applications.
For aspiring artists, attending art colleges can provide a valuable education. Choosing to enroll in an art program can help students learn advanced techniques and new tools. Although attending an art program may not be for everyone, it can turn an aspiring artist into a professional.