Lina Reisser has some great advice if you're considering studying art abroad. I interviewed her last summer in Germany.
Here's Ben Hayward Smith's recollection of his time in an art program. He is a graduate of the Southeast Center for Photographic Studies. Great how he talks about his rebellion!
This is the initial interview in a series about artists' experience in art school, this time with Michelle Lisa Polissaint. View her artwork here. Visit this blog again soon for more interviews!
I graduated from the School of Visual Arts Digital Photography graduate program. It was a wonderful experience -- although pretty tough. I took it online for 2 years and a summer in NYC for our final semester. The education I received was first class. The classes ranged from Photoshop compositing, business classes, Lightroom, technical instruction on cameras & lenses, color management, thesis production, and much more. Although expensive, the knowledge I received and the connections, to me, were worth it.
- Taylor Mickle, photographer and artist
Mark Fetherston, Exec. Director of Information Management and Registration Services :) at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD), has invaluable advice on how to develop a portfolio if you are a high school student wanting to apply to art school. Check out the video on the bottom of this page.
- My greatest teachers were the ones who were most passionate about their art, no matter the medium. They taught me how to look at art more deeply. As a result, I developed my aesthetic eye, which is an invaluable tool to recognize and make good work.
Carla Rozman
carlarozman.com
I'm collecting quotes and anecdotes from people working in art. The field is massive and the opportunities after art school seem countless. Here's the first contribution by Molly Roberts, a graduate of the University of Maryland, where she studied Photography:
- I do think the digital age is the age of visual communication, so the more sophistication and knowledge you have about the history of the visual medium, the more suited you are for the workplace of the future. Also, there is a lot of entrepreneurial thinking in the art world. That's extremely useful in the 21st-century workplace! -
Molly Roberts, Chief Photography Editor at Smithsonian Magazine
On National Portfolio Day at Ringling College, I met two sophomore students, Audrey and Silpa. We talked about what it means to be an artist, and they agreed for me to share some of their thoughts about becoming and being an artist on this blog.
I have to paraphrase since I didn't bring a recorder, and the only paper I had to write on was the program. So, here's it in a nutshell: art is a passion. It's a skill that can be learned with hard work and passion. Two things that make you an artist: discipline and passion. Talent? No. Because you may have a talent for making art, for drawing, painting, dancing, singing, whatever it is, but it doesn't mean that you are practicing your art. And only with practice can you become an artist. You are defined by your dedication to whatever it is you want to do. It all depends on your drive and what you want.
Recap: to have talent is nice, but it's not what makes you whatever you want to be. If you want to be an artist, practice your artistic skill, work hard to master it, and then define yourself through your artistry.