[6pt7]

Art has always been a personal love and hobby of mine; always has, always will be. At the moment, I currently attend a regular university but I've been having increasing interests in transferring to an art university, but I'm not sure how to go about it. I have a few questions:

1. How should I prepare a portfolio? How long should it be, what should be in it, etc. etc.

2. What are the best universities within the Southern California area? My main interests lie in illustration, but I'm also open to exploring areas of graphic design as well..if that helps narrow the prospects.

3. Any other additional advice?

I know this might draw a few complicated and long winded answers, but I really appreciate any kind of advice I can get. Thanks!

[goldenavatar0]

1. To the best of your ability. Go to your schools art department and ask the professors and instructors there this question. They can give you a better idea of what you'll need, and if you show them what you can do, they might be able to point out what you're lacking. Don't fret, it's their job to do that whether you're in their class or not.

2. Do you feel your skills are ready for the best art schools in Southern California? That's a mighty expensive gamble to make if you're not already confident in your existing skill level.

3. Refer to number 1 & 2.
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[ambelamba]

If you have a decent academic history, go try a State University first. In SoCal I can recommend 3 of them:CSU Long Beach, CSU Fullerton and CSU Northridge. Don't ever think about applying for a UC to learn how to draw because they do not have any competent art program in my standard.

Unless you are desperate for job connections or want to work in automotive industry, don't waste your money on priavte art colleges. If skill is what you worry about then there's some way to find where to learn.

In most cases, like me, the toughest part when you choose not to go to a private one is to learn how to paint and use color. You can learn figure drawing and perspective from some privately held studios in SoCal, like LA academy of figurative art or Associates in Art. Gnomon is tad more expensive, but It can still be interesting. If you don't mind drving down to San Diego, Jeff Watts Atelier is also fine.
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Human mind is the battlefield of good and evil.

[Quiet]

" Unless you are desperate for job connections or want to work in automotive industry, don't waste your money on priavte art colleges."

That's harsh and untrue, but it did make me laugh! (I went to one of those schools and got a great art education.)

[makototaramoto]

1. How should I prepare a portfolio? How long should it be, what should be in it, etc. etc.
-basically you want at least 15 peices which are finished and sometimes but not always a recent filled sketch book. But for the most part each school has different requirements so having a good general list of schools will give you a average...

2. What are the best universities within the Southern California area? My main interests lie in illustration, but I'm also open to exploring areas of graphic design as well..if that helps narrow the prospects.
-here is a small list

3. Any other additional advice?
-well for me i have my heart set out on the school of visual arts, i am told that if I dont get accepted to have a back up...the only problem with that is no other school right now appeals to me...if im not accepted, it only means two things...
1. my portfolio lacks something
2.I have a 300+ days till my deadline
...so some advice is i guess if you have a letter which doesn't accept ypu dont worry about you can either use you back ups....or work hard to build your portfolio up and apply again...here are some pretty good links....



http://www.artschools.com/articles/admission/best/
http://www.animatedbuzz.com/tutorials/Calarts.html

...hope this helped some
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mercer