michaelwebster

I specifically know of one person who didn't get into a school because of their behavior at a meet n greet post-interview. Anytime you spend with professors it is important to give a good impression, but speaking clearly, honestly, and intelligently about your work and why you want into their school is the most important thing. My work wasn't that strong when I applied to schools (still isn't really), but my interviews are what got me acceptances. I recommend coming really prepared.

You don't really have to dress up for interviews. How you answer the questions they ask can be really important, so I would look at the thread with all the questions and check to see if you can answer them all for every school.

That is one way to get their attention!

Leaving a little wall around the edges is a recent trend in documenting paintings. It makes since for those painters who want their canvasses to be more of an object than an image, as is much of conteporary abstract painting. The yale thesis shows are a good example of the kind of work I am talking about: http://art.yale.edu/Painting1MFA2012

http://www.collegeart.org/guidelines/visartcv the source for academic art CV info.

SAIC has a strong social practice element, primarily within the sculpture department. I was looking for social practice programs and ended up at SAIC, and TAed a class called "Site, Environment, Community" for example. Carnegie Mellon and Otis both have social practice elements as well. Painting and social practice is an unusual, but not unheard of combination, do you have a website?

yea, you got a PM.

Your statement of purpose is usually heavily weighted because it often gives a sense of your understanding of your own work, shows if you have researched the program you are applying to, and shows if you have goals for where your work will develop. After the portfolio it is usually the 2nd most important part of the application.

If you have any questions about ECU or UNCG I know both of the programs very well.

PAFA, UGA

I didn't think your portraits were very strong, but the street category contained the strongest images. The one of the blue school doors, the apple in the gutter, and the green building next to read doors were a nice grouping. The one of the droopy palm trees is the strongest image, but is there some texture photoshopped into it? Work does not have to have a tight cohesiveness, but it needs a vision. Looking through all your images I wouldn't be able to tell they were all by the same person, although I do see small sets that work well together.

I went to undergrad at ECU. Usually 4 or 5 photo grad students, with a total of 50 in all departments. Its a 3 year program. Good TA opportunities, where you can teach your own class as insturctor of record. I don't know if grades will matter for grad admissions, but knowing ECU, it probably doesn't matter in the least. I think selection is going to be really key for your portfolio, cause you have some good images mixed in, but they seem oddly arranged on your website. Regardless I think you will have a shot at ECU if you can get a thoughtful grouping of images.

I was really into the Big Bend photos with the circular framing. They highlight the act of photography and its program as a framing tool that pushes the photos beyond being just a landscape.

What schools are you looking at that said you wouldn't get in with those very painterly collages? I just think the collages are stronger, and that the two bodies of work may be too disparate to stand together. Maybe some paintings can come from the collage process? Your work is defnitely not new genres but it is painting, regardless of if you uses paint.

manitoga, the collages look great! The paintings should be pushed out by more collages.

For some ideas, you can look at previous year's applicants and their portfolios on this forum.

I don't think an MFA is 'necessary' to make good work, but unfortunately art education in our school systems is terrible. If there were art literacy levels then I think graduating seniors from most high schools would be 'arting' at an 8th grade level. That translates into most BFA programs leaving students years behind where they should be, and why students need 5 years out of school to be ready for an MFA most of the time. So I don't think an MFA is absolutely necessary, I have seen a couple high school students who could get into MFA programs on their work alone right now, but that is generally not the case, and most of us need the extra 2 years beyond the BFA to reach the level we want to be at. I know I did.

The department at SAIC is hard to pin down, since its film, video, and new media all placed together, but I could see you there. I don't know much about film programs, but if there aren't many you like then maybe your safety schools are strong in video and/or critical theory.

All that you need to question this woman's judgement is to look at the work that her gallery shows. Also, as an object maker it is much easier to make a living off of your work, so maybe an MFA isn't necessary, but with artwork that doesn't find an easy home in the market, an MFA is much more of a boost to opportunities.

use whatever is your best work, that is all that matters.

I was just curious that you weren't applying to SAIC, since they are the school for performance, in the chance you get the free ride (each department has one free ride to give out). Also, you don't have to interview at SAIC in the performance dept, so the application is your only investment. I enjoy both sides of your work, so I don't really have set advice, but it may be tough to reconcile all of it in one application. I don't feel that those suits are ot of place, they fit kinda between the two types of work, maybe that is your bridge? Reminds me of Nick Cave.

Apparently full body suits are in this year between you and Caitlingm. Its unusual that you have the Ana Mendieta-ish pieces, which seem very reserved, alongside the more comedic and Ryan Trecartin-ish bodies. I like both, but I am wondering if it might be distracting for some. The Attempt to Fill a Hole was hilarious. You are really sure you have to stay on the west coast?

The photo Keeping it Together is sooo nice. The others in that series are nice as well, but some use a few too many overt symbolic icons for my taste. A few are a little too HDR in my opinion too.

MissBM, you shouldn't worry about being too expeienced for an MFA, its actually a huge benefit when you're graduating and applying for fellowships. Also, I believe you will not have a rough time getting in, I would expect you to get some good offers.

I agree with Losemygrip. Plenty of people use compassion in their work, but illustration (like Coe) isn't the way to do it. The parrot piece works because it thoughtfully engages us, rather than just showing us an ambiguous image of people with a pet in a house. Keep pushing your limits, and don't feel obligated to use printmaking in every project.