vermillion

That's disheartening to hear because I plan on applying to Washington because the painting faculty seems wonderful and one of my favorite artists, Ann Gale is on the faculty there, and the graduate painting I have seen from there seems to be strong.

Wow! 16 applications, how did your head not explode! Congrats on the interview though, looks as if all that hard work is paying off. I still have to send my apps to Tyler and Washington, wish I could have applied to more, but it is just too expensive, oh well, hopefully one of the schools will want me. Good luck on the rest.

I think it's alright as long as your art ed background has made you who you are as an artist now and stronger for it. And as long as you briefly mentioned it and didn't make your whole essay about it then it should be fine, anyways aren't the schools going to see your art ed degree on your transcripts?

University of Washington is Feb 1st

Have you looked into Claremont Graduate University? The whole school accepts only graduate students so its most likely a sure thing. The art department is pretty large, having around 50-60 grad students which could be a good or bad thing because you have many different people at different skill levels. Also it is pretty expensive, I'm not sure about the financial aid situation, I know they offer a few spots that are fully funded. I have a friend who is going there now and she said the faculty is top notch and they have pretty well known contemporary artists coming each semester to talk and teach classes, in terms of the painting that comes out of there, it definitely varies in style and skill, some great stuff and some not so great stuff.

Wow I really like your work, very different. Who are artists that you look at?

Yes their website doesn't really give to much info on current painting students and work, but Long Beach has a strong program with a wonderful faculty. The program is divided into two categories contemporary practices and figurative practices. There are studios for all grad students which is rare for a CSU art dept. Although because the figurative category is relatively new they don't have great studios and they are all shared and are located on the same floor as the painting/drawing classrooms, but you do get a space. The contemporary practices side however gets nice sized individual studios that are housed in a large warehouse type building separate from the art dept. As far as a library the art dept doesn't have its own library but the university does. If you want to, message me your email and I will send you info on the profs and a list of current/past grads/undergrads.

Hello, you said you visited Tyler? How were facilities, specifically the grad painting studios, (size, private/shared)? Thanks for any info.

I was wondering how many of you hired someone to photograph your portfolio and how many of you did it yourselves. Also if you photographed it yourself what type of camera did you use?

I plan on applying to MFA painting programs this fall as well, and I was wondering if anyone has contacted past alumni from the schools to which they are applying. And if so, how did you do it, what did you ask them, any advice would be appreciated.