leee

Your piece "Reverse Mourning" reminds me of Natalie Frank's work, if you aren't familiar with her I highly recommend checking her out.

If it is a diptych or triptych it should stand as one image. By bringing the two or three together you are creating one image so in turn it will only be counted as one image. No schools from my knowledge look down upon this.

Ask where recent grads are showing / working. Also, find out exactly how the program you may be entering is structured (conceptual > technical - vice versa). See if you can get access to a sample course list, to see what types of seminars are available to you. Also, this is a two way street, so it is important to find out what THEY can do for you...after all we are paying them, not the other way around. Best of luck!

It doesn't hurt to bring more work than that too. I've had multiple portfolio reviews where at the end I mention that I have more work if they are interested and 9 times out of 10 they'll look at it...so keep that in mind too, if you're pulling hair out trying to decide what to put in.

You should be fine asking a non-art person for a letter if your other two references can speak about your work/process. I got all three letters from previous professors and I think they probably overlapped each other in certain areas.

Check out RISD and MassArt

It seems to be more of a reinvention of the rule to me.

Make sure your work is cohesive and has an underlying theme/concept or technique that can tie it all together. Most schools are equally interested in how you make an image and what the image is about although some swing more one way or the other. If your weak in one of these areas don't hesitate to mention that it's something you'd like to evolve in the grad program. Know what you want to do, you may not know how quite yet but if you are focused on a direction and have something pretty interesting to say you shouldn't have a problem. best of luck!

I just started this semester at Kendall College of Art + Design in Michigan for the painting mfa program. so far so good, although it seems a bit more of a conceptual based program with everyone doing representational work, hah. maybe things will change in the future where more emphasis is put on paint handling. I live right outside of the downtown which is being compensated by my loan. There are two new students doing it with families and they're living 20-30 min. outside of the city. I hope to start a blog soon about my progression through the program, in which case I will give you the link. Best of luck!

Looks good so far! May help to talk less about your life and personal experiences and more about your process and what you're most interested in pursuing with your painting. I know it's hard to separate these, as the process is so personal. From what I've found though, schools are much more interested in your process and your reasons behind painting in the first place. There's so many painters out there doing so many incredible things...so make yourself stand out in your approach, process, and subject matter. If at all possible, try to talk about something that hasn't been done before! Best of luck! Also, really believe what you're writing about your work. Make sure it rings true to your feelings. I didn't get in to a school I interviewed at because i feel my verbal skills weren't up to their standards. Part of that had to do with me not feeling totally connected to my work. Almost like i was making work I thought these schools would be interested in more than i was actually interested in the work itself...if that makes sense. Just be true!

Those are all great schools for an academic painting track. MassArt has some figurative work but not as representational as yours. I've also found that most programs other than the strictly conceptual usually have at least one figurative painter every few years. sometimes it may be nice to be the only one doing what you're doing instead of an entire building full.

check out the New York Academy of Art. http://www.nyaa.edu

Depending on what area you would like to live in search realty companies or you can check on craigs list. Brooklyn will be much cheaper than Manhattan but you will have a 15 - 30 minute subway ride every day, which is something to take into consideration both financially and distance from studio. You can also try giving Parsons a call and speaking with someone in the graduate program or the international office and they may be able to offer some advice.

Great work. I have seen work with similar intent coming out of Cranbrook, Yale, Columbia, and WashU/Sam Fox. Check out SAIC too.

Check out the New York Academy of Art. They focus a lot on application and technique, although primarily figurative, I have seen other work come out of there.

When I was looking at SCAD's MFA program I had similar concerns about support. All I could find for painting was a low-residency program and I did not want that experience. I think at SAIC you have a more cohesive, group element with your peers. Where at SCAD, and I may be mistaken...It may be more like you and your mentor. Unless there is an option that isn't low-res. I understand your concerns about the post-bac not leading to acceptance into the MFA program. But these are some risks one may just have to make. Go where you are really pumped about going and your energy will help your work.

Congrats both are really good schools with great reputations. Tuition at MICA is about 38,000 a year (tuition only) and Cranbrook is around 30,000 a year. I'm sure you would have great opportunities for growth and networking at both, although I do believe Cranbrook is a little more prestigious, I'm sure you would receive a quality education and experience at both. Baltimore, MD is a bit of a depressed city but with its own character. Bloomfield Hills, MI is pretty close to Detroit I believe, also a depressed city but I believe the area that Cranbrook is located at is top notch, I could be wrong though. Hope some of this info helps, best of luck with your decisions. Oh yeah, not really sure if the US News ranking system does much for you but both schools are ranked #7.

waitlisted at massart, was notified today.

so MassArt told me I should hear something back by the end of March (having interviewed at the end of Feb for 2D program) Since I haven't received anything yet I called yesterday and they said they were running behind making decisions and the process was a little slow this year, and I should have an e-mail by the end of the week...but this is what I was told 3 weeks ago so who knows? Anyone else still waiting on a response from them?

thanks for all the info. Jean! Very much appreciated. Also, I find your work very engaging! Was curious as to what your thoughts are on the neighborhood of Whittier in Minneapolis, most concerned with safety issues. any info on this would also be appreciated! Thanks again.

I'm going to have to go with RISD as well. May I ask where you are currently located?

I would have done more research into the programs that offer excellent funding. Too many of the programs I applied to offer you hardly anything, and I now see that this is the big decision factor...money.

My undergard printmaking professor went to LSU for his MFA and always spoke highly of their program. Best of luck, and congrats!

Is there anyone else who has NOT heard anything back from MassArt after their interview? It's been well over a month now and when I called a few weeks ago they told me I would definitely hear something by the end of March. The program I interviewed for is 2d. If anyone else is still left out in the cold with no answer let me know!

Hi anataylor, I've also been accepted to MCAD but in the painting program. Have you visited the grad studios there? From what I saw when I walked through, it seemed one could experiment and cross into some other areas if it fits your ideas. I saw some photo work as I walked around, but didn't see much work there over all which was surprising. Do you plan on attending? I'm still up in the air yet , waiting to hear back from one more school then making up my mind. Best of luck. If you have any questions about the school or studios I took a bunch of pictures while there and would be happy to share them with you if you haven't had the opportunity to view the Whittier Studios.