ol'spice

Is this the work you are submitting as your undergrad portfolio? My impression is that you are trying a bit too hard to make it all seem consistent and to lead into this epic thing (theater, movie, etc) and I'm not telling you to stop dreaming big, but I think you should focus on showing the best work you did during your undergrad school. Even if the pieces aren't very consistent from one to the next. That's the advice I had from one of my professors. I'm not sure which dept. you are applying to... If you are probing painting you should have better examples of paintings (even if they have nothing to do with this narrative thing you are trying to push). if you are expecting to be accepted in an MFA focusing on painting, that is. I first saw some Philip Guston influence (his late work) and then after looking at the other images, it looks graphic (graphic novel, graphic) and too illustrative (for applying to a painting program)... If you are young, then make sure to not rush applying to an MFA right now, you have your life ahead of you and you should be able to spend more time developing your portfolio so you know you'll be a good candidate when the time comes. Lastly, I think your theme has potential, but I think you need to become just as preoccupied with the medium of painting as you are with the narrative and right now, it's lacking on "painterly-ness"...

I think the part of how your work fits in the art world is important but you could list it as something you are trying to figure out, and that you are hoping Grad school will help you accomplish that... (just my 2cents on that thought)....

I'm glad I'm reading this since I wasn't planning on being specific on my statement on the why I wanted to go to any specific school... I thought that justifying my goal for an MFA with the investigations I'm putting my work through and some other important reasons I'm jolting down would have been enough. Also, I'm applying mostly to schools with an established reputation, so to me, it was implied why I'd want to go there. On another note, I did list influences and artists whose work is dealing with similar problems or investigations, after one professor told me it's fine to be specific comparing your work to other artist's work since it shows you are grounded in the history of art (or that you are in tune with what's going on today in your field of exploration).

All I'll say is I LOVE those two paintings...

I noticed that in some of the tables the reviewers where timing the sessions because there were lines of people waiting. I got there early and I was the first at SAIC's table. I didn't feel rushed and I spent a good 40 minutes with the reviewer. RISD was the only table that told me we were out of time... I figure I spent the same amount of time with each of the four schools I was reviewed by....And in a four hour day, that was it... I tried running to the MICA folks area with 6 minutes left before the event ended but they were wrapping it up. He directed me to the link on their site (someone posted that here in a thread above)... http://www.mica.edu/Admission_and_Financial_Aid/Graduate_Admission_and_Financial_Aid/2011_Graduate_Pre-Application_Online_Portfolio_Reviews.html I brought a laptop with a simple slideshow (online and not in case there wasn't a connection) and I brought sketch books, some printed images of paintings, a slideshow of a sculpture project (just in case any of them wanted to see more than just paintings). In addition, I brought a sheet with thumbnails of the progression of two of my paintings from start to "end". My process is very intuitive and the work changes dramatically from the beginning until the end. I take digital images of some of these phases (it helps me) and that was really really well received by all. All the reviewers gave me good feedback on that.

I'm an older student (coming back to school) and I have 18 years of painting/exhibiting self-taught and a B.A in painting (last three years ) I went to the San Francisco (at the Art Institute) Grad Portfolio Review this past Sunday, 10-9-11... here the spill: I sat down with the following schools ( I wish I had talked to more of them, but the event was from 12PM to 4PM and these interviews were fairly long) SAIC Had a real positive review. After I showed my portfolio and sort of articulated why and how I'm going about doing my work, she then told me she liked the work and that she felt I'd be a good candidate because I didn't say I had arrived at any conclusions and on the contrary, that I expressed I was seeking to explore further new ways of creating interesting art. RISD The reviewer basically said he also liked the work I was showing him and that I just had to make sure my statement covered everything that I expressed on the interview, as far as explaining it. SVA - The guy who reviewed my work and I had some things in common and this was the only reason why I'd consider this school. He is in the Computer Arts program (and I've worked with computers and multimedia as a career for over 15 years). This school seems to be a good environment for a painter that wants to explore other methods (such as digital processes, large format printers etc) as potential part of the work flow. SFAI - I spoke to the director of art faculty and he is a conceptual artist. If you look at the link to his work there are almost no images. Nice guy, really interesting but I started feeling like perhaps I'd not be a good match for that school. So at one point I just asked bluntly: "so do you think it would be a waste of my time to apply here, since it seems you guys have this interdisciplinary focus to your programs?" To what he replied: "No, absolutely not! As a matter of fact I want you to go to that table over there (it was manned by one of the painting faculty) and speak to that guy". Again, once I sat with the painting dude, basically he also really liked my paintings and even went as far as saying that he'd would put a referral for me in case I applied there. Well, since my current work is really new even to me, I was humbled by the experience. It gave me confidence to really go for broke and deal with the next few years (student loans et all), quit my two jobs and leave my current career on hold. But I'm an older, seasoned guy and I believe in my work ethic and on the sliver of talent that I believe drives this whole madness of going back to school seeking an MFA. Also I have 6 years of Community College teaching experience. I like teaching, so if I get accepted, and at the end I'm not a hot shot exhibiting artist, then I have teaching to fall back on. I hope this helps...