Plan on Applying for my MFA in Painting & Drawing for next year

[TheStranger]

Hi, I decided to take a couple years off after my BFA in Drawing and Painting to work on my portfolio to apply to a grad school. So these years off is kind of this investment and I want to know my progress is leading myself in the right direction. So I've completed 6 or so paintings and drawings so far and plan on having 16 by November 2011. My parents, friends, co-workers...they all know what my dreams are and why I am taking two years off in between my education just to work on my art. I am getting really paranoid whether the schools I will apply to will be cool with my traditional approach and art.

"Fire Escape"

Oil Paint on wood panel

48" X 60"

"Human Nature's Vertigo"

Oil on Wood Panel

30" x 48"

"Bus Stop"

18.25" x 29"

Charcoal on Stonehenge Paper

"Beyond"

60" x 82"

Oil on Canvas

"Between"

36" x 60"

Oil on Canavas

***IN PROGRESS, will be done by Janurary****

"Black Friday"

38" x 50"

Charcoal on paper

------------

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My main theme is of nature and the manmade world. In a nutshell paragraph:

The sense of belonging is a powerful and natural need for everyone, and this necessity starts from being aware of one’s own identity. Just as an infant will find their identity upon differentiating their unity with their own mother, humans have separated themselves from their once undifferentiated unity with Mother Nature. Human beings are trapped in a limbo where they no longer belong to nature---yet don't quite belong behind the man-made walls and in the structured environments they have built around themselves.

I am also finding out having one theme may be alright, but it's the overall feel of your work that ties it all together enough instead of one theme throughout. So I am beginning to include social aspects into my work and may have one or two more themes.

These are currently the schools I want to apply to by December & Janurary 2011 as I heard they were th the best ones:

Yale (CT) (dream school)

SAIC Chicago (IL)

UCLA (CA)

Columbia (NY)

Hunter (NY)

Tyler (PA)

MICA (MD)

I've read posts here and it seems RISD is also a good painting school.

Please please please leave any helpful insight, criticisms, advice and inside wisdom on my goal for the end of this year (I have all this year to improve and figure everything out). I know a lot of you have already gotten in or have gone through the whole application process and even interviews. Sometimes I wonder if I'm too 'traditional' to go to really good schools and that they're only interested in avant guard approaches (It's a big worry for me as I am very observational and love oil on panel and charcoal).

Thank you guys.

Another worried art person,

TheStranger

[colbz]

I would say this is some really strong work...I am especially in love with your black friday drawing. I am similar to you in that I took some time off as well...although I only did a semester, probably could have used more. Yes, RISD is ranked number 3 for painting. I could definitely see you at Hunter, Tyler, RISD, MICA or SAIC. I could be wrong, but I checked out the work at Columbia, and a lot of it was super duper conceptual, so they might be less accepting of your more traditional approach, but don't quote me on that because I am no expert. Yale might be more conceptual as well, but I feel like I have seen alumni work from Yale that is more traditional. Chuck Close obviously...but I guess he earned his MFA a long time ago. I just know that Columbia is super conceptual from checking out student work online. I had made that assumption about Yale being super conceptual based on work I saw in magazines such as "new American Paintings." I visited MICA last fall, and a bunch of students at Hoffberger were doing more traditional painting, so you should be fine. You can't change who you are because of what you think schools want anyways.

Hi, I decided to take a couple years off after my BFA in Drawing and Painting to work on my portfolio to apply to a grad school. So these years off is kind of this investment and I want to know my progress is leading myself in the right direction. So I've completed 6 or so paintings and drawings so far and plan on having 16 by November 2011. My parents, friends, co-workers...they all know what my dreams are and why I am taking two years off in between my education just to work on my art. I am getting really paranoid whether the schools I will apply to will be cool with my traditional approach and art.

"Fire Escape"

Oil Paint on wood panel

48" X 60"

"Human Nature's Vertigo"

Oil on Wood Panel

30" x 48"

"Bus Stop"

18.25" x 29"

Charcoal on Stonehenge Paper

"Beyond"

60" x 82"

Oil on Canvas

"Between"

36" x 60"

Oil on Canavas

***IN PROGRESS, will be done by Janurary****

"Black Friday"

38" x 50"

Charcoal on paper

------------

------------

My main theme is of nature and the manmade world. In a nutshell paragraph:

The sense of belonging is a powerful and natural need for everyone, and this necessity starts from being aware of one’s own identity. Just as an infant will find their identity upon differentiating their unity with their own mother, humans have separated themselves from their once undifferentiated unity with Mother Nature. Human beings are trapped in a limbo where they no longer belong to nature---yet don't quite belong behind the man-made walls and in the structured environments they have built around themselves.

I am also finding out having one theme may be alright, but it's the overall feel of your work that ties it all together enough instead of one theme throughout. So I am beginning to include social aspects into my work and may have one or two more themes.

These are currently the schools I want to apply to by December & Janurary 2011 as I heard they were th the best ones:

Yale (CT) (dream school)

SAIC Chicago (IL)

UCLA (CA)

Columbia (NY)

Hunter (NY)

Tyler (PA)

MICA (MD)

I've read posts here and it seems RISD is also a good painting school.

Please please please leave any helpful insight, criticisms, advice and inside wisdom on my goal for the end of this year (I have all this year to improve and figure everything out). I know a lot of you have already gotten in or have gone through the whole application process and even interviews. Sometimes I wonder if I'm too 'traditional' to go to really good schools and that they're only interested in avant guard approaches (It's a big worry for me as I am very observational and love oil on panel and charcoal).

Thank you guys.

Another worried art person,

TheStranger

[TheStranger]

I would say this is some really strong work...I am especially in love with your black friday drawing. I am similar to you in that I took some time off as well...although I only did a semester, probably could have used more. Yes, RISD is ranked number 3 for painting. I could definitely see you at Hunter, Tyler, RISD, MICA or SAIC. I could be wrong, but I checked out the work at Columbia, and a lot of it was super duper conceptual, so they might be less accepting of your more traditional approach, but don't quote me on that because I am no expert. Yale might be more conceptual as well, but I feel like I have seen alumni work from Yale that is more traditional. Chuck Close obviously...but I guess he earned his MFA a long time ago. I just know that Columbia is super conceptual from checking out student work online. I had made that assumption about Yale being super conceptual based on work I saw in magazines such as "new American Paintings." I visited MICA last fall, and a bunch of students at Hoffberger were doing more traditional painting, so you should be fine. You can't change who you are because of what you think schools want anyways.

Thanks for the reply. I wouldn't change who I am for the school BUT I am willing to go towards a direction if I thought it would be good for me too as well as the school. I know conceptual work is "in" it seems. I have discussions with my professor about this from time to time. I really want to go to Yale as I really want to eventually teach and having a good name school behind me as well as good networking connections near NY would be....well...perfect. But your assumptions are close to mine that Yale is more conceptual. Did anyone here who got into Yale do more 'traditional' painting?

[colbz]

Just have to share my own little theory about art, as like you I am more traditional in my approach. Not quite as traditional...but I think anyone who does somewhat representational oil paintings is definitely traditional to an extent.

My philosophy is that art can definitely still be traditional and conceptual at the same time...obviously our work means something and has deeper ideas to it even if it is representational. I'm not in any way saying there is anything wrong with "conceptual" art, but my personal taste is for art that stands alone as a visual image. In other words: I want to have fun just looking at it! Sometimes conceptual work is interesting, and has cool ideas behind it that really make me think...but without the "cool ideas" I wouldn't be able to enjoy it for the purity of technical skill, etc.

PS, Yale may be number one, but RISD, SAIC, MICA, Hunter, etc are all top ten as well, so they will also give you a good name. Indiana University at Bloomington is also a top tier school that has a lot of traditional painters (seen a lot of it in New american paintings). Totally go check out New american paintings at the book store...I flip through it all the time and it says where people go to school or where they graduated from, so you can see work from all the schools.

Thanks for the reply. I wouldn't change who I am for the school BUT I am willing to go towards a direction if I thought it would be good for me too as well as the school. I know conceptual work is "in" it seems. I have discussions with my professor about this from time to time. I really want to go to Yale as I really want to eventually teach and having a good name school behind me as well as good networking connections near NY would be....well...perfect. But your assumptions are close to mine that Yale is more conceptual. Did anyone here who got into Yale do more 'traditional' painting?

[TheStranger]

Just have to share my own little theory about art, as like you I am more traditional in my approach. Not quite as traditional...but I think anyone who does somewhat representational oil paintings is definitely traditional to an extent.

My philosophy is that art can definitely still be traditional and conceptual at the same time...obviously our work means something and has deeper ideas to it even if it is representational. I'm not in any way saying there is anything wrong with "conceptual" art, but my personal taste is for art that stands alone as a visual image. In other words: I want to have fun just looking at it! Sometimes conceptual work is interesting, and has cool ideas behind it that really make me think...but without the "cool ideas" I wouldn't be able to enjoy it for the purity of technical skill, etc.

PS, Yale may be number one, but RISD, SAIC, MICA, Hunter, etc are all top ten as well, so they will also give you a good name. Indiana University at Bloomington is also a top tier school that has a lot of traditional painters (seen a lot of it in New american paintings). Totally go check out New american paintings at the book store...I flip through it all the time and it says where people go to school or where they graduated from, so you can see work from all the schools.

I think using traditional methods but speaking in the language and context of our time gives a very interesting take on things. So our philosophies aren't very different. I very much prefer art that is interesting to look at and also has a strong captivating idea that may also speak to our generation. My old professor also reccomended Indiana University at Bloomington, though I am initially worried that it's in the midwest and not super close to NY. I'll have to take a look at New American Paintings next time I'm near a bookstore. This is the year to do all my reseach as best as I can. Are you already in grad school?

[colbz]

Nope...just finished the BFA in May 10.....and now applying for the first time. Almost done with my applications, so I am trying to stay hopeful, but I'm worried I won't get accepted anywhere. PS I don't think it's all about NY...but I agree with you about Indiana in that I prefer to be in or near a large city, and Indiana is somewhere I've never been, but from what I've heard it's not very populated.

I think using traditional methods but speaking in the language and context of our time gives a very interesting take on things. So our philosophies aren't very different. I very much prefer art that is interesting to look at and also has a strong captivating idea that may also speak to our generation. My old professor also reccomended Indiana University at Bloomington, though I am initially worried that it's in the midwest and not super close to NY. I'll have to take a look at New American Paintings next time I'm near a bookstore. This is the year to do all my reseach as best as I can. Are you already in grad school?

[inscho]

Thanks for the reply. I wouldn't change who I am for the school BUT I am willing to go towards a direction if I thought it would be good for me too as well as the school. I know conceptual work is "in" it seems. I have discussions with my professor about this from time to time. I really want to go to Yale as I really want to eventually teach and having a good name school behind me as well as good networking connections near NY would be....well...perfect. But your assumptions are close to mine that Yale is more conceptual. Did anyone here who got into Yale do more 'traditional' painting?

well john currin and lisa yuskavage came out of yale, but that was in the 80s.

Traditional methods are relevant, but the second you put a brush to a canvas, you reference the entire history of painting. You need to know where you fit within that tradition, and whether you work brings anything new to the table or not.

[TheStranger]

Nope...just finished the BFA in May 10.....and now applying for the first time. Almost done with my applications, so I am trying to stay hopeful, but I'm worried I won't get accepted anywhere. PS I don't think it's all about NY...but I agree with you about Indiana in that I prefer to be in or near a large city, and Indiana is somewhere I've never been, but from what I've heard it's not very populated.

Good luck on your applications!

[TheStranger]

well john currin and lisa yuskavage came out of yale, but that was in the 80s.

Traditional methods are relevant, but the second you put a brush to a canvas, you reference the entire history of painting. You need to know where you fit within that tradition, and whether you work brings anything new to the table or not.

I feel John Currin really pushes the concept you mention of making paintings that know the history behind the medium and uses that as his theme--- pushing boundaries of pornography and art, naked and nude. So that is an interesting approach.

I may tackle more specific issues of today in my paintings as it seems necessary.

[BKCHICAGO]

you should look at SMFA in boston, they are known for fig. work.

its pretty brave of you to put these up-- not many do.

good luck to you!

[Kaelynn]

hey!!

yale is known for accepting really conceptual abstract painters

ALONG WITH

really traditional figure/portrait painters.

i would say the percentage of those two "categories"

are about 50 50 in every class at yale.

however, they definitely have a distinct aesthetic taste.

but why not apply? you never know!

don't even worry about what we say here!

it's the committee you want to please

and the only way to do that is to paint A LOT.

so do it. then apply!

[TheStranger]

hey!!

yale is known for accepting really conceptual abstract painters

ALONG WITH

really traditional figure/portrait painters.

i would say the percentage of those two "categories"

are about 50 50 in every class at yale.

however, they definitely have a distinct aesthetic taste.

but why not apply? you never know!

don't even worry about what we say here!

it's the committee you want to please

and the only way to do that is to paint A LOT.

so do it. then apply!

That's really refreshing to hear. I've been getting more aware of the art of today. Looking at New American Paintings magazine, Blue Canvas and looking to find the book Vitamin P. I hope to keep evolving my work...and I hope the panel who judges my portfolio will see how I've been growing during the making of my work and take that into consideration.

[OddBallMunchie]

Well if more traditional is what you are seeking have you considered The New York Academy of Art MFA program? They're traditional all the way with a focus on the figure.

http://nyaa.edu/nyaa/index.html

That's really refreshing to hear. I've been getting more aware of the art of today. Looking at New American Paintings magazine, Blue Canvas and looking to find the book Vitamin P. I hope to keep evolving my work...and I hope the panel who judges my portfolio will see how I've been growing during the making of my work and take that into consideration.