Art Foundation Course Aaaaargh

[MoominMammasHandbag]

DD want to do some sort of Art degree and has decided on a foundation course to help her choose which area. But she wants to do it at university, rather than the local college. We are okay with this. Problem is, apart from the well known London colleges (which she has decided not to apply to) where is good for Art?
Most Russell Group type places don't even do Art, and the odd ones that do don't seem particularly inspiring. DD wants a city type experience, somewhere that will give her lot of options as to the degree she can then choose. Predicted As and B, but then is this even relevant as they will probably go on her portfolio?

shotgun what fantastic advice, thank you. Will be back to digest in detail when I've got the kids in bed and solved the usually daily crises here!

Very good Industrial Design course at Glasgow, excellent links with industry.

PS, I know many art school graduates who have to pay higher rate tax despite having arty jobs.

There is a five year fine art MA course at Edinburgh that combines history of art and humanities at the University with studio based sculpture/ painting or printmaking at the Art College. You have to have good academics and a portfolio for that one, I would have applied if I had found out about it in time ( the days before Internet and clued up parents and teachers!).
IMO Art school is a brilliant education, a lot of scope for personal research and self directed learning, it really helps to be clever as well as having talent and art students work harder than other students ( we often had practicals all day and then evening lectures) I would go back like a shot.

My brother was the crustiest geezer you could imagine and did his art degree at Loughborough - had a great time, plenty of non-sporty types. Had to travel to Nottingham or Derby for nights out etc though. Not convinced its the most exciting of places!

Moomin, it is very hard. In my daughters case even more so because she decided to go the art route at 15 - and hadn't even taken it for GCSE (option clash and she chose French over Art). Family thought she was mad but she put her own portfolio together and was accepted without a creative GCSE at a competitive art college. As others have said - the portfolio is pretty much everything in art. So long as you have a certain level of ability to cope with the academic requirements of the course, then the portfolio and interview are what matters.

She is currently studying a level 3 diploma at one of those art colleges already mentioned on this thread and she agrees that it does matter where you go. Also, competitive courses are good, because if your peers there are also talented you learn more because over the years you feed off each other.

Key, I was the same as your daughter, didn't do art at o-level equivalent as I was doing three sciences! Did a crash Higher Art in one year,got my lowest grade of all in it, struggled and put in the hours doing a portfolio in my last year at high school then got into art school. I am amazed my parents barely flinched throughout this, bless them.

I also know people who did not get brilliant first degrees, kept working on their art practice and subsequently got into post grad course at the Slade and Central St Martins, they both ended up teaching at the Royal College amongst other successes.

If you are determined enough there often seems to before than one route to success in the art world.

Thing is, the rest of the family are so full of criticism (and snide grins) but they never offer a valid alternative.

They appreciate her talent (they all want her work on their walls!) and they cannot deny how hard she works (anyone in art will know how hard it is to be successful in courses) and she is very self motivated and independent (really worthwhile skills). Oh, and let's not forget that she is happy - really happy. As her Mum, how dare we deny her this choice.

A foundation year and an Art foundation course are different things.

IMHO she will need to 'go south' for her degree, so she might be better doing the Art foundation course at a local college and then going to uni.

As for being 20, how old does she think the other students will be? How often does she think it will be discussed?

20 is nothing at uni.

Oh, and let's not forget that she is happy - really happy. As her Mum, how dare we deny her this choice.

In contrast I wasn't allowed to do an Art foundation, had to go to the VI form at the boys school, complete with uniform. Was terribly unhappy, stopped attending, started with depression and made quite a few poor life choices which may or may not be related to my depression.

Why will she have to go south for a degree. I didn't...well, I did and hated it, and came back up north.

All the people from my course found local jobs...

I think a friend's DD did this many years ago at Kingston.

I have just checked out the course at Edinburgh I was talking about earlier, my info is totally out of date, the first year is no longer like a foundation year ( I hope they still make everyone do life drawing), you chose an area to specialise in right from the off. How things change, I didn't even have to fill in an UCCA form in my day!

My daughter got Art Foundation offers from Leeds College of Art, and CCW (Chelsea, Camberwell and Wimbledon - the 3 colleges run one combined art foundation course based in Camberwell). She decided on Falmouth as she wanted to be by the sea. My advice would be to have lots of life drawing in your portfolio, and evidence of work done outside school. Applications are quite hard work as you have to fill in separate forms for each course, and watch out for different deadlines. My daughter's having a great time, but now she has to do UCAS ...

We are off to Falmouth Open Day at the weekend to have a look around.

I want to add that I also think there are lots of jobs in design, if your DD likes the idea of being a designer rather than an artist.

I studied at Bournemouth Art college (many moons ago) but myself and my friends all got jobs and made good livings. I did interior design and my husband also did interior design at Glasgow school of Art, we have both always worked in the commercial sector (never domestic interiors) and there is lots of variety, shops, offices, exhibitions, so many things, there is a large industry and lots of large and small design agencies.

I realise it's much harder than when I left college, I came out into the retail boom of the 80s, but there is still lots of work happening and it's a great industry to work in as long as you can work long hours and to deadlines, it's not great when you have small children (I gave up at that point) but we have certainly made enough money to have a nice life.

The largest agencies are in London but there is lots of things happening in other cities and many people set up their own company once they have experience and contacts.

My husband have travelled extensively with his work, all over the world, so it has been and still is an excellent profession to be in.

Good luck to your DD if she has talent and drive she could go far.

So much good advice here. We have just been to the open evening at the local college and been very impressed with the students' talent and enthusiasm. They also have a massively high proportion of students getting distinctions at foundation and an excellent record for people getting on good degree courses.
So after being adamant she wanted to go away to study, DD is now having another think. In the meantime she has sent off a couple of applications and planned to go to a few more open days.
Exciting times.

My son did art foundation at MMU and had a fantastic time, just to make you aware that if you choose direct access to MMU undergrad courses this means you are guaranteed a place if you pass foundation but can't then apply via UCAS to other universities as well.(May not still be the same, this was 2 years ago.) My son didn't do direct access because he wanted a change from Manchester where we live. He is now at St Martins doing Fine Art, it definitely is very mixed from what I've seen, not all rich kids. I don't worry about the job aspect because to be honest I can't imagine him doing anything else, he does have a p/t job in a gallery so hopefully would be able to make some money doing that if the art doesn't pay!

Winchester school of art @ Southampton University. Is well known. www.southampton.ac.uk/wsa They got fine art, & fashion and textile design and graphic arts.

A friend's daughter has just started a foundation course at Falmouth & is loving it.

Falmouth is lovely. My daughter isn't applying because she wants a particular type course which they don't offer but, otherwise, she and I both loved the Campus there.

My DD has just given up A levels after 1 term due to bad anxiety. She had planned to go to art college but now its all up in the air. Can anyone suggest ideas about what to do this year so its not wasted. She was doing really well before she left. At the moment, she can't think about the future, but I feel I need to, for when she is ready. I am hoping to be able to work part time so to be there for her at least some of the time.

Caz, why not start a thread?

As an art teacher, I would advise that she puts a portfolio together if she is able. This should include examples of work across different media (photography, painting, sculpture, etc.), but have a strong focus on observational drawing at this stage.

She should also research the work of other artists, and reference them in her work. She will be used to doing this if she has done a GCSE.

I can heartily recommend Betty Edwards' book, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain for some exercises to improve observational drawing skills.

Does she plan to return to A levels or would looking at a BTEC level 2 or 3 in Art and Design be more appropriate?

Hope she feels stronger soon

Caz, some Art Colleges offer level 2 (for students with GCSEs at grades D/E's) level 3 (for students with a few GCSEs at C+) and higher (degrees etc). They also offer foundation courses.

If she puts a portfolio together and read about artists as described she can take ownership of her future as art is one of those subjects you can do that in. In June visit your local college art department summer shows.

My daughter got into level 3 at Art College having not done GCSE (level 2) - her own created portfolio and passion at interview won her a place. She has lots of friends on the course who have come from A levels - didn't enjoy them and so left A levels and started the year after on a BTEC level 3 course.

Do start your own thread then hopefully more will comment.

Good luck to her.

Thanks for your suggestions tethersend and Kez100, I think I started a new thread with the same message - never done this before! Its so reassuring to 'talk' to supportive people, you feel so alone otherwise.

Try also Winchester School of Art University of Southampton