Fine Art - where to apply?

[ArtySonsMum]

I'm hoping some knowledgeable mumsnetters might be able to help me.

DS, age 18 and in yr 13, is hoping to do Fine Art at uni next year. We have looked round several unis so far but he is worried that they won't encourage the kind of art he is hoping to make. He knows part of the point of a degree is to widen his horizons and push him out of his comfort zone, but he is also high functioning autistic as well as very clear that he primarily wants to paint and draw. He is concerned that the focus on conceptual art might mean he won't have the focus on techniques that he wants.

I know very little about all this and am floundering trying to help him find the right uni/art school/course for him. Does it exist? I'm guessing if it does it might be a more traditional one? Or does it really matter - could he go anywhere and find that his own approach is welcomed? Any advice/info would be helpful. TIA.

He should strongly consider an Art Foundation year before committing to fine art - it's still classified at Further Education, so no fees. A level Art is very tight and an art foundation year is very experimental - students try lots of stuff they never would have at school. Plus helps them be sure of what direction they want to go in.

I agree a foundation course may be wise, and many degree courses strongly recommend them.
But you/your son have to do your research. Some courses are more traditional than others. What uni and discover uni are good places to start, and look at individual university websites - most will have degree shows online which will give an indication of the kind of work they do, and book in some open days. Also look at each head of departments own art work and see if it connect with your son.
Get a shifty though - deadlines may not be until next year but he'll want to get his portfolio up to standard now.

I did a foundation degree first. It’s a year long and it was honestly SO helpful in firstly being in that sort of environment and getting a feel for it and also getting me prepared for what to expect at uni. For universities I went to Nottingham Trent University as it was one of the only unis where you didn’t have to choose a certain medium to work in throughout your degree and you had free reign to do what you like and change things up. I’m sure it’s still like that but I would just double check

foundation is the best year of your art education. @ very distinguished artist I know said it was the only year that was any use to him.

He has a portfolio and we are looking around unis, we just can't seem to find one that has the focus he wants.

He is adamant he doesn't want to do art Foundation. We've looked into it and I think it would be amazing (would like to do one myself!) but he feels he already knows what he wants and has enough skills to hit the ground running. I think that has to be his decision. The question is where to go for painting and drawing? Any other viewpoints on this are welcomed.

Looking at head of department's work I hadn't thought of - thank you!

i think he has to choose for himself
and they much prefer an art foundation
then he can decide whether it is fine art/illustration/design or whatever

can his current art teacher advise?

If he does an Art Foundation:

He will be 'better' at 'art' when he starts (& probably finishes) his degree, which can only be a good thing.

He will also not be unsure as to what course he should apply to, like he is now, as he'll get advice & direction from his tutors and more experience.

He may think he has all the skills he needs now to hit the ground running, but he won't. And it's not just the skills as how to use materials etc, it's the 'undoing' of A level Art and its tight mark scheme and curriculum that is important to learn before a degree, especially one as 'free' as fine art.

When I did my Art foundation, many moons ago, friends who were adamant they were a fine artist changed their minds and did graphic design or illustration. And they never ever would have thought that when they started. But in those days, you had to have an art foundation pre design degree. Now unis just want bums on seats re funding and will say that you don't have to have one, but take a tutor aside at an open day and ask them , really is it better if my son has one, and they will 100% say yes every time.

I can't link on phone but have a look in higher education for a thread called 2023 applications creative courses or similar - it's quite active and we are all sharing open days etc

My daughter did an Illustration degree so not exactly the same but I second what others have said about the Art Foundation, it makes a big difference. Plus you get to keep them at home another year 😉

He'll be very lucky to be offered a place without doing the foundation year first. I applied to uni's before doing it (in 2005 but it's still the norm now) and got no offers. 3 unconditional offers when I applied the next year while on the foundation. Like a PP I also changed my specialism I was adamant I wanted to do.

Dd is currently doing Art Foundation. Some unis expect this so you have to check criteria for each one just in case. One of the best for Fine Art is Leicester De Montfort but it can be tough to get into apparently.

I should add that pretty much most unis, for a Fine Art course, for the first year, is varied in that you will be expected to work with a range of materials, ceramics, graphics, textiles, etc, then in the final 2 years you can specialise more in your chosen field.

I went to De Montfort. I wouldn't recommend it and actually ended up changing to a different university. I was one of many who did the same on my course. They expected quantity over quality of work. But that's just my experience. If he's really passionate about fine art he could look at places like UAL, Falmouth, UCLAN, Liverpool John Moores, Leeds College of Art etc. He/both of you need to go and visit universities/open days, speak to the tutors and see what the different courses can offer. Also what like is like on campus too. To be honest he really needs to go to go to a college to do the Foundation year. They are run by mostly working artists, with lots of different experiences and specialisms, who would be able to advise him much better than his sixform teachers.

www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings/art-and-design

I think I'll go back to him with some of your messages about art foundation! His school discourages it (as it affects their uni stats), but I think it would give him the time, information and inspiration he needs. He is a perfectionist and I think there is some fear about being taken off his path - that's part of his autism.

This is all really valuable information!

That's terrible that the school discourages art foundation! Putting their stats before a student's welfare!
He also should ponder where he sees himself re work/earning post degree...if he wants to be 'an artist' it's not impossible, but a hard living to make. Which is why some fine artists will shift after their degree to other areas like illustration, set design, film etc - still being creative but with a decent income!

Honestly bloody schools trying to get children straight into Uni when it's not the best thing for them infuriates me!

Art foundation is crucial to studying fine art.

I think Foundation will be the last time he is 'taught'. Art at Uni is very self driven, lots of studio time, very little teaching or lectures. Foundation will be the chance to challenge him to try other stuff. (Which it sounds like he doesn't want to do )

Sixth forms are terrible for putting on the Uni pressure.

My friend's daughter was being pressured by school to go straight to uni rather than take a gap year. Absolutely not the right thing for her.