Part 2: Continuation of 2023 uni (and other) applications for those pursuing art and creative routes

[Duchessofmuchness]

As requested transferring us all over hear for the continuation of the 2023 journey. Have so enjoyed the company and support of all on the first thread. Link to original thread copied below (I hope!)

2023 uni applications for those pursuing art and creative routes www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/4626697-2023-uni-applications-for-those-pursuing-art-and-creative-routes

@FriendlyLaundryMonster I know I'm a broken record on this, but if your DD wants traditional drawing then Illustration might be a better fit than Fine Art, depending on the place. My DD picked ARU precisely because it has lots of observational drawing including life classes. There was a first year module involving sketching around Cambridge, and her recent trip to Seville was all about drawing from life (see attached).

@PhotoDad You're at no risk of that; you always have really useful advice! I think I will have a look at illustration too. When we were at Glasgow today it was pointed out that they don't even include life drawing in the course, so you'd have to find it yourself elsewhere.
She wants to apply for the Royal Society of Portrait Painters Exhibition, which she can only do when she's 18. She really would like to be a portrait painter and that's mainly what she does, but she is still young!

Good luck to her!

Shocked that GSA doesn't have life classes. But it seems that relatively few places do!

That's amazing@Lottsbiffandsmudge.

@FriendlyLaundryMonster Falmouth and, Brighton might also fit the bill:
Drawing BA(Hons) | Falmouth University
Fine Art Painting BA(Hons) (brighton.ac.uk)

Is Camberwell too out there for your DD?
BA (Hons) Fine Art: Painting | UAL (arts.ac.uk)

@Soma Those first two both look really interesting degrees! Must admit, we didn't look into them, as we had an under-4-hours travel requirement.

A combination of the first two would probably be ideal!

@PhotoDad Falmouth is lovely, the studio space is really good, so it was hard to turn it down.

@Soma The only possibly bad thing I've heard about Falmouth is that the classes are on the large side... but I don't think that would apply to this course. Shame it's so far away from us.

@ArtGarfield we were not impressed by the work exhibited at the Foundation show (in contrast Ravensbourne was better and for the fashion less weird concept and more actual interesting and wearable clothes - a surprise as I didn't even know they did fashion). Plus she came out saying 'why do art students always feel they need to be the weirdest person in the room'? We went back for Open Day, and after the welcome talk - the only one we went to presented by a PR/marketing bod rather than head of an art department - we were told to just wander around. Which meant that the facilities were limited and the animation/photography room was a small box. And Foundation students were not allowed to go to the degree buildings. After the Kingston open day with fabulous facilities that Foundation students were welcome to use this seemed very poor. Plus, 350 students in the year, half of which international (chasing the money - though the same at Kingston but half the class size) and she felt she'd get lost in the crowd. Also the journey would have taken an hour with tube then bus. It was only the name that made her hesitate but it wasn't enough.

My dd is doing the Foundation at Camberwell and absolutely loving it, trying to decide what to choose for her main topic for the rest of the year and struggling because she has enjoyed everything so far. It's been a much better course than her sibling had at Ravensbourne, which was a total disappointment. The students at Camberwell seem keen and engaged, unlike the majority at Ravensbourne.

@SpacehopperFace one girl we met at Camberwell on the open day loved her year there too and she actually changed her focus during it, which is one point of doing a FAD! Thing is you don't know until you are actually on the course whether it suits or not - I think my daughter likes the small (only 40) co-hort on hers and it's closer to us than her old school was. She's made closer friends in two months than in two years at her Sixth Form - a nice bonus.
Ravensbourne was rejected on the open day too - in fact the head of Animation department said not to do it as it wouldn't prepare her properly! Also the contact hours were being cut to a day and a half with no access at other times - that in itself would have ruled it out. I'd still have considered it good if going for fashion though!

Thanks so much. It’s so interesting to hear different takes on the London art foundations. It’ll be all change again when the UAL ones are together in one building and I’m not sure I’d want DD to be a Guinea pig. I had no idea that foundation students couldn’t use the main campus at CSM. The Morley course will be just as near to us as the UAL course and has the benefit of being established. But I do think we will have to see them all for ourselves.

Down in Cambridge for a short trip (with DS) to visit DD. She is working harder than ever, both on her uni work and her own projects (she's writing and illustrating her own original stories, more for fun/practice/portfolio than for potential publication).

She's also made some lovely new friends after a bit of a disaster last year. Unfortunately the Fitzwilliam Museum was closed due to a strike, but we're going this morning (fingers crossed) before DS and I drive home in the rain; DD has printmaking class this afternoon, and has signed up for an induction to use the ceramics workshop. How are all your DC settling in to FADs or degrees?

Nice to hear she's getting on @PhotoDad though I thought she had a great last year friendship wise too?
My daughter has started the fine art rotation which so far is drawing live models (she thought she was starting photography but guess that's next). Major term project due today - eight artist research paper and art project - she's doing some sort of animated thing to do with grids and patterns that required painting on acetate sheets - both get sent to the UAL awarding bods. So foul mood last part of half term and last few days as these things always take waaaay longer than anticipated! Constant rain hasn't helped as there was a bit of flooding at the college which required room shuffle. Now that's in her focus is on upcoming Cambridge assessment then interview.
But overall I'd say she's enjoying it. As I said previous post she's made some good friends and hung out with them a bit over half term. That's half the battle! No matter how great the course is it can be very lonely without some pals around.

@mondaytosunday Good for your DD! And good luck with interview prep.

My DD had a nice friendship group right up until the last few weeks of last year, when a passionate argument about politics broke it up. She's been very mature about it and has moved on. Now she's pretty much the "organiser" of her new little group, which is an incredible growth from where she was a few years ago.

@PhotoDad bloody politics! It can always be heated but ever since Brexit, it's got worse. I now tend to avoid political discussions unless it's very shallow and instead just listen to podcasts!! I don't listen to phone-ins or watch question time as everywhere is just shouting now and it doesn't help anything, just makes people angry. I am glad to hear about your DD. That shows a lot of maturity on her part.

Dd likes the look of an expensive private uni! It will most likely not be an option (because of Brexit, yep). Anyone know of any well paying art competitions out there to help fund her way! An artist we know recommended the BP Portrait Awards, but I'm not sure it actually exists anymore, and she is younger than 18. Have any of your dc had experience of entering competitions?

@FriendlyLaundryMonster does your DD follow any art departments on social media? That might give her a better idea of their student output over a longer period of time. Who are her favourite painters? Has she looked at the Royal Drawing School courses? London art school offering drawing courses to adults and children | The Royal Drawing School

@soma Thanks for that. I think I follow the Royal Drawing School, but she can't make the classes. Perhaps she could in summer, if they have anything on. Had parents evening last night and her art teacher has several competitions in mind for her, but she needs her GCSE work moderated first, before it can be entered or go online. So, it will happen. She is just in a rush!

@FriendlyLaundryMonster I forgot your DD is only in Yr11, she has lots of time to experiment and or even change her mind on the direction she wants to go in. Also, fine art can be as traditional or contemporary as she wants. I was speaking to someone at The Ruskin (Oxford), expecting it to be very traditional, but they said it was up to them and the direction their art practice was taking them. So a summer school and maybe a FAD might be just what your DD needs.

Thank you. I do appreciate all the pointers from parents further along the journey. Ds did STEM, and to be honest that was more in my comfort zone! So, I wanted to start researching all the options early, so I know at least some answers!

New here, but wondering how any applications for next year are progressing? Dd is doing FAD at Camberwell and they have advised them to wait a bit longer to apply, to allow them to build up more material for their portfolios. College will do references over Xmas so they can be sent in January, with portfolios then ready to be tweaked to the specific demands of each requesting institution.

@Cp2324 that's what DS did last year.. he submitted about a week before the UCAS deadline. Then the portfolio requests come in, all different!
DS had his first year 1 exhibition yesterday (basically a pop up 2 hour show!). He is v pleased with how it went and there is a lot of talk about how high the standard is in this intake. He's surprised at all the amazing work as he has hardly seen anyone at seminars and in the studio!
He also found out that at least 2 on his course turned down UAL after offer holder days to come to UWE. He's pleased as having a quality year group will support his development.
His piece was an instalation, a mock up architects studio, and his piece is a commentary on the housing crisis/ failure in UK, which is esp pertinent in Bristol. He only engraved the concrete with his 3D 'impossible' blueprint on Mon pm!
I would recommend a visit to UWE for anyone thinking of Fine Art

Here's a few shots