Art Center or Cal Arts?

[kevin121685]

not quite sure where to go...

[Denart]

what kind of mentor do you have?
anyways, a 'traditional' school is kind of good
That's why I didn't choose the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, that place is all about 'expressing yourself with globs of rice and paste'
pretty free minded and open like Cal Arts hmm?

[kevin121685]

art center is my main choice... im just a little curious about cal arts. thats all

[Silvertone]

Isn't Art Center for design or illustration(fine arts too I think)? Cal Arts is just for animation as far as I know. Those are pretty different areas. Which did you want to end up doing exactly?

One of my figure drawing instructors also teaches at Cal Arts. He pretty much is very anti constructional drawing and pro observational drawing. From what I've heard, Cal Arts really pushes the students towards an experimental style.

[NoSeRider]

http://www.artrenewal.org/asp/databa...rder=ascending

You might want to try Atelier schools too.

Alot of Art Center Graduates become Atelier teachers:
http://www.laafigart.com/

I just suggest that because....100,000 dollars.
That just boggles my mind, especially paying that for Art Institutes.
I just mention AI because it makes me mad, not because it was the initial subject matter.

I'd only go to Art Center or Otis Parsons to study Entertainment Design...a type of Industrial Design.

I think your teacher is recommending Cal Arts because you're into character design.....but as an artist you should be well rounded. I want to learn Entertainment Design as well.

[Groover McNab]

If you're serious about being in entertainment design, then Art Center would be the way to go. There are a couple of AC students in this forum, if you want to learn more about the school you can go visit the Art Center thread here
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=24843

[kevin121685]

thx again everyone!

[Silvertone]

You could take a class or 2 at Gnomon. A lot of Art Center guys there. I don't know if Feng still teaches there though but Kevin Chen teaches a character design class.

Here are some others you should take a looksee at.

http://www.gnomon3d.com/title.html

http://www.theanimationacademy.com/

http://www.mpsc839.org/_Home/home_FRM1.html

[IanE]

Don't worry about letting your mentor down... if you go to the shcool you want and you kick serious ass, even if it's the school he/she hates the most in the entire world and never speaks to you again, when you get the job you want, and you graduate from the school you want to go to, in the end nobody gets let down.

I've only heard good things about Art Center, personally, but haven't heard any specifics about Entertainment Design.

Good luck with school! Any way we can see your portfolio?

Ian

[ydalmig]

Is art center really that great? What do you guys thing about Otis for environmental design?

[NoSeRider]

http://www.otis.edu/index.php?id=203

Otis is listing Scott Robertson as part of its faculty.
Scott Robertson teaches at Art Center too.......

However, the tuitions seem just about the same:
http://www.otis.edu/index.php?id=103

[ydalmig]

I have been researching a lot. The Art center is Accredited by the Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT), and Otis is accredited by National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and Western Association of Schools & Colleges (WASC). Otis seems more appropriate for a environmental design bachelors. I later want to get a masters in interior design at a cal state or university. Interior design is what I'm studying right now at AIU, but I really don't like the way this school is being runed although they are accredited by the best thing a interior designer could be accredited by "Foundation for Interior Design Education Research (FIDER)" But I figured I will receive that accreditation when I get my masters. Anywho...I'm really having a hard time choosing a school that has a great environmental design program. Can you guys help me please?

[jayne]

art center is better for fine art and cal arts better for stuff like 3d animation.

[Groover McNab]

I have been researching a lot. The Art center is Accredited by the Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT), and Otis is accredited by National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and Western Association of Schools & Colleges (WASC). Otis seems more appropriate for a environmental design bachelors. I later want to get a masters in interior design at a cal state or university. Interior design is what I'm studying right now at AIU, but I really don't like the way this school is being runed although they are accredited by the best thing a interior designer could be accredited by "Foundation for Interior Design Education Research (FIDER)" But I figured I will receive that accreditation when I get my masters. Anywho...I'm really having a hard time choosing a school that has a great environmental design program. Can you guys help me please?

Have you visited the schools? That would help you decide.

[ydalmig]

I have visited otis not the art center though. But I visited AIU and I liked it and now that I'm in there... I love the program but the admissions is not great and unorganized. What I really want to know is the overall of the school, because any school can seem great but which one is really.

[Groover McNab]

Well I visited Otis and personally wasn't too impressed. I was really impressed with Art Center though. The reason I suggest you visit is it will give you a chance to talk to some students and see their work and find out first hand how good the school is.

[ydalmig]

Yeah, you are right Otis didn't impress me as much as I wanted it to. I will really have to go see art center. But the thing is the accreditation it's really important to get a good job.

[meeatu]

i was on the same shoes 6 years ago. cal arts, art center or otis. i was impressed by art center. they took me around the campus, and that mini museum they got ... ye should see it now.

[Jason Manley]

Yeah, you are right Otis didn't impress me as much as I wanted it to. I will really have to go see art center. But the thing is the accreditation it's really important to get a good job.

no one gives a shit where you went to school. the only thing art employers care about is a great portfolio, good people skills, and good hygene.

Art center has turned out a ton of "homogenous" concept art portfolios over the past six years or so...matter of fact out of ten concept artists at massive black not one comes from art center. most our crew comes from either ringling or academy of art. I have no idea why. Feng and Ryan Church are two of the art center star alum.

i had to visit both art center and cal arts before making my decision to go to art center. i got a bunch of scholarships to go to art center and yet ringling school of art and design was still cheaper. I went there instead. CA wouldnt be here if i hadnt though..thats where i met puddnhead, james zhang, android, sdbarber, and some of the others here.

cal arts was more free than artcenter in terms of attitude. that kind of environment was not for me. neither did i see proof of a decent drawing program at cal arts. sorry calarts folks..this was way back in ninety seven. so on that note...just go see the schools before you blow a couple hundred grand after interest is paid off.

my best education came during internships and at a COMMUNITY COLLEGE with a wonderful professor. It cost me almost nothing and made me very disappointed once i spent the big wad on art school.


j

[PHL]

my best education came during internships and at a COMMUNITY COLLEGE with a wonderful professor. It cost me almost nothing and made me very disappointed once i spent the big wad on art school.


j

I wish I saw some of your comments a year ago, before deciding to go to Ringling.

I'm talking about these :

"you dont get enough drawing time in the big art schools...lots of classes that are not necessarily worth paying the 2000 dollars for...and not enough studio painting classes. Four life drawing classes in the core program is not nearly enough. one or two semesters of figure painting is not enough IMHO."

and this one as well:
" honestly learned more from my comm college teachers than any at ringling...I was fortunate that way....but that school didnt have any connections to employment so if you go that route then you will have to do your company research on your own."

It's not too late yet though. Thanks very much for the insight!

PHL

[ydalmig]

I have been to a community college and I do agree I learned a lot, I was really excited and then I realized that I wasn't a degree. So I went to AIU and now I'm bored here, it really isn't challenging me. I did way more art projects at a community. Anywho I need a bachelors degree, And I want it to be environmental design. I later want to get a masters in Interior design.

[Schitzo]

I'm currently looking into CalArts and other schools such as Full Sail for computer animation....they are both pretty expensive from my viewpoint and being that Im already in debt from my previous schooling at SVA I would recommend you do extensive research on the schools and programs. I would also think about the career opportunities available to you after graduation....if you really do not want to work at dead end jobs after busting your a@3 in school then make sure you look into other programs that might provide you with better opportunities afterwards....have a backup degree or plan...

[starstar]

You know, I think any school is good - learning in classroom with a diverse group, exposing yourself to ideas you might not otherwise have come across. And yes, no one cares where you went to school if your portfolio shines. But it sure helps to be part of an alumni group. Certain sort of comradery. I certainly dont regret being an Art Center alumni, although looking back, it's all about how much you apply yourself and use the available resourses. I do know that the darn Industrial Design department at Art Center has turned out some classic concept artists - this is probably not news to you though. So if you like what you've seen at Art Center, go visit Cal Arts, Otis, UCLA - all the local schools and see if that rings true too...This being said..... I hope you apply to both (and more) schools. Theorizingabout the "perfect place for me" is great, but when it comes right down to it, go where you can afford and where you get accepted.

[Helium Macaroni]

If you want the closest thing in the world to a real entertainment design education, along with being in the epicenter or the entertainment industry, and have a school assist you with its connections and stature, you want Art Center. Nothing says you have to stay the entire time, Feng didn't. Graduation is about the furthest thing necessary in aquiring a good job. In fact one of the best things to do at AC is to go for as many foundation type classes there are and glean as much information as possible, then you just leave as soon as you've gotten what you want. Art Center is really intense in its foundation studies, however it also has specific gearing towards the entertainment industry with its entertainment electives, and professors who have worked in the industry. Throw in a highly motivated and professional atmosphere and you have a really good launching board for a good career. Like any education it's what you make of it. I've had to mix and match classes to get just the kind of tailoring I want. It is though very pricy. Its also a gamble.

Part of the experience is also it's extremely rigorous class loads and competative environment. Being surrounded day by day with people who are after the same career as you lights a fire under your ass. Indeed recently the portfolios coming out of the school smack of that homogonized look and lack creativity, but the cure for that however is simply not getting stuck in the rut of people graduating before you and not falling into the styles that have been embraced by the current entertainment students. Those are sort of just general rules anyway. There are enough scott robertson want-to-bes and enough kevin chen immitators. Just find your own way and don't fall in love with just one style and beat it to death. Take what Art Center gives you in its foundation studies, proximity to the industry and connections. Its up to you to run with that information properly and make something fresh and new.

[NoSeRider]

the only thing art employers care about is a great portfolio, good people skills, and good hygene.

How come I keep reading books like the "Masters of Doom" where people act like peckerheads to one another and the Conflict of John Kricfalusi and Nickelodeon fighting over creative rights to Ren and Stimpy?
http://victorian.fortunecity.com/rus...05/parttwo.htm

Are you sure people skills matter?

On my worst days I never behave that badly.

Quote from "Masters of Doom"

[pmiles]

Great, thread jacking in it's worst form.

[NoSeRider]

Thread was dying anyway.

Still scary though.

[kevin121685]

ive just been accepted to accd, cal arts, and sva. i wish i had the money to go to new york, but i dont see that happening~

planning to stick around here and attend accd for fall 2006. cheers! thx guys for all your advice and help!

[rblitz7]

ive just been accepted to accd, cal arts, and sva. i wish i had the money to go to new york, but i dont see that happening~

planning to stick around here and attend accd for fall 2006. cheers! thx guys for all your advice and help!

Could I please see some work from your portfolio?

[kevin121685]

Could I please see some work from your portfolio?

sure, its ony my thread... unfortunately its all mixed with old stuff and new stuff, some i put in, some i didnt.

http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=69552