TAD for my education: a lot of doubts...

[FabioGhibli]

Hi. My name is Fabio, I'm a 27 yo beginner artist from Italy and for a long time I've been thinking about TAD to build up my career.

Some obstacles are holding me from taking this decision. I hope someone could help me to clear-out some point.

- Language barrier: italian is my first language. My english is just at an intermediate level: I can read instructional stuff, probably I will be able to understand lessons... but interaction, for sure, will be poor.

- My start level: I work with graphite pencil, mostly with reference. I made some good piece in the past but that's all. I have no experience with other traditional media (but I can use and rapidly learn digital, I'm a former computer science student).
I know perspective, have some knowledge of anatomy and color (having read Loomis, Bridgeman, James Gurney etc.).
You can see some of my works at the links in signature.

Some question too...

- Students can select a industry of focus even after the twelve months of Foundations period? They dont have to decide at the application, right?

- Courses' duration is 6 months?

- At february 2012 I can start to attend the full-time college program from the beginning?

Sorry if asked you something that is also contained on tad website. I'm overwhelmed by tons of infos. In a foreign language... it's a bit confusing to me.

Thanks to all of you.

[Philosiflo]

Language Barrier - Don't worry, you wouldn't be the first. There are many foreign students at TAD, and no one is going to discriminate if you can't speak it well.

start level - you seem to be at a good starting point, I looked through your sketchbook. If you can draw what you see that will be a big help. Light and Form class will refine that. And you think you know perspective Wait until you meet Mr.Vandruff in your first Perspective class. You must draw everything from hand at the beginning.

-Application period - right but you have to pick one to fill out and complete the application. You can change it later, find and talk to some students who are in their third semesters.

-All the courses are broken up into six month terms yes.

- At february 2012 I can start to attend the full? time college program from the beginning?
= I believe yes. There are people in foundations B term right now and its the FALL. I assume that they all had to complete foundations A to get there.

[Heavens]

Hey Fabio,
Have your doubts cast aside. Your english is not bad at all, and as Philosiflo said you have people from all over the world in TAD, some with far worse english than yours, but who are doing so great in TAD they'll blow your mind.
And about the traditional media, I went into TAD knowing only how to use a pencil. After one semester and a half, I can now create art with pastel, ink, charcoal, graphite, watercolor, oil and digital media. Needless to say, my art making skills have been improving in a rocket fast manner.

[FabioGhibli]

Thank you so much for your support and advices. Now I feel I can take a decision with more awareness.
I have some time to think over it.

If some foreign student wanna share his own experience... ^^

And you think you know perspective Wait until you meet Mr.Vandruff in your first Perspective class.

I correct: I know SOME perspective.

[fxEVo]

Hi Fabio, welcome you.

I'm from Vietnam, currenly Foundation B student, so I will tell you my experience, lots of student in class come from countries like Brazil, Columbia, Russia,... language indeed will affect your study, but since most of theory will be written in syllabus and whiteboard, that's not a big problems, and the best theory teacher is Marshall Vandruff, he has the radio voice man!!! Study with him and you will improve your English skills as well.
The skills in painting and drawing will be demonstrate live, so wont be problems.

For you current skills, I highly recommend you begin with foundation A, since some of my friends graduated in college level of art school and there's still lots of thing have to learn (personally I'm graduated from architecture school and my professional perspective school is still inferior to what we're taught here, creatively), even Dorian, Kirsten and Fredrik dont dare to jump. Each term/course duration is 5 months, we have a break months between for workshop and personal study.

Yes, you will can attend full-time college program from the beginning this Feb 2012.

Many information's also in this handbook

http://theartdepartment.org/program-...udent-handbook

[FabioGhibli]

Thank you very much, fxEVo. Now I'm reading the students' guide.

[FabioGhibli]

I just noticed that the 3D entertainment program seem to have his own foundations (sort of). I thought they were the same for all programs.

[fxEVo]

Yes and no, since all of majors share almost all of foundation classes, but there are some classes gear towards specialties.

Basically Foundation A is fixed for every majors, but Foundation B have some elective classes such as: Cast Drawing, Head Painting, Landscape Painting...
For 2D Entertainment Design you must take Cast Drawing class, for 3D Entertainment Design you must take 3D 101 (or 201) class beside others class.

[FabioGhibli]

Ok, I was deceived from the section titled "requirements" under the description of a single class. I thought it was only about prerequisites, now I'm seeing that it provides these informations too (even though they're spread out over many pages).
Anyway, it seems to me that I'd better to make an early decision about the industry focus.

Thank you again.

(nice blog ^^)