Comments on: Can You Learn to Draw at Art College?

By: Megan

Megan — Tue, 08 Nov 2022 20:27:11 +0000

Has anyone found any schools that teach more traditional skills? I’m a high school teacher looking to recommend one of my students some great schools to go to for visual art, but I personally had a similar experience to all of you and don’t have much to offer her.

By: David Jamieson

David Jamieson — Wed, 20 Oct 2021 16:32:00 +0000

In reply to ANGELA HAGANS. I'm sorry to hear about this Angela, but your story isn't uncommon.

By: ANGELA HAGANS

ANGELA HAGANS — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 13:11:33 +0000

Hi I have just completed my foundation year at ulster University in belfast. I have decided not to continue into my fine art degree after seeing the curriculum. I personally want to learn to draw and paint and have realises UU does not offer that. I’m looking into Atelier art schools but am finding it hard to get a loan to support me through it.

By: cheri

cheri — Sun, 14 Jun 2020 17:18:20 +0000

This article is so sad but also so very reminiscent of my own experiences. The only practical skill I was taught during my BA was how to make a stretcher and stretch my own canvases. There was no other practical tuition on the whole degree course. I didn’t realise at the time but now I feel totally ripped off, paying thousands of pounds for what was essentially a reading list. I was always more of a realist painter and so when my colleagues who leaned more towards abstraction were getting all of the tutor attention I felt a bit like a leper, now of course I realise that they didn’t appreciate the skill/talent to pull off some of the works I produced and they didn’t have the grounding themselves to even talk about it in a way that would benefit my progression. Universities should make it far more clear what the curriculum they offer entails then perhaps people like me who want to learn proper skills not just concepts can make a more informed choice. I hope your right and that things are changing.

By: Doug FITZGERALD

Doug FITZGERALD — Sun, 31 May 2020 18:59:29 +0000

David, I studied at a prestigious midwestern art school in the late seventies. (I was in a BFA program, but unfortunately lost my funding after two years and had to drop out.) This school was exploring all the new trends and technologies of the time, but was still grounded in traditional representational drawing, painting and sculpture. However, I am unaware of the direction the school has taken in the last forty years. It would be sad if they had chucked the traditional representational art to embrace “art” with a brief history and few natural references.

By: David Jamieson

David Jamieson — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 14:22:18 +0000

In reply to Ines Morova. No need to apologize, Ines. I'm happy this post resonated with you and to hear your perspective.

By: Ines Morova

Ines Morova — Sun, 22 Dec 2019 02:08:29 +0000

Thank you so much for your article. It’ is very important to me because I’m an art teacher in California, I’m Russian, I try to teach classical academical drawing, and I know so much about all these problems you mentioned. All the time I try to understand what’s going on – and I see that it’s different mindset already, I need to explain why people need to know how to draw if they want to draw)) And I’d say the most important point here, point that would solve the contradiction between traditional and contemporary art – and actually I don’t see the contradiction but people usually do – so, the point is that you only need to know HOW to draw – after that, you can draw everything you want – abstract, contemporary, etc. You don’t have to stay traditional. And this drawing mastery is just a tool. But an essential tool.
I’m sorry for arrogance to add my own beliefs here, but I’m so happy to meet like-minded))

By: David Jamieson

David Jamieson — Tue, 27 Aug 2019 20:59:24 +0000

In reply to Matt. That's a new story for me, Matt. But it's sadly reminiscent of many others.

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 02:48:39 +0000

I didn’t attend art school but it was always a sort of fantasy alternate reality i would imagine from time to time. Then i made friends with someone who was doing an MFA in painting at the university where i was studying and i excitedly quizzed him about his experience. He was doing representational painting and described a completely hostile and ridiculous environment. For example when students were required to exhibit their ongoing work in a kind of group critique/workshop, one girl put a blank canvas on the floor, made several cuts on her body with a razor blade, and then rolled around on the canvas until it was smeared with blood. That was it, and an explanation about the patriarchy. The teacher applauded wildly.
Needless to say he cured me of any art school envy i had.

By: David Jamieson

David Jamieson — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 15:36:06 +0000

In reply to Katharine. Wow, that's a new one, Katherine... I wonder if they would have let you major in mattress painting?