Regardless of whether you are a high school senior or someone who wishes to specialise or get re-trained, it really is time wisely spent to take a look at what you would like your lifestyle to be a number of years from today. When you decide that attending an art university in New York is good then you should proceed, but before joining your selected art institution, you need to perform some homework.
When selecting an institution, more costly does not always mean greater, and your art school search in New York must not depend on the cost only. In reality, you might get poor schooling and be educated for an art career that will lead you to a profession wilderness. Similarly, choosing the most bargain-priced art institution is probably not good for you, therefore it is critical to choose the right one since it will impact who you become, the caliber of your daily life and just how you will experience career developments in the future.
There are several decent art schools in New York, a few popular plus some less well-known, ready to be found. You will start out by acquiring publications along with other research materials at the neighborhood library. Additionally, it might be advantageous to speak with folks who had been educated at the art school that you plan on exploring, or maybe speak with the school’s placement experts who will definitely lend a hand and should be eager to have you enrolled as a pupil. A number of people even research numerous art schools on the net to find related critiques. Various other potential learners may ultimately desire to visit the school to get an idea of what it’s really like.
On the whole, decide intelligently and sign up for an art school that aspires for depth and excellence.
1. School of Visual Arts
209 E 23rd St
(between 3rd Ave & 2nd Ave)
New York, NY 10010
Neighborhoods: Gramercy, Kips Bay
(212) 592-2000
www.schoolofvisualarts.edu
I work in advertising – photography and videography, so I’m coming at you from a continuing education perspective. I’ve taken several classes at NYU, the New School and SVA and have to say that SVA has delivered hands-down over the competition. The instructors at SVA are much more up to date in their knowledge – I find that the photography and video instructors at NYU are quite elderly and teach out-dated methods. I know that a lot of techniques evolved many many years ago but digital photography and video are fairly new mediums so it helps if the instructor is a little on the younger side (btwn 40 – 55). I found that SVA really teaches you – they don’t just like to hear themselves talk, which is what I found at both NYU and the New School, with an exception or two. Anyway, do some research on the instructor, regardless of the school. I just googled an NYU instructor whose books got 1 and 2 star reviews on Amazon – so I don’t think he would make a good teacher. So again, SVA it is.
- Modemme X.
Brooklyn, NY
2. Pratt Institute
142 W 14th St
(between 7th Ave & Avenue Of The Americas)
New York, NY 10011
Neighborhood: West Village
(212) 367-2480
Well, you can go to a good/bad school, but it’s really what YOU make of it, right?
Well, the grad school for the Communication Design program was great because it fit into my schedule. I was able to keep a full-time gig to cover my expenses for bootleg design software, double-stick tape, and super sharp xacto blades. Can’t complain about that! And most of the instructors have full time jobs too, so they understand if you have to miss a session here and there.
New building. Convenient to the train. Conveniently endowed with a spiffy computer lab. Security is very good–they scare ME all the time with their gruffiness and attitude. Conveniently located next to a donut shop. Conveniently located next to Urban Outfitters.
- Sarah T.
Los Angeles, CA
3. The Art Students League of New York
215 W 57th St
(between 7th Ave & Broadway)
New York, NY 10019
Neighborhood: Midtown West
(212) 247-4510
www.theartstudentsleague.org/
This is an institution. You are talking about possibly the most influential art educational experience on the planet. This is the kind of place that defines the term “You get out of it what you put into it”. This is not a typical art school. There is no curriculum. This is a place to practice picture making in a setting that is stripped down and hot-rodded for pure art making with zero baggage. You walk in, you plop your canvas or pad on an easel and at the designated time you do your thing. An instructor, usually a famous or influential artist in his/her own right, will amble over every once and a while and give you a pointer or not. If you are on the right track the instructor will guide you to bring your work to the next level. If you are a rank beginner you will hear something completely different. This is not a place for hand-holding. It is a place for doing. It takes years to become a great representational artist. Plan to spend alot of them here. Nothing beats mileage. And drawing/painting from the live model is perhaps the hardest thing one will ever do, but it is also the best way to become better. Put away your photos, come to the League and draw/paint from life.
- J C.
New York, NY