Suggestions for industrial design?

KandKsmom
Thu, 17 Nov 2005 20:17:14 +0000

liland, It sounds as if you and I are in the same boat! I, too, have a sophomore s who feels as if he has found “the love of his life” in art! Seriously, I have not seen the side of him that has surfaced in the last year. His worry is that he has “started too late” into actual art classes. He is taking his first formal class this year.

He has always had a vivid imagination, but up until last year channeled it more into writing and even acting. We hope to take the advice offered here about the additional summer classes. Do any sophomores go to the National Portfolio Days? I saw on MICA’s website that they have on set for Dec. 3. At the present, all he has are his sketchbooks, and a couple of watercolors he did in his first Art class (Art I). Would he be laughed out of the room for taking such a miniscule offering? Should he wait until he has more samples of work or would just going to see what a NPD is all about be a good experience in itself?

Lastly, I worry about the cost of the art schools available. While I think that schools like RSID, CMU and others offer incredible educations for an aspiring artist, I don’t know how on earth families with average incomes like ours(not “upper” income by any means), afford to send kids to these institutions. It is a bit daunting to look at the tuitions, then room/board, then supply fees, etc. for any of the stand alone art schools.

Sorry for the rant, but as I continue to learn about possibilities to share with my s, I realize that many of these places will probably be “dream schools” for him in the truest sense of the word. Sigh.