CMU School of Art: What's your opinion?

<p>Hi. I'm a student at CMU majoring in art, intending on concentrating in ETB (electronic time-based media). While I hear from my classmates that CMU has a prestigious art program, I don't really hear it anywhere else. Most people who speak of CMU talk of its Computer Science, or it's Architecture or it's Drama or Music or etc. Never about art. To me, it seems pretty obscure. It makes me wonder about it.</p>

<p>Researching has led me nowhere since most "top college lists" for art programs only list art schools (Like SCAD, RISD, etc).</p>

<p>So my personal opinion of CMU's art school? It's great as far as concepts goes, but I think they really lack in a vital aspect: the technique. I've learned very little technique in my classes, all of which have chosen to stress the idea. Which I think is a good thing to stress. But having ideas without learning the ways to execute them is like someone having a great story in their heads but not knowing how to write. Its almost renders the idea useless.</p>

<p>Anyways, I'm looking for other people's outlook on CMU's art department. Let me know what you think.</p>

<p>I don't have the rankings with me right now, but I know that US News ranks CMU's graduate art programs very high.</p>

<p>I don't know the rankings, but I really liked what was displayed on the walls when I was there in April. That said, it did seem like there was a bit of a conceptual art bent to your department. I went to school when no one was teaching techniques. I ended up learning (as an adult) from people who apprenticed to well known artists.</p>

<p>To mathmom: </p>

<p>So you learned the techniques as an adult?
That's an idea, I suppose.</p>

<p>Right now, i'm in a study abroad program at a purely technical school and it's quite a contrast to CMU. But at the same time, it makes me appreciate the concept learning I once had. But at the same time, it makes me realize what I was lacking back at CMU.</p>

<p>Someone told me that what you learn for your job you actually don't pick up at school. You pick it up at the office.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Someone told me that what you learn for your job you actually don't pick up at school. You pick it up at the office.

[/quote]
That's all too true. I ended up being an architect and unfortunately very little that I did in school is applicable to real life.</p>

<p>As to the art I majored in a combo of art and architecture in college. Except for a drawing class we were mostly thrown materials and told to have fun. I learned a bit about composition, but I think much of art teaching in colleges is influenced by the anti-realist artists of the 50s and 60s. Art in adult education settings tends to be just the opposite. Too much so in general. Watercolor and oil classes often include a demonstration with students copying the techniques of the instructor. You'll learn how to paint clouds, or water, or the difference between wet on wet painting vs. wet on dry. It's up to you whether to take that to another level or to paint pretty calendar art. There should be a happy medium somewhere!</p>

<p>I do know a number of successful artists - some teach, some work as illustrators, many work in design fields, such as doing book covers or advertising.</p>

<p>ting -</p>

<p>Out of curiosity... there was an initiative afoot several years ago to eliminate "figure studies" from the art curriculum at CMU. Thus, no nude models whose form you would meticulously study and sketch. Did that come to fruition?</p>

<p>My sister, who holds a BFA from CMU in painting/design thought eliminating figure work was a shameful trend. She never "did art", but she did become a high level buyer/designer for some very nice, popular home decorating stores/catalogs. She would literally circumnavigate the globe (California->Hong Kong->Bali->Jaipur->A european city->High Point, NC) every 10 weeks to meet with vendors, craftsmen, etc. to come up with new glassware, bathware, bedroom furniture for upcoming seasons. She felt her background at CMU benefitted her as she was terrific at thinking on her feet and problem solving. She graduated some time ago, so this information may be of limited help.</p>

<p>To mathmom:</p>

<p>Hehe... I was an architect major before I switched to Art. Didn't really like the field itself though, so I switched. </p>

<p>But I agree... why can't there be some sort of happy medium?</p>

<p>Although, I think CMU is starting to swing back to bringing in some more technique? It's hard to say for sure. </p>

<p>Still, it's kinda sad when you think CMU used to be one of the top schools for Illustration and now they don't even offer classes in it.</p>

<p>To premature_gray:</p>

<p>Heck no! Figure studies are still very prominent. There's a weekly session outside of class too, monitored by students, where anyone can come in to figure draw. But classes still use models. I'm taking anatomy drawing next semester. Be odd w/o any figure models present. I'm shocked anyone would think to remove something that important.</p>

<p>That said... the school I'm studying at right now is for animation, and there is no figure drawing. I'm kinda wondering how you can study animation w/o studying anatomy? Maybe it's just different here (I'm in Japan, btw). </p>

<p>But thanks for the info on your sister. It's good to know.</p>

<p>Glad to hear that. I still do life drawing once a week, I just love it. It's kind of like yoga or meditation for me. :)</p>