<p>I noticed that almost all design and art colleges have a foundation year.
I have a few questions about the foundation year.
I've NEVER worked with 2d work(wood,craft etc) Will it be mandatory for me to work with this medium?
I'm not very good at painting as well.Will it be mandatory to paint?</p>
<p>I'm in year 11.Still have a year to go.So I'm going to start learning and experimenting.</p>
<p>Thanks,
Sudz
Sudarshan</a> Ashok Digital Showcase</p>
<p>Its hard to say, as each school may view its foundation year a little differently.</p>
<p>My daughter’s foundation year included both 2D and 3D design classes. Two drawing classes as well, and a few others I can’t remember. I don’t recall her having to take a ‘specific’ painting class but she did have to use paint as an art medium in one or more of her classes.</p>
<p>Her 2D/3D classes had her working with wood, concrete, sheet metal, sculpey clay and I’m sure other materials. She didn’t have a lot of experience with any of them but did just fine.</p>
<p>My D’s foundation year included 2D, 3D and media. In 3D she did wood, soft sculpture and metal. She had never done wood or metal before and did fine. She had done a bit of painting, but not much, and learned not to be afraid!</p>
<p>Most schools have these. In mine I don’t have to take the 2d class or the intro to digital class due to placement credit so I’m in a two 3d classes. We work with metal (welding, sheet metal, making projects) wood, foam, clay. It is hard, but the instructors usually take into account prior knowledge and readiness to work as well as effort.</p>
<p>Yes, the foundations year is fairly typical. My son was mostly a photographer and had very little experience in drawing and painting. It was hard for him to feel like the the worst student in the beginning, lol! But I am happy to tell you that only about 2 months into the first drawing course, he has an “A” and it was well earned. He had to really just surrender to the professor and be willing to ask for help. He wasn’t the only one, it just felt initially that he was the only one feeling inadequate. He showed me some of his charcoal drawings last weekend and I was just blown away with how quickly he developed the skills. So although you may feel out of your element in the beginning of some of these courses, you’ll develop the ability to work in other mediums quickly. Many art majors come in thinking they want to concentrate in say, painting, but through foundations courses they realize that they are really passionate about a medium that they never worked with in High School. It’s intimidating initially, but foundations courses are so important in terms of development as an artist. You may find out that you want to concentrate in something entirely different than when you started the program.</p>
<p>Some foundation years have a large “conceptual” component and less emphasis on 2d 3d. Somehow my son has avoided painting (although he is actually very good at it) and after his first year of 2-d (drawing mainly) he is taking printmaking now and is basically free to do what he wants. All students did have to take 2d and 3d for a whole year and also 2 semesters of electronic media. If you can get a jump on art history in HS (Ap Art History) you may find that this frees you up a little your first year.</p>
<p>Don’t get too worried about what you haven’t done. You still have time to get private art instruction if you want it. If you look at schools you are interested in, most have curriculums online and you’ll see the foundational courses (in most cases). </p>
<p>Unless you place out of something, like annay49, you’ll have to take the course. But if you place out, you wouldn’t worry about being a novice.</p>
<p>D is a freshman at MICA and taking the foundation program. She had never used oils before painting class, but understands the purpose of the program is to provide exposure to as many mediums as possible so that they can inform the growing artist. It doesn’t make her like painting more, but that’s life.</p>