Fine Art Applicants and Universities 2014!!

Got an interview at the Slade, haven't heard yet from University of the Arts (Wimbledon college), are they of similar entry standard? Sorry for sounding rather ignorant, but I have a lame excuse - I'm not from the Uk :P

It's not that it's so very much easier to get into Wimbledon than the Slade - it's just a different application process. Getting into Wimbledon is still incredibly competitive, even though they interview a lot of candidates. Interview at Wimbledon by no means guarantees a space. Slade massively obliterate their applicant numbers before interview at their portfolio inspections, whereas Wimbledon actually take time out to both look at students work and discuss it with them, which I actually respect.

It's not that it's so very much easier to get into Wimbledon than the Slade - it's just a different application process. Getting into Wimbledon is still incredibly competitive, even though they interview a lot of candidates. Interview at Wimbledon by no means guarantees a space. Slade massively obliterate their applicant numbers before interview at their portfolio inspections, whereas Wimbledon actually take time out to both look at students work and discuss it with them, which I actually respect.

Oh I didn't know that, I quite like the fact that they do that too! I feel weird not being able to explain the ideas behind my work, which is why I was pretty nervous about the Slade portfolio drop-off thing. According to my course leader, who studied at the RA, Wimbledon is one of the best places to go for painting. I think some of his friends who also did their MA at the RA are tutors there. From people I know who go there it's pretty relaxed and a little disorganised, which I like somewhat, opposed to the coldness of some of the London institutions. It certainly doesn't have a reputation for being snobby.

My neighbor did painting there and I think it's definitely the best place if you want to specialise in that area. I'm starting to wish I'd applied there instead of Chelsea, but I do prefer Fine Art to Painting, even if the course is very open.

I wouldn't worry about it! On a bit of an tangent- was looking at your work the other day, and I think your video is fantastic. Do you do much video-based stuff? Also, TWIN PEAKS !!!

I wouldn't worry about it! On a bit of an tangent- was looking at your work the other day, and I think your video is fantastic. Do you do much video-based stuff? Also, TWIN PEAKS !!!

Absoloutely, sometimes it's really hard for an onlooker to look at a body of work and understand that there is some kind of logic running through it, if the artist hasn't been given the chance to articulate that. I suppose that said logic is a lot of what they were looking for in this application process - the development process, the ability to draw out ideas from one thing and channel it into another. From the sounds of the fact you've got an interview at the Slade, your work obviously had a self-evident quality and an observable rhythm running through .

Oh really? He doesn't happen to know anything about Camberwell Painting relative to Wimbledon does he? I'm currently having to choose between the two. Did you apply to any UALs other than Wimbledon?

I don't think he's had enough wives :P. Maybe when he gets to 5.

I would gladly be number 5

I'm sure he would more than welcome a transvestite painter into his harem - provided you can don some oven gloves and cook for him.

Thanks. Film/Animation used to be my main thing before I got back into painting over the last few years, but it was mostly hand drawn (digital) animation. I do have another film uploaded here: https://vimeo.com/86905263 but it's only the first half. I'm also working on a three channel installation/film at the moment.
Twin Peaks is awesome.

I bet you would! Do you think he would remove the cherry from your pie before eating? Oh gosh, that was awful.

I've just had cheeky snoops of both of your Flickrs from the Slade Stalking page.


HelveticaBold - the Parlor is a painting which is particularly capturing - I would be fascinated to know what your influences were on that since I've got rather into 16th/17th painting lately and it seems you could have some old school influences? Your work has a bit of a fantasy vibe going on which is quite rare nowadays -Tolkein fan by any chance?!

I think you're right to want the more general fine art course, though your painting technique is great, it would be a shame to see that knack for installation work/photography wasted... I absoloutely love the delicate work with the feathers!

I've just had cheeky snoops of both of your Flickrs from the Slade Stalking page.

Very Eva Hesse actually! And yes I can see that there are common motifs running through all your pieces, which must have been something that really impressed the Slade. It's almost as if there is a simulacrum of fabric/the loose skin in the life collages- was that intentional?

LOVE the film. I can really see where you are coming from with your work. There's something uneasy in a lot of it, which I find really effective and interesting. That's really cool, video and animation takes a lot of skill and talent to do well (which you clearly have).
I similarly have only really got back into concentrating on painting over the last few years, after many years of obsessive photography and working with photographic processes (which I'm now trying to incorporate it back into my work somehow).

The joint honours is a ridiculous work load. I remember at the open day the tutor said to consider it 80/80 instead of 50/50. It would be like doing two separate degrees. You're the first person I've seen not like Kingston. Anything specific that put you off?

Yeah I'm enjoying the Art History side more so, but yeah it is intense! Erm I didn't like the town much, the open day was very unorganised and to me, that put me off. I didn't like the studio space, and it takes two change-overs on the train for me to get there from my hometown, which is kind of a big deal because to kill 3 hours of a train journey I'd rather settle down and get some work done at the same time! Generally as soon as you step onto a campus, you'll know if you can see yourself living there or not. I missed several fine art talks because the "Fine art help" guy didn't have a clue what room they were in or anything so I learnt nothing about the course and the open day seemed pointless and a waste of money

The wait for goldsmiths is agonising for me as well! I have been refreshing my email non stop, even though it's a weekend haha.

Does anyone know when we should expect to hear?

I've been offered places at Camberwell for Drawing, Wimbledon for Sculpture, and Falmouth for Fine Art. I revoked my applications from Nottingham Trent and Manchester Met because I know that the other three are the ones I really want to go to.

I regret so much when I applied taking the advice of a pessimistic tutor to apply to some that are "easier to get in to" (NT and MM) and wish I'd applied to Brighton and Chelsea, where I really wanted to go but thought they'd just reject me. Anyway I guess that's just life.

Now it's just choosing between the three.....Anyone else considering the same places?