Most colleges now have 3 AS levels as the default number when you join, as they tend to do the exams at the end of the two years rather than after AS (so it's not as conveninent to "drop" one at the end of your first year). So you'd never be at a disadvantage for only taking three. But with regards to whether you would cope with 4 A Levels - I'm sure you would. Before it changed, lots of people chose to keep their 4, and with one being a practical subject (I know it's hard work - but it's not the same as cramming info for exams etc) it might balance it out nicely and give you something different to work on when you need a break. It is indeed time consuming, but if it's something you enjoy you would probably do well at it. That being said, unless there's an actual reason you need to have 4 A Levels, could you not just keep art as a hobby? Maybe join a club or something? That way you can do what you enjoy without having that huge amount of extra pressure that you could probably do without.