Gap year prep for art degree?

9

Hi

I applied deferred to Loughborough for fine art in 2025 and was accepted, so have an unconditional offer for Sep 2026.
I’m on a gap year and do short form video editing for schools in the week, and then bartending on the weekends.
I’ve been trying to keep up with art- I’ve visited a few museums, edited some photographs, and done maybe 6 standalone pieces (watercolour, coloured pencil, fine line, oil pastel and/or digital) since September. I also have an oil painting workshop booked soon.
I just wanted to ask, especially since I’ve not done a foundation course, what the best prep for my degree course would be? Like should I focus on consuming media (books, films, museums visits etc), honing particular technical skills, exploring more mediums, or just making what I want to make with no timeline and enjoying that?
I just know I’ve got 6 months before I start, so don’t want to wish I’d done something different in that time. Any advice welcome, thanks so much :smile:

)

Reply 1

aspalax

Clearing and Applications Advisor

19

Original post

by hwh1tl0w29

Hi

I applied deferred to Loughborough for fine art in 2025 and was accepted, so have an unconditional offer for Sep 2026.
I’m on a gap year and do short form video editing for schools in the week, and then bartending on the weekends.
I’ve been trying to keep up with art- I’ve visited a few museums, edited some photographs, and done maybe 6 standalone pieces (watercolour, coloured pencil, fine line, oil pastel and/or digital) since September. I also have an oil painting workshop booked soon.
I just wanted to ask, especially since I’ve not done a foundation course, what the best prep for my degree course would be? Like should I focus on consuming media (books, films, museums visits etc), honing particular technical skills, exploring more mediums, or just making what I want to make with no timeline and enjoying that?
I just know I’ve got 6 months before I start, so don’t want to wish I’d done something different in that time. Any advice welcome, thanks so much :smile:

)

Hey, these sound like some great ideas. I think regardless of what you focus on, it can all be good preparation :smile:

I wouldn't worry too much about not making the most of it, it's easy to feel regretful -- but there will always be more time. You'll probably feel like there is more you could and should be doing forever... I think that's part of life!

I can really recommend going to some life drawing sessions, it's really nice to be surrounded by other artists and get the opportunity to develop your technical skills, learn from other people's work, and chat to people who are often working as artists professionally about their experiences.

If you can get some practice reflecting on and self-critiquing your work that would be really beneficial too. There's some great resources online and books about how you can work on self-development and it's one of the most important skills to continuing to improve as an artist, in my view.

I love museums and I think even tiny local museums can sometimes be really interesting and give really unique insights.

Best of luck, hope you have a great time at uni.

Reply 2

Kingston Eve

Official Rep

13

Original post

by hwh1tl0w29

Hi

I applied deferred to Loughborough for fine art in 2025 and was accepted, so have an unconditional offer for Sep 2026.
I’m on a gap year and do short form video editing for schools in the week, and then bartending on the weekends.
I’ve been trying to keep up with art- I’ve visited a few museums, edited some photographs, and done maybe 6 standalone pieces (watercolour, coloured pencil, fine line, oil pastel and/or digital) since September. I also have an oil painting workshop booked soon.
I just wanted to ask, especially since I’ve not done a foundation course, what the best prep for my degree course would be? Like should I focus on consuming media (books, films, museums visits etc), honing particular technical skills, exploring more mediums, or just making what I want to make with no timeline and enjoying that?
I just know I’ve got 6 months before I start, so don’t want to wish I’d done something different in that time. Any advice welcome, thanks so much :smile:

)

Hey @hwh1tl0w29,

I think what you're doing now (drawing, visiting museums, attending workshops) is absolutely perfect. I studied BA Fine Art and Art History at Kingston without a Foundation Diploma and did similar activities in the lead-up to starting my degree.

Remember that this is your artistic practice - you can prepare for your degree course whichever way you best see fit. I found that most of my ideas came from visiting galleries and exhibitions, so that's what I focused on primarily. I know other people on my course spent time exploring new mediums (one of my friends spent a summer exclusively practicing lino printing) or experimenting in a different field entirely (graphic design/filmmaking).

Wishing you the best of luck at Loughborough and hope you enjoy the rest of your gap year! 🙂
Eve (Kingston Rep).

Gap year prep for art degree?

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