The Art Institute offers bachelor's and associate's degrees, as well as diploma programs for those seeking real-world education in the creative and applied arts.
Art Student Interview: Chris Talbot
Our current spotlight is on Chris Talbot, a second-year student in the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). Chris's hometown: Columbus, NC
How did you foster your passion for photography?
It basically started for me back in yearbook class of my senior year in high-school when I was chosen to be one of the head photographers of the football games. From there, I worked on a wide variety of types of photography-action photographs, artistic photographs, all kinds of different mediums that I could play with-and basically I just taught myself. I just kept going out almost every day and taking photographs of whatever I thought was artistic in my mind. I ended up teaching myself how to look at things compositionally no matter what kind of subject matter I was shooting.
What made you decide on a specific art and design school?
I had looked into one or two art schools before, like the New York Institute of Photography, and RISD (Rhode Island school of Art and Design). But what helped me choose SCAD over the others is that there are two other affiliated schools in different locations with the same education one would get at the main school in Savannah. The two other places are SCAD- Atlanta, and my favorite (which I'm hoping to attend in 2010) is SCAD- Lacoste, in Lacoste, France, Provence. I believe that the experience I would get in Lacoste would be quite incredible.
How many schools did you apply to?
I had applied to two other schools that didn't necessarily specialize in art. Those were Greensboro College in Greensboro, N.C. and The Citadel in Charleston, S.C. But this was before I was told about SCAD.
What do you like most about SCAD?
My favorite thing about SCAD is the quality of professors and classes. The classes here are incredible-the awesome thing is that I am not considered a number in my classes. I am usually in a class of around 20 students or less, and the professors know me by name. It's incredible: they get everyone's name memorized within a week! Another aspect I love about art & design school is that there are school trips that students can sign up for to places like London, Hong Kong and others.
Tell us a little about your photography professors.
The photography professors here are amazing. I couldn't ask for a greater teaching staff in my photography studies. They are really down to earth and are always there to help me in class, in the field, or in the studio. Here in the photography department, students basically get to know all the photo professors right away. The professors like to ask us how our photo classes are going and give us tips even if they have never taught us before.
Did you have to submit a portfolio in order to apply to your art school?
The submission of a portfolio in the application process was optional, although I highly recommend that a person applying to SCAD create one. A portfolio should include all or some of your best work, because when you send it in, you are showing what you can create and do for the art world; also, you could have a better chance of being accepted.