IvyWise On-Demand: A Look Inside Arts Colleges with Former Admissions Directors
Whether you are planning on pursuing a visual or performing arts major or simply seeking a college where you can explore your interest in the arts while studying another major, this is a great opportunity to learn all about arts at the undergraduate level and how to stand out when applying as an arts student.
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By Tasha, IvyWise College Admissions Counselor
Though the visual arts require talent and skill, they also require knowledge and critical thinking. Students who want to study art in college should consider beefing up their knowledge outside of the classroom. One way to become a “pointy” student in the visual arts is through extracurricular reading.
You can find thousands of publications about visual art, as well as podcasts, websites — you name it. Exploring a variety of resources can help you dive even deeper into a current interest or find new ones. Better yet, you may find inspiration for your art portfolio for college.
If you plan to apply to a visual arts major in college, spend some time over the summer engaging with material related to your interests. Here are my recommendations for books, websites, and podcasts you might want to add to your summer reading list.
On Art Techniques
A Closer Look: Techniques of Painting by Jo Kirby: This is one of the go-to instructional books for painting techniques, including oil, acrylic, and even watercolor. Published by The National Gallery in London — one of the U.K.’s premier museums of fine art — this painting guide uses works from the National Gallery’s collection to illustrate its many detailed examples.
The Potter’s Bible: An Essential Illustrated Reference for Both Beginner and Advanced Potters by Marilyn Scott: If your medium is more 3D, this how-to ceramics guide is for you. It’s meant to be a handy reference for ceramicists at any stage, from beginners to advanced practitioners. With its descriptions and images of many different techniques, it offers readers a guide through which to teach themselves pottery.
The Printmaking Bible: The Complete Guide to Materials and Techniques by Ann d’Arcy Hughes and Hebe Vernon-Morris: This is an excellent reference guide for either aspiring or experienced printmakers, with in-depth instructions for different techniques, serving as a kind of how-to manual. But beyond written instructions, the volume includes over 1,000 detailed images for printmakers to reference.
On Art History
The Art Book by the Editors of Phaidon Press: This is certainly not the only large, glossy, art history anthology out there, but it’s one of the most comprehensive and popular. It’s an art history encyclopedia that allows readers to search art from A to Z, through different periods of time, geographical areas, and mediums.
Smarthistory: The Center for Public Art History: This online public art history archive includes contributions from over 800 academic contributors from around the world. The website includes PDFs of art history textbooks, essays, videos, and other art history reference guides.
Art in Fiction
The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro: Taking one of the most famous art heists in history — the 1990 theft at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston — as its muse, this thriller is a definite page-turner. Young, struggling artist Claire Roth embarks on a journey of self-discovery when one of the stolen Degas paintings resurfaces in her studio.
An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin: Written by the well-known actor, this novel follows a recent college graduate, Lacey Yeager, through her early career as a gallerist in New York City as she climbs the ranks. It takes readers to the darkest corners of the art world, questioning how we assign value to works of art.
Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez: The protagonist of this novel, Raquel, is a third-year art history student at an elite U.S. college. While doing research for her thesis, she stumbles upon the forgotten story of Anita de Monte, a promising, young artist who was found dead in New York City in 1985. Raquel soon starts to thread surprising similarities between her story and Anita’s, questioning dynamics between art, power, and who gets remembered.
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt: Perhaps one of the most popular recent novels about the art world, this work of fiction delves into the dark world of art forgery and the exciting universe of international art museums. This chunky volume spans many years of protagonist Theo Decker’s young life. The plot’s twists and turns — which accompany Theo through many different corners of the art world — are thrilling.
Art News
Hyperallergic: This independent, web-based publication posts breaking news about art world-related topics as well as commentary and in-depth criticism, including reviews, opinion pieces, and more. You can also listen to the Hyperallergic podcast.
Artforum: In circulation since 1962, Artforum describes itself as the “magazine of record for the contemporary art world.” A monthly, published magazine, it focuses on artist profiles, news, reviews, and criticism. Any young artist should have their pulse on the latest up-and-coming artists and techniques in the art world, and Artforum is an excellent reference for just that purpose.
Art and Art History Podcasts
Last Seen, Season 1 by WBUR and the Boston Globe: This 10-episode investigative podcast series delves into the Isabella Stewart Gardner art heist through interviews with those who were there. The podcast wonders: How have these 13 missing works not been recovered? And why has this theft captured the public imagination with such a forceful grip?
Immaterial by The Metropolitan Museum of Art: The Met, one of New York City’s premier art museums, produced two seasons of this excellent, addictive podcast that explores what art is made of. Each episode takes a material — stone, wood, and linen, for example — and tells the story of that material, asking what it can teach us about art, history, and humanity.
This is by no means a complete list, but it’s a great place to start if you’re interested in doing additional reading and research. If you want a more personalized list of resources that caters to your specific interests, IvyWise can help. Our team of experienced counselors provide guidance and recommendations for your unique needs and passions, helping you to become a specialist in your field of interest. Contact us today to learn how we can help you stand out to college admissions committees.
