Creative arts take many forms and can be seen everywhere, from street corners and buses, to buildings and canvas, and even on various sized screens. Two leading forms of creative expression are Fine Arts and Motion Pictures & Television. Academy of Art University in San Francisco, California, provides renowned instructional programs in both of these disciplines.
Are you a young creative who wonders about the direction your future should take in an artistic career? The Academy has been training creatives for exciting careers since 1929. Why not explore what they have to offer in Fine Arts and Motion Pictures & Television?
Academy of Art University School of Fine Art
Pursuing an education at the Academy’s School of Fine Art begins with the fundamentals. Foundational studies center around knowledge and skills for students to compose, design, draw, paint, and sculpt. While mastering the basics, students will grow and develop their own artistic point of view and create genuine pieces of art for their own portfolio.
The School of Fine Art offers degrees on campus and online with the following major tracks of study:
- Book Arts
- Calligraphy & Letterform
- Painting
- Printmaking
- Sculpture
These may seem like random subjects, but a degree focusing on any of these Fine Art disciplines opens the door to an equally wide range of career trajectories. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, fine arts careers are increasing at 6% per year, on par with other fields. Fine Arts graduates go on to find satisfying employment in many different industries, including printing, advertising, education, public relations, and engineering.
Unique Fine Art Study Opportunities
Imagine studying the creative arts among the classic and historical settings of Europe. This is possible through Academy of Art University’s Study Abroad Program. Students can complete their Liberal Arts requirements on site in the featured regions and broad context of European culture and history. Experience the fabulous collections of sculptures, paintings, and decorative objects in some of Europe’s world-renowned museums, while exploring the extraordinary architecture of the Old Country.
This program is offered during the almost eight weeks of the summer semester. Classes are offered Monday through Thursday during the semester, and include on-location study and projects throughout European settings with Academy of Art University instructors.
Featured Fine Arts Career Success Story
Nina Fabunmi’s parents were adamant that she shouldn’t study art, telling her it was the profession of people who were starving. But Nina relentlessly pursued her dream and now she enjoys a successful career as an artist. After winning several awards for her paintings, she is now represented by Studio Gallery in San Francisco, Joyce Gordon Gallery in Oakland and Gallery Guichard in Chicago.
Since 2011, Nina has worked as a docent at the Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco, where she’s led youth workshops, illustrated books for the museum’s curriculum, and displayed her own works. She continues to receive commissions for paintings, and since 2014 has worked as a tutor in the Academy’s Academic Resource Center.
School of Motion Pictures & Television
Imagine the opportunity to study filmmaking with Academy and Emmy Award-winning instructors, learning from them in a modern, hands-on environment. This is the exciting world of The Academy’s School of Motion Pictures & Television.
Learn to direct, produce, shoot, edit, direct production design and write for movies and television. Follow your passion for creating entertainment by mastering postproduction software, acquiring VR experience, delving into drone and VFX cinematography, exploring documentary filmmaking, and producing your own commercials and music videos.
Officially recognized as one of the Top 10 Visual Effects Schools by @THR! 🏆 Read more about the feature: https://t.co/8a0T4teZyy 🎨: Lucy Xinwen Cui pic.twitter.com/t3mZlyJR9r
— Academy of Art University (@academy_of_art) August 9, 2019
Graduates from the School of Motion Pictures & Television will have created a thesis film, reel, or portfolio that showcases their talents and industry preparedness for prospective employment in the film and television industry.
The School of Motion Pictures & Television offers on-campus and online instruction toward degrees with the following specialties:
- Cinematography
- Directing
- Editing
- Producing
- Production Design
- Screenwriting
The rise of online streaming media, VR technology, and 360-degree video means that traditional filmmaking is not the only opportunity for aspiring artists. Academy graduates will be prepared to showcase their strengths and demonstrate a firm grasp of what attracts and satisfies today’s consumer market.
Jumpstarting a Film Career
For the past three years, The Academy’s student film festival, the NXT UP Festival, has proven to be a solid platform to raise awareness and appreciation to the new generation of filmmakers. During the past two festivals, industry professionals joined Academy faculty in the judging panel. Students in the audience also had the opportunity to vote for their top picks out of student projects.
The 2019 NXT Up Festival also featured an Industry Panel of industry professionals giving advice on what it takes to get into the filmmaking industry, and more importantly, to thrive in it. Notable panelists included art director and production designer Michael Goldman (Ant-Man and the Wasp, The Amazing Spider-Man, Star Trek: Into Darkness), cinematographer Hiro Narita (Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, Hocus Pocus, James and the Giant Peach), and producer Andrew Muscato (The Zen of Bobby V).
Featured MPT Career Success Story
Academy of Art University alumnus Kyle Kernan went from serving as a correctional officer in Martinsburg, WV, to an extraordinary career as a film producer. After graduating from The Academy in 2013, Kyle has earned quite a number of film credits by fulfilling various production roles. These include acting, directing, editing, special effects, production managing, and even makeup.
At the present time, Kyle has 13 credits as producer, and he’s also won in the 2016 Burbank International Film Festival as a producer for Best Foreign Short for Pas a vendre. His latest project, You Can’t Say No, starring Margeurite Moreu, Hamish Linklater, and Oscar-nominated Peter Fonda, is available on streaming services. Look for it on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Microsoft Xbox, and Fandango Now.
Academy of Art University is Where You Begin!
Academy of Art University is a premier training center for creatives and boasts numerous graduates from all over the world who lead exciting careers built upon Fine Arts and MPT degrees. Since 1929, The Academy has been an inclusive institution that welcomes students from all across the globe.
A career in Motion Pictures & Television or Fine Arts can be a dream come true for many students, and Academy of Art University can make that dream become a reality.
Related: Academy of Art University Tops Rookies Charts of Best Creative Media and Entertainment Schools
