How to (not) get accepted to Berlin Art School / My portfolio / UDK und Weißensee KH Bewerbungsmappe

[@ltwig476]

Throughout the US art schools are closing right and left because of low attendance. Most of the great artists dropped out of art school within the 1st 2 semesters.(look it up) I learned art basics through cheap Adult Continuing Studies. I had a well paying career as a brick mason. After learning basics, I started taking art lessons from individual professional artist. Once per week class of 4-6 students for 3years.. I spent a lot of time at the local library and art museums. I changed instructors, learning under 3 different because that is what my fav instructor advised. Ive since been painting and learning on my own for 40 years. Today I mostly paint oil on canvas 36" to 80", Semi Abstract and Impressionism. I go back and forth typically having 2 paintings going at once. I do 1 or 2 commissions per year. I never do a portrait outside of Soft Pastel because all other mediums fail to capture the true feelings of human. (my opinion) Except I excel in soft pastel and won many awards. My opinion of you straight-up. I love your art work and ethics. I think maybe you should work on ridding yourself of anger with the art world. I carried that anger and all it served was to slow me down. I do think you could become a greater artist by forcing yourself out of the box that you love and obviously great at. A couple of things that helped me was to force myself to do plein air. Not just once or twice, (I hated it) but did it over and over until I actually learned about the nature of our world through artist eyes. The other thing was to push myself to visit coffee shops and small bars throughout a 100 mile radius and talk to strangers of purposely varied ages about various subjects and their lives. It broadened my mind of all the possibilities of what my semi abstract could be about. Reading best selling fiction on diverse subjects also broadened my art thinking. Patience and mass work is where it's at. Of the most renowned artist in our world, only 2 of 10 pieces become sellable works. It is not about how creative nor what we can sell. We paint to discover because it's infinite. Driven to discover! You have the momentum. Go for it!

[@PolinaGazeeva]

@@ltwig476 thank you for your thoughts! I wouldn't say I have much anger, not really. There is certain frustration that's attached to it and whenever this topic is brought up, I do feel it. But I don't think it's necessarily bad in any way. I also understand that whether an art school can be good for you in general is questionable. I don't believe anything is necessary, really. There is no one way and there is no one goal. And I also don't really believe in "pushing" yourself and doing what you don't want to do. I think the only reason we think we have to "push" and "try harder/set goals/have a system" is because we are programmed to believe that effort is only then valued, when it comes at a cost. You have to do what speaks to your soul and you really don't need any kind of pain. You can also just enjoy what you do and not feel like you have to "strive" for something. Because, in the end, what is the point? To me is to enjoy the process. It's not to get better or "grow". As long as I am having fun, that's all I care about. I think, this is my sore point. I grew up in culture, where hustle and "growing through pain" was way too normalized, even expected. No one told you that you can also just do things that bring you joy and be "successful" and happy that way. So, now I am learning to just have fun. And as long as I am having fun, all the growth and evolvement that's necessary will come naturally.

[@ltwig476]

@@PolinaGazeeva Yeah, I grew up the same and it's BS. I'm thankful when I see younger generations aren't going for our bullshit. Thanx! The pushing part. It's when we come to realize that we unknowingly created a box. Ive seen many other artist say "oh, this is what I'm into right now, if I wanted to do something else, I would" My question for them is "How do you know?" How do you know you're not in a comfortable box? I see a lot more art in large galleries that to me, looks more like illustration than art.Then I think no, I'm likely in a comfortable box. I wonder what your thoughts might be on collaborative painting? I'm super liberal, so that sort of individualist thing always bugs me. The only place Ive really seen collaborative work is on Graffiti art. We would think no, that couldn't possibly work. But then most of human greatness in other things came out of collaboration. I'm too freaking old. But I hope that you guys get to enjoy others much more than self and create great things together instead of this socially taught drive to be some individual.

[@PolinaGazeeva]

@@ltwig476 I don't really know if a painting can be shared... I mean, of course it can, physically, but then to me it would feel like two parents trying to raise a child together and make it into what they want it to be. I don't know. I struggle with sharing in that regard😄 and I guess I don't see what it could bring, honestly. But hey, maybe one day. If the opportunity arrives. It's just such a private process and everyone does it differently and feels it in their own way. And about the box.. I think, if you are self aware enough and your ego is sort of in check, you will know when you are in a box? I just think it's important not to tell yourself to do something "else" or "new" or "uncomfortable" just because you think that's what you should be doing to get better. Ah, yeah.. I also see a lot of very disappointing art in the galleries

[@MP-uz5ks]

I could tell you exactly why they didn't accept you, but that doesn't matter. I studied at both schools /universities, Weissensee for one year and applied at UDK afterwords and finished there Free Arts in 5 years, including Meisterschueler title. All that was 20 years ago, I m now 46 years old. Please listen to my advise: don't waste your time and energy for the "old" art schools. They won't teach you how to get into the business of Art. Of course, you can get the exchange of thoughts with other art students, but you guys will all be in the same situation: no actual guidance how to survive in the market, how to communicate with clients, how to use social media to be successful (if you want to.. ) You can get the exchange also outside of art schools. You can nowadays get guidance for marketing on the Internet for affordable prices. You are very lucky to live in these times, it was never easier to make a living as an artist. You just have to do the work! After many years, I will give it another shot. You are young and have all possibilities. Use them!

[@PolinaGazeeva]

@@MP-uz5ks thank you for your input! Yeah, I am trying to use the possibilities I have🌝 but I in no world would call it easy. It's not easy. It's much easier to show your art but that has nothing to do with "success". There is a lot of new kind of pressure that many artists nowadays experience that didn't exist like that before

[@aynethics8918]

You’re art is kind of touching and really unique in its beauty. Art schools often tend to ruin this individuality so maybe it’s better for you to express and evolve your art on your own terms.

[@PolinaGazeeva]

@@aynethics8918 thank you for your words😌

[@vijayagita3158]

I understand your hurt! I wonder if all art academia want to see "the process" dated, size and with the particular of the media at the back + your different stages in art well documented. It happened to me, I was good and they didn't care, but much later I understood they wanted to see the process of my progress, not a full blown artist. I hope it helps!

[@gablynx8720]

I can't stop watching your videos. I find your art very interesting.

[@PolinaGazeeva]

@@gablynx8720 thank you 👹 I'm glad you enjoying it🌝🌚

[@arturbuchhorn]

Now I'm getting recommended videos like "Why Art Schools Keep Closing"

[@PolinaGazeeva]

@@arturbuchhorn hahahahah that's great

[@polsoto]

You're a waaaay better artist than i am rn. But just as an observation... maybe focus a little more on the composition, idk

[@PolinaGazeeva]

@@polsoto I'm so focused 🌚🌝

[@pomodoro6782]

I totally get you about art school. In Croatia I tried to apply for a design school but didn't get accepted. It is free however there are so many additional costs to it. To even enter the entrance exam you must pay 60 euros + you must buy your own materials for the entrance exam which is online! (Why am I even paying 60 euros in the first place?). Also a lot of people pay for extra preparation for the entrance exam and portfolio. If you dont like the results of the exam you can ask for a reappeal however why even bother if they wont even tell you in which part of the exam you got so and so points. Rejection hits hard however what is important during it is that you must know your self worth and I can see through this video that you have a lot of it which I respect. Your art is different than most which is why I like it. Never give up and always keep going forward 💪💪Liebe Grüße

[@PolinaGazeeva]

@@pomodoro6782 it is ironic that artists end up having to pay to be able..to make art? Also I see a lot of residencies that have tuition costs and I am just so baffled. You want me to pay you money so I can stay at your residency and make the art that I make? I am not sure how they expect people to be able to do it, unless they have someone providing for them. Or open calls where you pay for the application, such bs, honestly.

[@Doodler-Pete]

You don’t need art school. You need connections with other artists to create your own gallery shows. Damian hurst did that in the nineties. Find a studio you can become part of. Your art is amazing. You are young. You have time to prove them wrong.

[@AzraelArt]

love the art, especially the piece behind you in the middle - are you selling prints only or originals too? i studied graphic design, and the mappenprocess is quite similar from what ive heard. usually studies are really important, awell as conceptual work. like doing a series of artworks around a theme or concept. this can be in your own style of course, but showing some variety is good too. naturalistic studies for example, that show you have the fundamentals to build upon. i dont think its necessary to do art school to become a great artist, sometimes it can be bad even. like loosing the raw energy in your work for the sake of more traditional ways. its very difficult to make a living with pure art too, have you considered studying design? at least in my university there where a lot of options for more "artsy" courses. and having the design part as a secondary option or even as main income could be an advantage. and you could live the student life and connect with creative people

[@PolinaGazeeva]

@@AzraelArt I studied product design and then dropped out in the last year because it was sucking the soul out of me🙌

[@PolinaGazeeva]

@@AzraelArt yeah, studies.. again, I did have a sketchbook with some other stuff as well, so idk🤷🏻‍♀️ Thank you for your input and your thoughts though! Very much appreciated

[@PolinaGazeeva]

@@AzraelArt and yeah, most of my works are for sale. You can have a look on my website. However a lot of pieces are not listed there www.polina-gazeeva.com If you are interested, just send me an email, I'll be happy to discuss it further with you [e-mail]

[@manueltorres1274]

Excellent creative, compositional work with great imagination that transports me through a certain 'dejà vu' to the great Remedios Varo.

[@PolinaGazeeva]

@@manueltorres1274 thank you 👹 that's an interesting association, really. I think I only briefly saw her works once online. Will have a better look🖤

[@laurenceholden]

It could be that that particular school didn’t think they could help you become a better artist given their expertise, not that your work is not worthy.

[@TorianTammas]

What do art schools deliver? They accept you only when you are an artist with a certain level of self taught training and talent. An artist needs to learn to sell if he wants to survive on art, but marketing isnt taught.

[@sweetpotato6405]

Real artists struggle with institutions and I think it's for a reason...

[@PolinaGazeeva]

@@sweetpotato6405 that is very true

[@elagbaban2443]

ı really enjoy seeing your work because they are full of passion and very unique but from what I've seen art schools all have their preference and they look through portfolios from their own preferences and what they want to see. I'm trying to get in to an art school and my teachers tell us to do and show what they want to see and its very icky you have to basically fake it to get in

[@MarkNiceyard]

Dark and unsettling works in your portfolio. There is much that pushes me away from it, but there is also something that pulls me towards it. Surely not the right works for an art school portfolio. It's too advanced in a conceptual way. The other question would be: Why did you want to go to art school? Why not just following your path without a paper with an official degree on it?

[@PolinaGazeeva]

@@MarkNiceyard what do you mean by "too advanced in a conceptual way"? Mostly because I wanted to have a university experience that I actually enjoy. Also, a lot of places ask for a degree. And (not saying it is the case, I don't really think it is) it gives a feeling of safety a bit.. A lot can be said here, I will probably make another video about it

[@MarkNiceyard]

@@PolinaGazeeva With 'to advanced in a conceptual way' I mean on the one hand side that many schools do not want artists that are already too good. They ask themselves: What can we teach this person he doesn't know already? And I don't mean that you're too good for the university but on the other hand side they may have come to the conclusion that your style is too much settled, too firm, too focused on a certain direction. That's what I meant with 'advanced'. And on top of that I guess it lies beyond the corridor of art our society accepts. It sounds crazy but that corridor exists. H.R.Giger e.g. was outside this corridor (his art and his personality) and that was the reason he never came to ultimate fame but remained on the second rank - despite his extreme innovative and intense concept. I see a few parallels here. But I may be wrong, I don't know you. Just seen this one vid. I'm not an art critique - just a bit of an old amateur artist and mainly senior AD.

[@PolinaGazeeva]

@@MarkNiceyard yeah, I think me being "settled" might be a reason I wasn't accepted. Though, to be fair, I don't even think it's true. But I can see why some universities might not want that. Though again, that says a lot about the university itself. If they don't want artists who are actually decent and have a strong sense of self, then.. well, that's on them then, I suppose. Thank you so much for your thoughts and input!

[@MarkNiceyard]

@@PolinaGazeeva What do Universities want? The resigned old grunt in me would answer: To produce more blue pill idiots that work for the money elite. Don't be one of them. Keep fighting. Be human. Stay creative. And find some real friends to bear the pain. :)

[@dimitriosgkirgkiris9486]

Everything is a means to an end. If you're not a doctor or some kind of professional that legally needs a diploma/Bachelors, then it's just a paper from a walled-garden. There's positives to attending but ultimately, it really is just a means to an end.

[@PolinaGazeeva]

@@dimitriosgkirgkiris9486 yeah but what if it could have been fun!

[@arturbuchhorn]

"Colorful. Happy." xD

[@PolinaGazeeva]

@@arturbuchhorn hehehe

[@hhhibsen5617]

It’s a crime u didnt get in, your work is really good. Just do your own Thing and make Them look stupid When you suceed

[@PolinaGazeeva]

@@hhhibsen5617 hahaha thank you 👹 that's what I am trying to do 🐊

[@adaozkan9317]

Hi, after seeing your portfolio i was like what are my chances. do you know anything about portfolio for architecture by any chance.

[@PolinaGazeeva]

@@adaozkan9317 oh don't be discouraged, please. The main point I wanted to bring across is that it is random to a big extent and is also not a statement on how good what you do is. I don't have any clue what the portfolio for architecture should be like.. the best would be to try finding people who are already studying there and contacting them! Good luck🖤

[@adaozkan9317]

@@PolinaGazeeva Thank you so much, I hope the best for you, whether its studying there or not. I believe you will do just fine

[@v12gimli21]

works are okay- but signing your work in bottom right is a big nono- also there is fixiersoray you can use for charcoal. they look at hundrets of works a day they‘re not gonna read the letter nor look at stuff thats wrapped

[@PolinaGazeeva]

What?? There is fixative spray? No way, thank you. A big nono? I seeee

[@v12gimli21]

@@PolinaGazeevayes at boesner where the varnishes are aswell- also i recommend just applying everywhere- not just in berlin. for example it‘s way easier to get into braunschweig/mainz/weimar/offenbach/bremen/halle

[@JohnFenzl-td2ih]

Screw that be you bring it all my love show them how deep you are we see it we love it in my eyes you have no need of a school people should be coming to you to learn how to go into that dark world we all fear and turn that fear into art…. We love you never compromise never change, grow but don’t settle and change who you are

[@ailiz7]

I‘m an artist living in Germany. I‘ve studied Graphic Design, bc my parents would not allow me to study Fine Art, which I knew I wanted for my life since I am 5 years old, I did study in an artschool later on, but as a guest student, I did that in Latin America and took some courses in an Art Akademie in Germany and other courses by artists organized by art schools in Germany. Let me tell you something. First: there‘s nothing wrong with your art, but second: you are sabotaging yourself heavily, third: you do not know what you really want, no, you do not want to learn or evolve, you are being stubborn and reckless with your time, energy, money and art path. Yes! The schools you applied to might not fit you, so, I think they did you a great favor to reject you, bc they recognize you are not an art match, but you did not want to make your research why, you did not ask someone who knows what an art school is looking for in possible students, you did nothing of it and stubbornly just press again and again to apply to an art school that maybe was never what you needed. I was recommended by one my oil teachers to apply to certain school here in Germany, I went to their pre-selection day, it show me that they were truly beneath me and we were not a match, they were incrdibly arrogant and hurt a lot of people, artists in that room, with comments that ranged from racist to absurd, like a guy working in a near by gas station and so on. From the director to the new painting teacher, you know, those people were nasty to say the least. If they have lots of lets say Korean students, they will trample in your art, bc they do not need you, I saw it with my own eyes. So, it is many a times that art schools are full of arrogant assholes, when you check their art, there’s nothing there either. But, coming back to you, WHY??? why did you wasted si much time trying to force yourself in into an institution you do not even want to get in??!!! Yes! YOU do not want to get in, bc to get in, you NEED to have a portfolio that makes sense to THEM, bc you say you want to learn from them! So how come you just never did any effort to have your Mappe review??? It’s like you were applying to cooking school, and you cook something and you never make a research on what type or style of food that school focus on!!! You just say, well I have this family recepe and they either like it or not! And you serve it raw and you never took the effort to LEARN from someone experienced in helping students fet into cooking school on how to present your dishes, what styles of food will be more favorable, what kind of ingredients on your recipe could spice it up to make the BEST IF YOUR COOKING TO BE PRESENTED TO THE SCHOOL YOU SAID YOU WANT TO GET IT???!!! You live in Germany, you have so many resources other foreign students do not have and yet, year after year you just bang your head in the wall and expect that wall to be a door to you, bc this us how you are, this is your style and how you enter and if they do not like you, then it’s ok, but then the next year you again bang your head against their wall and demand to enter, instead of having help to find their DOOR, knock on it and see if they let you in or not, or if that was or not the door you wanted to get in?!!! 😢😢😢I am sad for you, bc time is flying and you have no studies in your hands and no art career either, your art is cool, but you just want things to happen magically, it’s not the way art will put food on your table. Be free, do your art however you want, be true to your art process, YES!!! I support that with all my heart, but stop being NAIVE! That will not make you an art career, that will not even get you into an art school, bc art schools are there to set you up to make the art business work, that’s why I said, you do not know what you want! Do you want an art career? Get into an art school! Do you want to make YOUR ART and follow your art process? Do not get into an art school, study something you find joy in doing that will provide you with a stable job! And make your art in your free time, until you are maybe ready to sell your art and also make money from it. Otherwise, you are just wasting your time! Gib gas Mädel!!!

[@PolinaGazeeva]

@@ailiz7 not to be assuming, but I feel like you are projecting a lot of your own beliefs and insecurities here on me😅 you don't actually know anything about me here or my life to be making the statements. Thank you for your time though and effort and for putting your thoughts out there. I do what I need to do for my art career, for my art and myself. I have no interest in studying anything else or finding a "real" job that will provide for me. I've studied before and I would rather throw myself off a bridge than do that again or work in that field. It's okay to do things your own way. Yeah, I totally agree that maybe that school wasn't for me in the first place, but I had my reasons for applying to it and not something else. You also don't actually know the research I have done and how my applications have changed over time, so I think it's a bit silly to just assume. I don't believe in wasting time and I also don't believe that art schools (some do, but many don't) helping with the career part at all. Most of the people I know who have studied, claim quite the opposite. Anyway, yeah I am stubborn and that's how it is and how it will be. I appreciate your concerns and words, have a good day!

[@ailiz7]

@@PolinaGazeeva hey, I came across very strong bc it was alarming to listen to the info you provided in this video. Serious, of course, you do you, but I think you still do not have clear why you wanted to be in that art school, bc if you really wanted it, you would have done differently and pay and take a course to put your Mappe together. My life path is very different than yours, but I see more and more people trying to get to art school and failing or getting in and failing or graduating and failing or even having an art career but still failing. I think there‘s a lot of confusion on what art schools are now days for. There was Egon Schiele I think, if I am not wrong, well he or other artist I do not remember got into art school just to be thrown away from it later, banned, bc he wanted to follow other path in his art making, one that clashed in ideology with his art school. Art school is for a few to use the connections they will make there, to adhere to a school if thought or simply to make after a trending style that will fill galeries, this is the reason why so many art graduates now days didn’t even learn drawing, sketching or painting, but only installations! Bc that was making money and was the trend in the art business at the time they spent some years at their art schools. Ok, I hope this helps you and you truly make your research, specially on what is that you truly want for your career. I know first hand, here in Germany, if you do not have a diploma at hand, you’ll suffer, unless you have financial support from family or the lottery.

[@HornsfromtheDeep]

Nowadays "Art School" is on the internet. art schools will be all shut down in the future. quite sad. but next time, try to show them simpler compositions. some in charcoal and graphite and others in color. don´t bring the giant ones, carry with you the smaller ones only. gl

[@PolinaGazeeva]

@@HornsfromtheDeep yeah, but what I mostly do is 'giant'.. ah, I don't think there is going to be a next time😄

[@HornsfromtheDeep]

@@PolinaGazeeva yeh ik i see your work a bit big :P but anyways gl in what u do.

[@Zuckerstange96]

I think the better known Art Schools try to make it as hard as possible to get accepted because there are so many people applying.

[@PolinaGazeeva]

@@Zuckerstange96 of course, I'm just curious I suppose what are they looking for?

[@Zuckerstange96]

@@PolinaGazeeva Oh that seems to be so random, i don't know either. Personally i think often its dependent on the people that look at the portfolio. My older brother was at Burg Giebichenstein Art School and he also thought it was kinda weird.

[@fontainerouge]

You should have respected the requirements (size, no cover protection, etc) & eventually produce work just for that purpose.

[@PolinaGazeeva]

@@fontainerouge ah, I see

[@fontainerouge]

@@PolinaGazeeva well, how do you know whether you got rejected on the basis of your work or non-compliance? I guess that's my point not clearly stated in initial comment.

[@PolinaGazeeva]

@@fontainerouge Well, in the three reasons they gave me for not accepting me, there was nothing at all about a problem with the technical requirements. Plus the only thing I did "wrong" was the plastic on two of the works. Everything else was correct. And for the digital portfolio, everything was right as well

[@fontainerouge]

@@PolinaGazeeva ok, then. Sorry you did not get in.

[@mariec5716]

hi. Polina. what did you say? you had to pay to just apply and had to send your work at extra cost to you. then you got rejected? far out Polina, your work is unique to you and you art create, monumental art? you know what, those people have the problem. NOT YOU...YOUR ART IS EXCELLENT AND ITS GETTING BETTER BY THE NEXT PAINTING... Once i did an English test; they failed me. i requested a remark, at a higher cost? when, i get the results and they said lies, because it was not my style or expression. i did not use that grammar, words the ways they said? interesting, i wrote back and told them and i ended, shame on you, you are not referring to my paper. guess what, they answered back and said for a lot of, money, we will send you a copy of your paper. i said get stuffed losers, i don t care you are, shameful people. You stick My Exam Paper up Your A...the reason, You got rejected because they did not even look, at your ART. OKAY...Anyway when you get to study art, you get to do theory, this and that. You do not, get to paint Practical Art...Polina they want your money, sorry...YOU ARE THE EXCELLENT ARTIST. PROMOTE YOURSELF, SOMEHOW YOU WILL MAKE IT YOUR WAY. I could tell you lots more about me and EDUCATION? promise its all the crying game. i got three professional university, Drs. Exspelked at University Level, when I completed My Post Grad Level. Basically i said they re racist, i am here for an education only...seriously Polina You Sweet Heart are Not the First or last Applicant to be rejected...

[@PolinaGazeeva]

@@mariec5716 hahahah thank you 🖤🖤🖤

[@German4upik]

😂🎉😢

[@PolinaGazeeva]

🐊🐊

[@ArmyParanoidPenguin]

They truly are silly billys. Also, uh, hurt your feelings? Uhm... You figures look they are stinky.

[@PolinaGazeeva]

Ouch. That's mean😢

[@lunjiahu5159]

where is your artwork that proves you have any ability to judge? or are you jealous?