Is Graphic Design a good A-Level for me to take?

Am I good enough to take Art & Design at A-Level?

• So I have to choose 4 A-Levels to start in September and I really want to choose Art & Design but I'm not sure if Im good enough to take it at A-Level. After sixth form I hope to go to university and study something to do with either art, film or theatre (how many courses do you study at university? (my ULTIMATE dream would be to go and work for (and I know it's optimistic) an animation company and work on animated films and either do some sort of art-based job or be a voice actor, which A-Levels would be needed for this?)). I can copy stuff perfectly like if I'm looking at a poster of, for example, Homer Simpson - I could copy (not trace) that perfectly and I can also draw portraits (with reference) and still life pretty well but the thing which makes me hesitant is the fact that I've just been watching some videos on YouTube and the guy I'm watching can just draw pretty much anything perfectly without any sort of reference. If I can't draw without reference am I really good enough to take A-Level Art & Design? Also, I've heard that there's a massive workload for Art & Design at A-Level, but how much are we talking about? 3 pieces of art a night? What? How much? If you've taken/are taking art at A-Level then please give me an indication of roughly how much work you have to do in, say, a week. Also, out of the following options, which 3 go best together but also with Art & Design (art is my priority (the reason that I haven't listed Graphics or Animation and stuff like that is because no schools in my local area offer it as an A-Level (sorry about all of the brackets haha!)))? Media Studies Product Design (I have no experience of making things, I can draw and paint but that's about it, I might be rubbish - should I take that risk?) Psychology Theatre Studies Oh and just to add, I can't take: Art & Design, Media Studies, Psychology and Theatre Studies because of this weird timetable system that my school have. But any other combination involving those subjects and definitely Art & Design should be fine. If you read all of that, then thank you so much! :-)

• Answer:

  The highest level of art class is crucial if you plan to pursue a career in an animation. In university it's not necessarily courses, there are courses within a Diploma that you have to do. I'm doing an undergraduate diploma in graphic design (Since I was a lazy asshole in school) to jump into Animation, the courses I have in graphic design are about 4 separate ones. What you'd have to learn probably is Art history (the golden age of animation), life drawing, 2D/3D animation, stuff like that. If you are an Animator working under a company, you will be asked to animate a pre-existing character from the creator. If this is the case you will still have reference (turn-charts) to use for copying the character as exact to animate. Apart of the animation job may also be story-boarding, this is the act of drawing thumbnail comic-like strips, so drawing competently IS CRUCIAL. it's crucial you learn how to draw from your mind, when giving your portfolio out you'll have to make your own characters and not copy. Animation is EXTREMELY competitive but the work is vast, they are always looking for bright and extensively skilled people, and originality is one leg-up than from the replicated copy. Make your own characters and don't rely so much on reference, if you do your style will mold into it and it won't be rememberable. As for you joining Level-A art and design, anyone that can draw well is enough, it all depends on you putting in the amount of effort, In Level-A art you have to do assignments that normally use Harvard-style referencing and your research must be reputable, it's all about concept normally and not just drawing pretty pictures. Take Media Studies. this will teach you valuable information in the world of filming. This does apply to animation, as different techniques and perspectives will be used to convey emotion. Theater Studies: Sounds useless too animation, but if you want to use it as a backup towards voice-acting, then this would be good. Theater studies is always about hands-on stuff, acting and in acting you have to heighten your voice for those to hear you. It would be good for your vocals. Psychology: Not really, it could help you where you could use it to your advantage to sway employers to hire you, but that is extremely disputable. In the end, Corey we can't really tell you what's best for you. I can give you as much as I know but entirely it's up to you. If you love animation there's nothing in the world that will stop you from doing it, I wanted to be an animation some time ago too. My own advice I can give you is that you should be serious on your skills, be honest with yourself and find your art's faults, If you think you're fine you will not grow as an artist and what employer would look your way? Goodluck, and don't give up... seriously I don't listen to words like this, but remember only you can give up on your dreams, no one else.