This document provides an overview and survival guide for new students attending Tyler School of Art. It discusses that students will start in the BFA foundations program as undecided majors and take core art classes in areas like 2D design, 3D design, and drawing. It emphasizes the importance of time management, receiving and implementing feedback from critiques, getting to know professors and other students, and using inspiration from visiting museums and the work of other artists. The guide stresses enjoying the experience while navigating the challenges of art school.

1. Arthur’s Declassified Tyler School of
Art Survival Guide
By: ClaudiaBokulvich, Author Deaville, Shelby Dobbins, and Lynette Rodriguez

2. BF What??
Firstly, congratulations on making it this far,
you are now a student in one of the coolest
schools around! All that hard work and
portfolio prep finally paid off! …But this is just
the beginning.
You are about to embark on one of the
greatest adventures of your life, COLLEGE. Not
just any college, Tyler School of Art.
What does all of this mean?! You’re about to
find out…

3. The Beginning
 You are now a Undecided student in the B.F.A
program, or Bachelors in Fine Arts program. This
program will open the door for you to encounter
wild amount of learning opportunities and
experiences in the art world!
 Lets not get ahead of ourselves though, we have
to explain the basics first…

4. Tyler Mindset
 There are some things you will learn about Tyler,
both from experience and this slide show alone.
 Firstly, the foundation program is to make you well
rounded artists!
 Time management. The amount you will hear this
phrase is ungodly high. But they still have a point..
 You will spend a lot of hours on big projects, its
unavoidable. Well worth it to end up with something
you're proud of though

5. Tyler Mindset Part Deux
 The first year isn’t about what major you want to do,
it’s about trying new things and learning. At the same
time, someone interested in say, Graphic design
might not have a knack for 3D. It happens. You can
still end up with a good project though, It all goes
back to the amount of time you put into it.
 Signatures/Sketchbooks/Folios/Pains in the ass is a
large project done by all foundation students in Tyler.
You will hear more about these. But essentially,
you make pages full of art, then turn them into books.
It’s a Tyler project and it can turn out really cool. Try
to enjoy them, they're for you!

6. Classes You Will Take
 In the Tyler BFA Foundations Department you take
the basics in elemental design: 2D Principles, 3D
Principles, and Drawing.
 2D deals with 2D concepts and ideas as well as color
theory and typography.
 3D explores sculpture, ceramics, metals, and
craftwork.
 Drawing focuses on figure, landscape, still life, and
portraiture.
 You also take an Intro Lecture course which explains
the different majors available, along with an Art
History course and of course, Gen EDs...FUN.

7. Your Major
 Tyler can be confusing because spend your first year
in a Foundation Program for your BFA degree.
During the course of your time in Foundations you
will be presented with all the different majors you can
choose while you hone your skills with the basics. It's
a time to formulate ideas and try new things and
experiment.
 At the end of your sophomore year you can declare a
major, so that's a ways a way...Focus on exploration.
When spring semester hits and you start picking
classes for the your sophomore fall term keep in
mind possible classes for other majors even if you
may already be settled on what you want. Be open to
new things but persistent if you know what you really
want.

8. Supplies/Art Stores
 Figuring out what your professors want you to have in
terms of supplies before school starts can always be a
challenge. Each professor has their own slightly altered
expectations, however, rest assured that if you come to
school with only some notebooks, pencils, and bare
essentials, it's not a problem.
 The Tyler section in the Temple Bookstore sells kits for 2D, 3D,
and Drawing as well as having everything you should need
available to purchase with diamond dollars or with cash.
Utretch and Dick Blick in Philadelphia offer good deals for art
students as well. You can even sign up for the rewards program
for both of these stores to earn discounts and receive coupons.
 You have to be willing to explore the city to find the best deals
on art supplies. Make sure to ask your fellow classmates and
your professors. They are great resources on what’s available
to art students on a budget.

9. Inspiration/Research
 During your years at Tyler, you're destined to
experience artist's block and a lack of inspiration. In
order to avoid this problem, there are a few things
that you should take part in.
 CLASSMATES - One source of inspiration can be found
right through your classmates. Observing different styles
and techniques of your peers can help you in developing
your own techniques and ideas.
 WORK OF OTHER ARTISTS - looking up the work of
other artists, contemporary and classic, is hugely
important.
 MUSEUMS AND OPENINGS - Seeing the work and
exhibitions of other artists is vital in the development of
your own art. Frequent visits at the Philadelphia
Museum of Art as well as first Friday, which is a free,
monthly art event in old city.

10. Time Management
 We know you’ve heard it before and your probably rolling your eyes
thinking this very thing, but trust us this will become very important when
you have several projects due and exams to study for.
① Reviewing each class syllabus is the first place to start with managing
your time. Make note of important dates.
② Make things that will take up more time a priority. Don’t leave what
you struggle with or are slower at finishing for last.
③ Spread out the time you spend on each class assignment. Plus it
helps to step away from a piece you’ve been working on for hrs to
regain perspective.
④ Going on no sleep shouldn’t become your way of life. Yes this is Art
school, and yes you will have those moments when you pull an all
nighter or two but this shouldn’t become a habit. Sleep is nothing to
be afraid of.

11. Crits/Constructive Criticism
 When a major assignment is due, it will be
evaluated by your teacher and classmates. You
will experience both good and bad crits, but it's
important to keep an open mind about whatever
criticism you get, and LEARN FROM IT. Your
classmates have no intentions of hurting your
feelings (well, most of the time) but rather to help
you progress as a young artist and improve your
work. Take all the advice you can get, and apply it
to your work.

12. Get To Know Your
Teachers/Make Friends
 Your Professors are the best people to know. They can
help you resolve an issue your having with a project, and
they are great to go to for advice. These are the people
that can help you figure out what you need to succeed in
any field your thinking of going into. Remember they went
through the same process you are currently in, and have a
lot of knowledge and experience to draw from.
 Make friends with fellow classmates. It’s always good to
exchange info with others that can help you out when you
miss a day of class. And more importantly these are the
people who have the same interests as you so you have
plenty in common. Having friends you can bounce ideas off
of is always good to have. And even with all the work you
will have you should always take time to relax and have
some fun with friends.

13. The End
 Enjoy sleep now and make coffee your new best
friend!
 Foundations is tough, but the pay off is well worth it.
Make the best of it!
 Have fun because you only get to experience this
once.
 Once you get the hang of these things, life
becomes a bit easier. (And by that, we mean, your
definition of easy changes).