Author: Steven Vasquez Lopez

Steven Vasquez Lopez was born in Upland, California, and currently lives and works in San Francisco, where he is Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions at San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI). Lopez completed his MFA in Painting from San Francisco Art Institute in 2007, and received his BA in Studio Art from UC Santa Barbara in 2000. He has received many honors and awards, and is exhibiting in galleries and museums across the country. He is represented by Carl E Smith Gallery in LA.

ADVICE FOR THE YOUNG ARTIST: Five Survival Strategies for Applying to Art School

Posted May 14, 2015, 9:30 a.m. by Steven Vasquez Lopez | View Comments

I started drawing as soon as I could hold a crayon: first, cartoons from TV and newspaper comics, and later, the music icons from Rolling Stone covers. I always wanted to pursue art, but I was concerned about creating a stable future for myself. As the first of my family to attend a four-year college, I felt I had to pursue a career that would be sensible and lucrative. What I discovered surprised everyone: artists develop skills in critical thinking, creative problem solving, and visual communication that apply to countless “real-world” opportunities. Going to art school is not just a ...

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