would you reccomend going to strykejernet? also what did you write on your application? i think i want to go there but i don't know what to write or anything. do i have to be really talented before i go there?
@Anonymoushi anon! taking some time off from studying to reply to this message:
strykejernet is a very nice school! however, it might not fit for everyone! it’s very liberal and as a student you will have a lot of freedom - but along with it, of course, some responsibilites. if you feel that you’re ok with working independently a lot and being creative, it’s definitely a good place to be! you really get to let your creative juices flow there. it is, however, a private school, and many of the teachers, while talented and inspiring, are a little… let’s just say, eccentric. in a good way, though!
the social life is perhaps the best thing about the school, in my opinion; being the eccentric hippie school that it is, it hosts its own parties ever so often, or arranges dinners, and the people you meet there are all very interesting both creatively and otherwise.
that said, not all of them are, or even aspire to be, great artists! many are talented, others barely at all. it’s a diverse place! you will not be judged on a basis of your style of work or your experience as an “artist”, but rather on your creativity and your will to work hard and produce new things, often challenging your preferred way of doing things.
you can choose to do a one or two year course, but you don’t have to choose before the end of the first year. the first year has some obligatory modules, like drawing, painting, and sculpture, while the second year is more free. i chose not to re-apply for a second year because while i enjoyed my time there, it was a little too disorganized for me! i really needed the chance to let my mind be creative when i applied the first time, but one year turned out to be enough for me. it was a great year, though!
as for the application… i don’t really remember the specifics of what i wrote, to be honest, but i think i just listed some of my interests and artistic influences. you really don’t need to write a lot - focus on your portfolio instead! i can tell you as a former student that they value unfinished sketches - things that showcase your ideas - just as highly as your finished work. i would advice you to try showing them a bit of both - and a variation of techniques would be good, too, if that’s something you do. try to show them that you have ambition and are willing to work hard to get where you want to go!
i hope this helped! if not, feel free to message me again!
also, if you don’t speak norwegian, that’s fine! the teachers can translate for you, and while they will expect you to attempt learning norwegian on your own, it should be alright. so don’t worry about that!
