Jared Andreas (’18, BFA, visual art) hadn’t yet finished his undergraduate degree when he received an honor most artists dream of: a featured spot in New American Paintings, a highly regarded journal in which museum curators select and showcase exceptional emerging artistic talent. Andreas, who works primarily with acrylic and oil paint, credits supportive faculty in Boise State’s art department — Dan Scott, chair of the art department; Kate Walker, associate professor of art; Chad Erpelding, a professor and graduate director of art; and Kirsten Furlong, the gallery director of the visual arts center — with mentoring and challenging him to reach his full artistic potential. He said Boise State professors also taught him how to market his talent wisely.
“I think the BFA exhibition was what prepared me the most for life after school,” he said. “The students who are graduating from the program organize everything in the exhibition — from arranging the press release to designing promotional materials to the actual creation and installation of the work itself. Along with preparing everything for the show, we also learned the importance of portfolios, resumes and applications. Ultimately, Boise State provided me with the skills and direction I needed to continue pursuing painting.”
After New American Paintings published his work, and with encouragement from his mentors, Andreas applied for grants with the Alexa Rose Foundation, which funds artists in a variety of mediums, and the XL Catlin Art Prize, a traveling exhibition focused on figurative work. He was awarded both. He used his foundation grant to rent studio space to paint.
His advice to current art students?
“Don’t give up. Be prepared for the naysayers. Not everyone is going to enjoy your work. Rejection can be painful but it is also an important aspect of growth. I have an impressive stack of rejection letters in my studio. I use them for motivation.”
