Ti6my

Hello, I am approaching my senior year in high school and ultimately some major life-changing decisions lie ahead. So, I would like to ask all of you "artist types" a few questions to help guide me along.

First, Art Colleges. Are they all that they're cracked up to be? Well, the answer is probably yes, but still, a student's/alumnist's opinion would be more appreciated and taken in than someone trying to sell me an education.

Next, would a dedicated art college really be necessary for me to pursue a career in art? Would I have the same opportunity for a job if I attended a state or private school not centered around art?

Finally, are they any real careers in art?! I know that sounds silly, but is finding an artistic career a rarity or are they out there, just waiting for me to find them?

Answers to all these questions along with a discussion would help me out more than you would believe. I'm really confused about what to do in my future. I do, however know that I love to draw/paint/design/create and I think I'm an okay artist. I am the fourth kid in my family to go to college, so sadly, my parents can't/won't pay for my education, so i really want to make sure I am spending my money wisely, because I really don't want to pay off college loans while balancing a job at someplace like McDonalds when I leave college.

Thanks in advance!

sofa_x

I graduated from the Savannah College of art & design (scad.edu) and can only offer this. Keep in mind your ultimate goal. What is it that you want to do? Then apply that question to potential schooling and try to determine if it will help. For example, if you want to be a fine art painter, having a BFA in painting won’t necessarily help you. People will only be interested in what you can do, not what a piece of paper says you can do. On the other hand, the skills gained by attending an art school are invaluable. You will improve as a painter by attending school. More so than just painting a bunch on your own.

However if you want to be a graphic designer/artist, then school is a must. My wife (whom I met at SCAD) will attest to that. Illustrators are somewhere between. A full degree would be helpful. A lot of jobs in illustration are freelance. There are several forums available. There is the AIGA (www.aiga.com) which is an organization of graphic artists. I suggest you look around at the kind of job you want and see if it exists and then decide how to get there.

The other way is to go to is to go to a school that offers a number of different programs and use that to decide what you want. As for SCAD, the education was fantastic, but they did little to educate me on how to apply my education. That was however 9 years ago, so that may have all changed. I can’t offer much help for a non-art specific college. They may have excellent programs as well, or maybe they suck.

I hope this was remotely helpful. Good luck, and don’t let the man break you.

wpulley

Look for schools that have a reasonably high success in job placement and are affiliated with business that use the school for INTERSHIPS. Design schools can be very good about this and if you get a good hook up while in school, it makes it that much easier to get a job after graduation.

Also, art/design schools will usually be taught by instuctors who are currently working as artists or business owners. If you come across as a hard working student, they may hook you up with work or take you 'under their wing'. I've seen it happen to a few lucky students.

Keep in mind that whatever great work you produce, there will be someone else there who blows everyone else out of the water. My advice in this situation is that you better have your shit together and DO NOT piddle around with sloppy work *just to get by and fill gaps in your portfolio*.

Art/design schools are freak'n expensive. If you have to rely on finacial aid to pay your own way, you better be 100% serious about working in an art related field. If you are a party type person, you better have the abilty to turn that shit off while your at school. Some people can handle it, but the students who party and screw off are being supported by mommy and daddy. Don't throw your money away if school is coming out of your pocket. That hold s true for any school, really.

If you think your art skills are just OK, then you better have a good eye for layout and basic concept/design. Good schools will have good classes to try to teach you basic layout/design skills but it's my opionion that its best to have those skills developed in advance. If you have layed out comic book stlye art with characters and backgounds and several boards to put a story together then that experience carries over to other types of design. The kiddies who sketch dragons and skulls all day on notebook paper get left behind.

My personal work experience:
I went to the Art Institute of Colorado and graduated in 98. I got a commercial art job a few months outta school and worked in my field for exactly one year and was promptly layed off. bummer. I applied for other work everywhere I could and I had a great portfolio of professional work. Too bad there were other people with the same portfolio who had 2-4 year more experience than me. Currently, I work freelance while my bills are paid by a regular 9-5 office job.

I'm wishing now that I went thru a regular 4 year degree. (which CIA now offers)

It all boils down to this- if you are just OK at art, you better become great. There is way too much compitition in the actual real world.

Also, don't think you can get by by having a computer do art work for you. Photoshop will not increase the quality of your work. 3D programs do not make you a good animator.

Are you good with a pencil/paintbrush?
yeah? go for it!

Ti6my

Ok, thanks for the great advice so far! Before I continue, I must admit that this probably isn't the right forum for this, but I thought I would get more replies and interest if I put it where the artists roam about.

Anyways, wpulley, you really laid it all out on the table. I don't use a computer for my art at all. I draw and paint everything. I also think I am a little more than okay, I'm just being humble. Because after seeing all the great art work on this site, I get a little intimidated and scared, but remember that you guys probably all have college educations to help you out. I am taking two art classes next year, and have been painting throughout the summer. Next summer, I will be helping out on a large mural along an underpass in the city. This should all provide me with good expierence.

I guess I am a bit of a party guy, but will be able to turn that off completely and focus on the task at hand. That is not a problem at all, especially when it's my money.

I am pretty sure that I'm going to settle on art for college. I'm just a little scared after hearing what you had to say. But I guess, that's real life.

I think what I'm mostly worried about is finding a job after college. But, with time, I will get a better grasp on the job market I suppose. My teacher, counseler, and future college professers can probably explain to me a little better than me thinking about it myself.


Thanks for the advice so far, and I look forward to hearing from more people, if you would be so kind.

Sun Tzu

Im almost finished with a degree in multimedia and I think its been great and is only going to get better. I would say go traditional art (State University art degree) if your interested in teaching (thats not to say you would be having a gallery showing of your work selling $50,000 a piece by going that route)

But I think the good thing about multimedia is the combination of art and technolgy; and there are so many avenues within the industry.

Heres my schools website www.uat.edu

I heard FullSail is great to. ALso; depending on what you want to do getting internships to places like Skywalker Ranch are awsome ops.

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analinguist

i think going to school is important because it allows you to make connections and build your network. some schools offer them through internships while others, you really have to find them yourself. BUT, while in school you are offered a lot of financial aid which allows you to work rather cheaply to start, thus allowing you to get a portfolio and build more connections and gain experiences. i think that for graphic design/multimedia we have different college experiences and thought about college then traditional artists do.

i agree with everyone that if you want to do graphic/corporate design you really need to have at least a BFA. i know painters that didn't go to art school and they are doing quite well without schooling. the world is based on what connections you build, you have to just throw your shit everywhere you can until something bites. with or without school if your stuff is amazing and original, and given to the right people, you'll do fine.

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shaft73

Go to www.sofos.com/adi

This is the web site of comic book artist Adi Granov. He has a forum for artists. If you need ay more advise, or ideas, you'll get t from there. Plus his work is F[©%in awsome!

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