Art as a career (and art schools!)

[Glöwworm]

So basically I'd like to ask all of you what are your thoughts on art as a career. Art is just a generalized term I'm using for any type of art. I'm sure you've all heard all the horror stories about being an artist for a living. Thoughts?

Art schools. Do you think they're worth it?

 

[GameStation aka C4?!]

Only if your really good at it. Pratt if you live near NY

 

[Neon Ness]

Of course it's worth it if that's really where you want to take your life/career. Going to art school doesn't guarantee success, you have to be willing to work hard to keep up with everyone else. It's an extremely rigorous and competitive field. I mean art school is probably not for everyone, but at the same time, if you have the resources to go it won't harm your skills. At the very least you're exposing yourself to a competitive environment with others who can help you improve your work and think of ideas/concepts from alternate perspectives.

The only horror stories I've really heard are about money. Even if the salary in some fields of art is lower than average, I always thought that was better than doing something you hated for a living and being miserable, at least.

 

[Geist]

Being an art student is hard on your wallet. I'm going into the video games/movie industry to do concept design and 3d modelling, so I most likely won't be living in a cardboard box - especially because the industry is snatching people out of my school like it's the crane game or something, but in most artistic fields it's pretty much how neon described it.

Art schools can be hit or miss, it's really hard to tell in any other way other than doing lots of research about them, even for private institutions. In fact, in lots of fields in art don't require a degree simply because a portfolio is more important, which gives private institutions an edge. There isn't a necessity to hire teachers with teaching degrees, and are instead artists themselves. So that can be nice.
so pretty much if you're practicing to be say, a contemporary painter, art school may not be as much as a necessity as going into 3d modelling, where they not only teach you industry trade techniques, but you have to network, learn the standards of the industry, and pretty much a whole bunch of stuff you need to know to even be considered for hire. Education is always useful though, so it's more or less up to your judgement.

Either way I've always held that I'd much prefer to work with something I enjoy for something that guarantees me money.

 

[GameStation aka C4?!]

Being an art student is hard on your wallet. I'm going into the video games/movie industry to do concept design and 3d modelling, so I most likely won't be living in a cardboard box - especially because the industry is snatching people out of my school like it's the crane game or something, but in most artistic fields it's pretty much how neon described it.

Art schools can be hit or miss, it's really hard to tell in any other way other than doing lots of research about them, even for private institutions. In fact, in lots of fields in art don't require a degree simply because a portfolio is more important, which gives private institutions an edge. There isn't a necessity to hire teachers with teaching degrees, and are instead artists themselves. So that can be nice.
so pretty much if you're practicing to be say, a contemporary painter, art school may not be as much as a necessity as going into 3d modelling, where they not only teach you industry trade techniques, but you have to network, learn the standards of the industry, and pretty much a whole bunch of stuff you need to know to even be considered for hire. Education is always useful though, so it's more or less up to your judgement.

Either way I've always held that I'd much prefer to work with something I enjoy for something that guarantees me money.

Ohhhh yeah, hard on the wallet.


What are you looking for in the art field? Do you want to be an illustrator? Cartoonist? Sculpture? Whats your fancy?!!?!?!

 

[Geist]

I'm gonna be a concept artist and 3d modeller for mostly videogames. I do pretty much everything though, but I really want to get into sculpting. Best of both worlds.

 

[BioDG]

I'm a Graphic Designer and Illustrator. To me, I didn't think art schools were worth it for my pursuit, mainly because when employers see it, it doesn't reflect any other skills that may have been learned or touched on in general studies (i.e., core classes) and a strong Art dept. at a university would likely suffice anyways. I tend to view Art schools as high-risk (don't wanna sell yourself out if you are unsure about art as a career) and high-reward (you will possibly learn the most for your field you ever could from a degree program if the school is good).

Art classes in general, though, are 100% worth it for so many reasons. Even after graduation. That whole "self-taught" thing requires ambition and/or talent that is simply not in everyone at the beginning and taking a class does little to no harm to you in the grand scheme of things.

The biggest difference in having art for a career is that it demands that you have a strong skillset. Unlike other careers, you can't really afford to get by in the art or design world with substandard skills. Maybe in the commercial art world, but it's rare that anyone gets where they want that way. You have to possess strength in all standard areas. For me, those areas are various art software, web, and the range of imagery I should be capable of illustrating with accuracy or creativity. I'm sure this concept applies to other art fields, too. I can't imagine a painter being well off for not being good at painting drapery or gradations, for instance.

Anyway, the bright side of having an art career is that it sets the record straight for anyone who knows your profession: that success ought to come from pursuing your passion and working hard at it. Any time I tell someone I'm a graphic designer, they respond with excitement, but with a feint sense of admiration. I believe that's why.

 

[GameStation aka C4?!]

I'm a Graphic Designer and Illustrator. To me, I didn't think art schools were worth it for my pursuit, mainly because they don't reflect anything related to general studies and a strong Art dept. at a university would likely suffice anyways.

Art CLASSES, though, are worth it for so many reasons. Even after graduation.

The biggest difference in having art for a career is that it demands that you have a strong skillset. Unlike other careers, you can't really afford to get by in the art or design world with substandard skills. Maybe in the commercial art world, but it's rare that anyone gets where they want that way. You have to possess strength in all standard areas. For me, it's various art software, web, and the range of imagery I can draw with accuracy or creativity. I'm sure this concept applies to other art fields, too. I can't imagine a painter being well off for not being good at painting drapery, for instance.

Anyway, the bright side of having an art career is that it sets the record straight for anyone who knows your profession: that success ought to come from pursuing your passion and working hard at it. Any time I tell someone I'm a graphic designer, they respond with excitement, but with a feint sense of admiration. I believe that's why.

AMEN! Thats inspiring! I wanna take some more classes now!

 

[SupaSairentoZ7℠]

I was in the Art Institute of California (San Diego) for 2 years and I must say it is like a art paradise as I can't get enough of learning and the constant and strong urges to want to draw more and more. I also kept coming up with random stuff I wanted to draw being there. My goal there is to study game designing. I also did other things as well while I was at school. The downfall is that school is really expensive and that is not including the books and supplies you'll need. Part of the reason why I joined the military was so that they could pay for the rest so that I can finish the rest of my schooling there.

 

[ZIO]

I'm just the type to never see myself how others do.

But then, I still don't feel I'm as good as I should be. I'm always looking at things.

I don't know what it is that I want out of my skill, though. I don't know if I want to make a profession out of it or not. I want to make a comic. I been considering trying to get some attention via Deviant Art, but I heard bad things about that place.

I am lost, is all.

This topic is interesting, and yet depressing to me at the same time. :.

 

[Kuro Neko]

I've loved sketching and painting since I was a little kid, but I didn't try for art school when I was applying to colleges, and now I'm a Math & Econ double major. I don't actually know if I buy art as a career (here, I am restricting it to what I do), but I'd definetly want to try it out later in life after I either make enough moolah or marry well enough so I don't have to worry. = )

I've taken a few studio art classes at my school, but honestly I thought they were pretty BS, and I only loved it because I had the time and opportunity to continue drawing. So I guess point being, it depends on what kind of artist you want to be. I can definetly see the merit of going through art school if you were looking at graphic designing / video game designing / 3D modeling, or etc., but if you're like me, where you just want to sell drawings / paintings, then...it gets more difficult.

So reassess the risks and benefits, and weigh in how far you think your talent and aptitude for growth will take you.

 

[Glöwworm]

I've been doing research for a long time now and I can pretty much say the rule of thumb when it comes to being an artist is to double major. Double majoring allows you to have a career that will bring in the money that helps pay off dem massive college expenses upon graduating and other things that will help you stay off the streets and also be an artist in your spare time. So when you're working and getting money, you can also work to advertise your comic book to publishers or do some comissions for people. So when you make it big, you can ditch your non-art career.

Now as for art schools, it pretty much depends if you have the money to pay for it. I would recommend going to a 4 year university that has a good art program and double major there.

As for me, there's a 1% chance I'd be going to a 4 year university so I don't know if I'll bite the bullet and go to an art school after getting out of community college.

 

[GunmasterLombardi]

I am pleased with how far I've come, from drawing things I see with my eyes to drawing things I see with my mind.

It'll probably bite in the *** later with my mediums consisting of 90% graphite.

 

[Anjila]

I never had any sort of art education, save for a couple classes at a community college a few years ago. About 90% of everything I know is self-taught, so I can't tell you much about the quality of art school. I've heard from several successful freelance artists that everything taught in art school can be found over the internet and other inexpensive resources.

But one thing that you get in art school that is probably 100 times harder to get out of it is the ability to network and make deadlines. Having gone through art school could show a potential employer that you are organized and punctual enough to make those oh-so-important deadlines. You are also surrounded by many other artists who have connections and "know" people within the industry, which could earn you a recommendation to a potential employer.

This blog entry explains it much better (scroll down to the "All Art is Self-Taught" part)

I'm considering going to art school for Graphic Design sometime, mostly because I want a side-career (which could eventually turn into my primary career perhaps?) and to be surrounded by fellow artists.

 

[JOE!]

Definatley worth it if you wanna refine yourself and get better, as well as learn about the industry..

but then again im an Animator thus insane so yeah

 

[3747373796432]

http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=224682

don't go if you don't have to man (parents not kicking you out of house), art school is super freakin expensive, if you can get scholarships based on your folio and pay off most of the tuition then go for it

 

[Chronodiver Lokii]

^ Thiiis.

I have a quarter of my tuition gone because of scholarships, but they take a lot of work.
My school doesnt have academic scholarships, but they have CONTESTS. I spent most of my senior year making concepts and drawing and stressing. It paid off, but it's difficult.

...Annnd I start in less than a month. So scared.

 

[Geist]

...Annnd I start in less than a month. So scared.

Don't be. It'll be some of the most fun you'll ever have. Just network, network, network. Meet people from different fields and get the names and emails from the professionals that show up periodically.
No seriously it's so ridiculously fun. I'm sure I would be doing this even if I wasn't planning on getting a career in the industry, just for the experience and sheer enjoyability.

 

[Zook]

Before considering art school, ask yourself: Is this what I really want to do for the rest of my life? If you're going to college at the age most people do, you'll find that its a period in your life where your priorities often change, and you might reconsider your answer. I recommend taking a gap year to figure out what you most enjoy in life before you commit to a thing like art school.

Unless you're rich, in which case go wild bro

 

[SupaSairentoZ7℠]

If I was rich I'd be in art school or Art Institute finishes my classes. Things came up and money was strict so I had to join the military so they can pay for the rest of my schooling.