Comments on: Is going to school for art worth it? http://www.creepmachine.com/articles/is-going-to-school-for-art-worth-it.html :alternative art zine Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:19:07 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Thom Glick http://www.creepmachine.com/articles/is-going-to-school-for-art-worth-it.html/comment-page-1#comment-13795 Thom Glick Wed, 06 May 2009 17:58:02 +0000 http://www.creepmachine.com/articles/is-going-to-school-for-art-worth-it.html#comment-13795 Great article. This is a little lengthy, but here's my experience and opinion... I went the art school route, attended and graduated from Columbus College of Art and Design (OH) with a BFA in Illustration. Currently, alongside my full time illustration and gallery work, I also work for CCAD as a recruiter. I talk to parents and students on a daily basis about the pros and cons of attending art school versus attending general studies school versus no school. The biggest variable for each of these options is really the individual involved - what do they need in order to make progress? What do they need in order to make the right kinds of progress? For me, although I think of myself as an incredibly tenacious and driven individual, I still believe that attending art school was the best decision for me. Learning to be a better artist is like learning a new language. Although there are many ways of doing it, the best way has always been to live where the language is spoke. Same goes for art. Attending the right art school will take a student away from comfortable familiarity and force them to adapt. Force them to make progress. But attending art school isn't like being dropped off in a foreign country alone. I had great teachers and fellow students to help guide, influence, inspire, and compete with. Just like being in a foreign land, trying to catch up and adapt, there are times when things can be frightening and overwhelming. But, I found that even those horrible moments helped to mold me into the stronger individual that I am today. Despite the price tag and despite the negatives, I still highly recommend giving art school a good hard look. Great article. This is a little lengthy, but here’s my experience and opinion…

I went the art school route, attended and graduated from Columbus College of Art and Design (OH) with a BFA in Illustration. Currently, alongside my full time illustration and gallery work, I also work for CCAD as a recruiter. I talk to parents and students on a daily basis about the pros and cons of attending art school versus attending general studies school versus no school.

The biggest variable for each of these options is really the individual involved – what do they need in order to make progress? What do they need in order to make the right kinds of progress?

For me, although I think of myself as an incredibly tenacious and driven individual, I still believe that attending art school was the best decision for me. Learning to be a better artist is like learning a new language. Although there are many ways of doing it, the best way has always been to live where the language is spoke. Same goes for art. Attending the right art school will take a student away from comfortable familiarity and force them to adapt. Force them to make progress.

But attending art school isn’t like being dropped off in a foreign country alone. I had great teachers and fellow students to help guide, influence, inspire, and compete with.

Just like being in a foreign land, trying to catch up and adapt, there are times when things can be frightening and overwhelming. But, I found that even those horrible moments helped to mold me into the stronger individual that I am today.

Despite the price tag and despite the negatives, I still highly recommend giving art school a good hard look.

]]> By: Sadie Valeri http://www.creepmachine.com/articles/is-going-to-school-for-art-worth-it.html/comment-page-1#comment-3030 Sadie Valeri Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:34:58 +0000 http://www.creepmachine.com/articles/is-going-to-school-for-art-worth-it.html#comment-3030 This is a great article, very well written and good information. Someone linked to it in a comment on my blog, as I wrote a similar article: What I Wish I Learned in Art School (I went to a major art school and have often wonder if I needed to have such an expensive education). Hope it's ok to link to my article here, people who are researching this issue might find what I wrote - and the comments - useful while they decide about art school. I also recommend ateliers. I've just spent 15 months studying at atelier workshops at various schools and can highly recommend that route. Here's my link: http://sadievaleri.blogspot.com/2008/02/what-i-wish-i-learned-in-art-school.html <em>Sadie Valeri's last blog post..<a href='http://sadievaleri.blogspot.com/2008/06/stow-lake-golden-gate-park.html' rel="nofollow">Stow Lake, Golden Gate Park</a></em> This is a great article, very well written and good information. Someone linked to it in a comment on my blog, as I wrote a similar article: What I Wish I Learned in Art School (I went to a major art school and have often wonder if I needed to have such an expensive education).

Hope it’s ok to link to my article here, people who are researching this issue might find what I wrote – and the comments – useful while they decide about art school. I also recommend ateliers. I’ve just spent 15 months studying at atelier workshops at various schools and can highly recommend that route. Here’s my link:

http://sadievaleri.blogspot.com/2008/02/what-i-wish-i-learned-in-art-school.html

Sadie Valeri’s last blog post..Stow Lake, Golden Gate Park

]]> By: Philip http://www.creepmachine.com/articles/is-going-to-school-for-art-worth-it.html/comment-page-1#comment-3028 Philip Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:00:22 +0000 http://www.creepmachine.com/articles/is-going-to-school-for-art-worth-it.html#comment-3028 Fantastic article! I'm adding a little bit to the mix from my own distorted perspective as an 'old man, been there, done that'. I went to a semester of art school and finished at a state school. In between I spent a year learning on my own. Later, I learned on the job. All four areas have their strengths and weaknesses and you really have to evaluate (1) What type of art am I interested in, ie: fine art, commercial, graphics, large city gallery, small town gallery, etc (2) What is my motivation for pursuing art? Money? Passion? Prestige? Fame? Other? (3) What environment do I work best in? (I learned best as 'self taught' but not all can) (4) Will the $$ paid to an expensive art institute pay for itself later in greater financial returns? (5) Will compromises made while on-the-job-training hinder my goals and objectives? Summary: Whether considering art school, state school, on the job training, or other venue, closely scrutinize all areas mentioned above. Also, heavily evaluate the teachers: how they teach, the quality and style of their own work and the work of their students, and... are they 'pushing' me into art areas that I don't agree with or feel comfortable with and really have no desire to be heading that way in the first place. Being a true 'art rebel' not only means rebelling against society and community but also against the established art community which will be your teachers and mentors. If you have no desire to satisfy a small town PTA board member, or even a New York/San Francisco snobbish art critic, but long to be your own free-thinking, free-spirited self... then you must learn to get the most out of whatever area/school/teaching/profession you pursue while at the same time reject the limitations they might impose on you. But at the same time don't be arrogant or egotistical. Be creative, be artistic, but most of all... be wise. Fantastic article!
I’m adding a little bit to the mix from my own distorted perspective as an ‘old man, been there, done that’. I went to a semester of art school and finished at a state school. In between I spent a year learning on my own. Later, I learned on the job. All four areas have their strengths and weaknesses and you really have to evaluate (1) What type of art am I interested in, ie: fine art, commercial, graphics, large city gallery, small town gallery, etc (2) What is my motivation for pursuing art? Money? Passion? Prestige? Fame? Other? (3) What environment do I work best in? (I learned best as ’self taught’ but not all can) (4) Will the $$ paid to an expensive art institute pay for itself later in greater financial returns? (5) Will compromises made while on-the-job-training hinder my goals and objectives?
Summary: Whether considering art school, state school, on the job training, or other venue, closely scrutinize all areas mentioned above. Also, heavily evaluate the teachers: how they teach, the quality and style of their own work and the work of their students, and… are they ‘pushing’ me into art areas that I don’t agree with or feel comfortable with and really have no desire to be heading that way in the first place. Being a true ‘art rebel’ not only means rebelling against society and community but also against the established art community which will be your teachers and mentors. If you have no desire to satisfy a small town PTA board member, or even a New York/San Francisco snobbish art critic, but long to be your own free-thinking, free-spirited self… then you must learn to get the most out of whatever area/school/teaching/profession you pursue while at the same time reject the limitations they might impose on you. But at the same time don’t be arrogant or egotistical.
Be creative, be artistic, but most of all… be wise.

]]> By: Nirvs http://www.creepmachine.com/articles/is-going-to-school-for-art-worth-it.html/comment-page-1#comment-2508 Nirvs Sun, 30 Mar 2008 20:22:00 +0000 http://www.creepmachine.com/articles/is-going-to-school-for-art-worth-it.html#comment-2508 Ah wow this was an interesting article. I'm 17 year old artist and have often wondered what i will do about further education, although i live in the UK, so some of the of the alternitave options you've stated aren't available here. So somhow i feel like theres no other choice but to go to art uni. I'm worried that all i will be taught is the classic arts and the meaning behind them and so on, and not about techniques, modern meidums such as Pohotshop and the industry today, the Universities are very vague about waht they will teach you in thier websites. Ah wow this was an interesting article. I’m 17 year old artist and have often wondered what i will do about further education, although i live in the UK, so some of the of the alternitave options you’ve stated aren’t available here. So somhow i feel like theres no other choice but to go to art uni. I’m worried that all i will be taught is the classic arts and the meaning behind them and so on, and not about techniques, modern meidums such as Pohotshop and the industry today, the Universities are very vague about waht they will teach you in thier websites.

]]> By: Vlad http://www.creepmachine.com/articles/is-going-to-school-for-art-worth-it.html/comment-page-1#comment-2415 Vlad Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:28:59 +0000 http://www.creepmachine.com/articles/is-going-to-school-for-art-worth-it.html#comment-2415 I found I learned more traditional business and social skills through Art School that helped me greatly win out over people who just had strong portfolios. I notice allot of people who skipped out of these class options were also the ones who thought they could just wing it in the field with no schooling and dropped out. I really can only take them as being lazy. I found I learned more traditional business and social skills through Art School that helped me greatly win out over people who just had strong portfolios. I notice allot of people who skipped out of these class options were also the ones who thought they could just wing it in the field with no schooling and dropped out. I really can only take them as being lazy.

]]> By: Dave http://www.creepmachine.com/articles/is-going-to-school-for-art-worth-it.html/comment-page-1#comment-1840 Dave Sun, 06 Jan 2008 07:41:35 +0000 http://www.creepmachine.com/articles/is-going-to-school-for-art-worth-it.html#comment-1840 These days Id push kids fresh out of highschool to do the workshop thing. Unless your on the upper crust financially, and need academia for independent guidelines to get on the teaching "track". Art school is 13th grade, and you probably wont gain solid job knowledge until your 3-4 years into it. Maybe seek out local art alliances/groups to work and learn from other artists, while building a portfolio. To each his own, I suppose.. Great article!! These days Id push kids fresh out of highschool to do the workshop thing. Unless your on the upper crust financially, and need academia for independent guidelines to get on the teaching “track”. Art school is 13th grade, and you probably wont gain solid job knowledge until your 3-4 years into it. Maybe seek out local art alliances/groups to work and learn from other artists, while building a portfolio. To each his own, I suppose.. Great article!!

]]> By: Danielle http://www.creepmachine.com/articles/is-going-to-school-for-art-worth-it.html/comment-page-1#comment-1824 Danielle Fri, 04 Jan 2008 14:10:12 +0000 http://www.creepmachine.com/articles/is-going-to-school-for-art-worth-it.html#comment-1824 I found this to be very interesting/insightful. I, myself, am a "Art College Drop-out" Mainly because i was getting married and working a full time job. But regardless, i was always negative about going back. My main argument was that i didnt need a piece of paper (a degree) to be succesful in the Art World...i just needed a good portfolio. In a sense, its still kinda true. But honestly, i do miss school for the students...being surrounded by other amazing talents. It was always very inspiring and i'd barely be in a creative slump. I would definately go back for the inpiration. Thanks for the article :) I found this to be very interesting/insightful. I, myself, am a “Art College Drop-out” Mainly because i was getting married and working a full time job. But regardless, i was always negative about going back. My main argument was that i didnt need a piece of paper (a degree) to be succesful in the Art World…i just needed a good portfolio. In a sense, its still kinda true. But honestly, i do miss school for the students…being surrounded by other amazing talents. It was always very inspiring and i’d barely be in a creative slump. I would definately go back for the inpiration.

Thanks for the article :)

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