Want to go to an art school

[Kaido]

Yes but then people should have realistic expectations about the field they're getting into. before getting into fine arts they should know they wouldn't be making a lot of money, and if they do, they'll be 70 years old by the time it happens. yes i know exceptions exist, but they are few and far between.

It's interesting how times change, too. Photography has become a commodity. You can hire any kid off Craigslist now for cheap to do a great job at your wedding or with your family portraits thanks to dSLR's, cropping, and great out-of-the-box filters like VSCO. You can get faster results for cheaper at more places now.

Wacom tablets, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Painter have also revolutionized artwork. You can replicate just about anything physical digitally now. Heck, you can even perfect your Japanese comics via software now:

http://manga.smithmicro.com/

Computers are powerful enough to do 2D & 3D at home, as well as video. There's a 2010 movie called "Monsters" by Gareth Edwards where he used off-the-shelf software to edit and then spent 5 months in his bedroom doing the visual effects for:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsters_(2010_film)

Access to amazing tools & supplies has become amazingly easy to get. Like he said on the Wikipedia page, you can now walk into Best Buy and buy a cheap laptop that has more power than the computers they used to make Jurassic Park on.

 

[unokitty]

but I don't want to go into debt

What's the next best thing?

Should I Get An MFA?

... in this economy, paying back art school loans will consume the next thirty years of many students’ lives. Given the amount of income this career track promises, it’s hard to believe MFA programs are offering much bang for your buck.

Don't know what the next best thing is... But, as you already know, going into debt to get an MFA doesn't seem prudent. (Unless you are independently wealthy.)

Don't know what is next best for you. But knowing what you don't want to do seems like a good start.

Best of luck,
Uno

 

[akahoovy]

I read this when I was interested a long while back. It's a good resource for what you can do without art school.

https://medium.com/i-m-h-o/138c5efd45e9

 

[BikeJunkie]

Wow.. really?

You are probably another loser living in his parents' basement and likes to annoy people online for no reason.

Your culture values money and status to what many Americans consider an extreme. This country went through that in the 80s and 90s, and is now coming to believe that there may more more to the "simple life" than what was once thought.

If someone wants to pursue art as a career, who are you to tell them it's a bad idea? You don't know the OP's values, desires, or aspirations. Maybe climbing the social/professional ladder isn't important to him.

 

[SandEagle]

Your culture values money and status to what many Americans consider an extreme. This country went through that in the 80s and 90s, and is now coming to believe that there may more more to the "simple life" than what was once thought.

If someone wants to pursue art as a career, who are you to tell them it's a bad idea? You don't know the OP's values, desires, or aspirations. Maybe climbing the social/professional ladder isn't important to him.

ignore him. he comes from a culture that sees people as classes with their outdated caste system. too many Indians believe that anything less than being a doctor or engineer is beneath them. they would laugh at an art degree. i say do whatever you want in life. nothing wrong with an Art degree as long as you are aware of what all comes with it.

 

[Leros]

Try to figure out a way to combine your interest with a field that is more likely to make you money.

I had a friend who had a passion for the German language. He was going to major in German and probably end up unemployable after graduating. Instead he went to international business school, took a bunch of German classes, and now has a great job that lets him spend a lot of time in Germany.

Not sure what the equivalent is for art, but I'm sure there is some career that makes money and still gives you the opportunity to dabble in art. Some kind of design perhaps? I know my company has designers that make good livings.

 

[UglyCasanova]

I majored in graphic design for 3 years until I realized that it wasn't what I wanted to do (in fact, I hated it) and ended up graduating in finance. Going to an art school as others have said you will make connections with people, develop a better eye for quality and detail, and end up with a degree in at least something.

Do I recommend it? Not at all, talent and skill comes from constant practice. You don't need to go to school to do that, and more than likely the school would detract from that. The good artists will be successful regardless of formal schooling, and everyone else will wait tables. The vast majority of the ones I was in the art program with (that I kept up with at least) either never graduated, switched majors like me, or do something completely non art related.

I would seriously reconsider, you'll thank me and yourself 5 years from now and so will your bank account. Practice art, read about it, visit museums, hang out with artsy people and share your stuff, become a member of an online art forum, and still save yourself 4 years and thousands of dollars. If you are good at it, you will succeed. If you aren't, school isn't going to help.

 

[Capt Caveman]

I'll never understand why people go to art school. If somebody is interested in an art, they find a way to do it anyways. Why waste the money in going to a school? In this day and age of internet tutorials, it has become even easier.

My sister-in-law went to Art school, she now has her own Design Studio and I'm sure she makes more money than you.

 

[feralkid]

I'll never understand why people go to art school. If somebody is interested in an art, they find a way to do it anyways. Why waste the money in going to a school? In this day and age of internet tutorials, it has become even easier.

Aren't you the same person who claimed a poly-sci major makes you "an arts guy"?

 

[inf1nity]

My sister-in-law went to Art school, she now has her own Design Studio and I'm sure she makes more money than you.

Good for her, however there are also many people who aren't.
There is a guy called dave_the_nerd here, he went to an art school(music). He then had to go back and start college all over again because his art degree wasn't worth a lot.

Your culture values money and status to what many Americans consider an extreme. This country went through that in the 80s and 90s, and is now coming to believe that there may more more to the "simple life" than what was once thought.

If someone wants to pursue art as a career, who are you to tell them it's a bad idea? You don't know the OP's values, desires, or aspirations. Maybe climbing the social/professional ladder isn't important to him.

Never said that it is a bad idea. All i am saying that if he gets into art, he should not expect that he will make a lot of money. If he doesn't have some kind of skill already or if he has just finished school and starting college, it is a bad idea. On the other hand, if he is a working professional, and wants to take a break to go to school to learn art, then its fine.

 

[inf1nity]

i say do whatever you want in life. nothing wrong with an Art degree as long as you are aware of what all comes with it.

Exactly. Then why are you saying that "Do what you want to do, money will follow". If you really believe that, why don't you quit your job and get into an art career? Lets see how quickly you manage to pay off that credit card debt.

 

[dawp]

just throw a lump of clay on the wheel and have at it.

I always wanted to try my hand at glassblowing but that can cost a bit to get started and you have to remember blow and not to suck, that can be very bad.

 

[SandEagle]

Exactly. Then why are you saying that "Do what you want to do, money will follow". If you really believe that, why don't you quit your job and get into an art career? Lets see how quickly you manage to pay off that credit card debt.

you are too Indian to comprehend. why would i get into an art career? i have no interest in it. it is for folks who love art. if they love it and can see a career in it, go for it. money will come eventually. please go back and tend to the herd.