[Jefferoo]

Hey guys, just found this site, really neat place. I just finished my first semester at the University of Advancing Technology, studying Game Art & Animation. Luckily I have everything paid for thanks to inheritance, so I don't have to worry about debt until after school.

However, everything I know (a little bit of 3ds max, some texturing in photoshop) I learned from a rather kind upperclassmen running a club called the Academy and the Internet, and I do worry at times about this school, because the last time I took an art class I was learning nothing from drawing random objects around my room for six hours a week from a rather pretentious snob who was kind of a pedophile. \:

I'm working at dedicating myself more and more to working on learning art better, and whilst I am ahead of the rest of my class in only a single semester I do get worried alot and at times feel kind of lost trying to teach myself things.

I have met a couple people in the industry and traded a couple e-mails, and slowly working my way to ensuring a job after school, so I think all I can really do now is work hard.

[aoigetsu]

I'm half and half.

I spent the bulk of my high school years and part of my college years teaching myself to draw, taking the occasional class here and there.

I think what I needed most were mentors. Having someone point out mistake that you often miss yet repeat work after work and show you how to improve on them.
I found those attending school in Arts and Graphic Design.

On the other hand, I felt like the rest of the teachers either didn't care and/or got in my way. I also hated the artsy fartsy elitism.

But you quickly learn to take the good and leave the bad.

Point is, pple learn differently and at the end of the road, it's not the grades or the diploma, it's more often than not all about your portfolio.

[koshime]

Some very valid points here.

Personally, I'm self taught, and it is in the active search to better oneself that good mentors, supportive collegues and the right friends come along.

A degree may have helped accelerate or decellerate my teachings. it is hard to say.

At the end of the day, the end result and the journey towards the art, is what is essential

[haley7]

The thing is that many companies still look for people with degrees. Having a degree doesn't mean that you're better than a person without one but it's a fact that a college degree means much to some employers. I am sure you can teach yourself a lot but in the end you have to earn money to make a living. The good thing is that it doesn't have to expensive to study at a college, there are traditional and online colleges that offer interesting classes at a reasonable price.

[lwilson]

I did initially write out a long entry about my school experiences, but it got long winded, so I'm condensing it for time.

I've had both positive and negative school experiences. What usually determines the positive factors are:

- You know what you want to do for a living, and you've put a lot of thought of what skills you need to improve to get there. You can take the classes that will assist you best. Classes you are not passionate about are often a waste of time.

- The school you go to values that path you want and can provide the right resources and networking for that. This is harder if what you want to learn is something that's too technologically new for most schools to properly teach, or its too trendy and there's a lot of pseudo programs/schools popping up. Examine your options very closely.

- You and your classmates are at similar skill levels, so you are challenged more to keep getting better and your peers are able to help each other. This prevents boredom, or thinking you're better than you really are. It also makes for a productive and friendly environment. Be gracious.

- You are still willing to teach yourself. Just because the teacher didn't go into it doesn't stop you from doing research. Usually if you bring it up to the teacher, they will help you or point you in the best direction. I think this might be a major point in the self taught vs educated debate: motivation to do more than you are expected to. You're not going to magically become a great artist by simply attending class. Do extra, constantly. Carry this attitude on forever.

I feel like one of the things you're paying for by going to school is time. It's possible, but doing the self-taught thing can be difficult too. I tried to get a part time job so I can spend most of my time trying to improve my art, but I ended up with a stressful part time job on top of a stressful full time one, and little energy by the time I got home. It depends on your situation.

[Colin-Ashcroft]

A degree to a lot of art directors does not mean much. The portfolio is what talks. How enthusiastic about your art. If for example you are applying to be a games concept artist, do you understand the whole process of creating to production and what is required for your art to be implemented into the final outcome. Art directors are quite often or not looking for raw talent rather than someone who can use photoshop well and create pretty pictures. I think it's all down to the individual at the end of the day.

I have read an article where an art director had said he'd held interviews for a concept artist/character designer. There was a person with all the right qualifications but their portfolio was bad. The person who got the job had a great portfolio, no formal training just a real passion and talent. Also being hungry to learn/listen, being able to work within a team and not having an ego helps!

[d3stiny]

I believe loving what you're doing and practicing the talent you have is the better than going to school, maybe you can get some new ideas and supplement it with hard work makes it perfect.

[CircusRobot]

I have one semester left at a University that I'm not going to mention and the only thing it has taught me was I could have learned everything on my own. That doesn't mean I would have learned everything since going to classes makes you do work and being around other students makes you work harder (so essentially I paid for motivation maybe). Just do your homework on the University before you give them a whole bunch of money and if you don't need to then don't. Even at a bad art school the best thing they have to offer is the opportunity to try new things you wouldn't do on your own. For instance ceramics, sculpture, large scale painings, photography, etc. In other words I agree with just about everyone else here that going to art school isn't going to make you a good artist but it will expose you to new things.

One more thing to add to my rant...professors, and especially art professors are often terrible teachers. I've spent more time teaching things to fellow students in some of my classes than the prof.

[TheDeceit]

Originally Posted by CircusRobot

That doesn't mean I would have learned everything since going to classes makes you do work and being around other students makes you work harder (so essentially I paid for motivation maybe).

The same for my reasoning. I grew up in an incredibly uncultured city, and if I stayed there I would've resigned to a 9 to 5, getting drunk, and blowing things up. Going to an art university was invaluable because of that.

[Colin-Ashcroft]

Even though I feel a Degree does not mean much in the eyes of art directors the course itself was invaluable to me. It introduced and gave me understanding in Animation and photoshop for example. It showed me what was possible and I was a round like minded people which gives you enthusiasm and motivation. The equipment and experience was there for you to use. I was also lucky that one of my tutors was active in the industry. So this gave us an insight and some great information. Just like communities such as CG HUB!

But I do think we are going off the point slightly here. The original question to start the thread was

Originally Posted by DrJones

In your experience, does that hard earned, expensive degree translate into more jobs and higher salaries, or can people who work hard and train on their own do just as well? Are there many successful artists in the industry that are self taught?

[JoeConti]

Talent and dedication are more important to succeed than any degree or art course.

Some training obviously does help, especially when you're just starting out, but they can only take you to a certain level before you have to keep at it on your own.

[JamesPotter]

A degree sometimes helps to give you access to equipment and constructive feedback about your work, but I would agree that one needs to practice as often as possible.

[Colin-Ashcroft]

Practice and have an understanding of colour. composition and anatomy for example. Like has been said you get so far and then some people will never go any further. They will stop at a certain level. Where other people will be self dedicated and motivated and have a drive/passion and will go on to create great things!

[BrianLuk]

A degree is just receipt, you only get what you put in at a school. At the end of the day it's up to you whether you can do the job.

If you plan on going to an art school, be sure to attend the one where the student work impresses you. Because that will be the quality of learning you will be receiving. Good Luck.

[SKETCHFro]

Originally Posted by pigeonkill

A degree is just receipt, you only get what you put in at a school. At the end of the day it's up to you whether you can do the job.

If you plan on going to an art school, be sure to attend the one where the student work impresses you. Because that will be the quality of learning you will be receiving. Good Luck.

Yes and no, I mean some students can really put their foot forward and motivate themselves to doing extra work, and projects on their own. But I wouldn't say they would represent the school as a whole. I was very impressed with the work that came out from some of our top students, but that was because teachers would invest so much private time to helping them out, and because of it, other students were left to fend for themselves. Tho I feel many of their work as impressive regardless, I can only imagine how much better it could be if the instructor had given some of this time and knowledge more towards the class and not one single person.

That's just my opinion tho. However I'm 100% behind you when you say its all up to you! Personal Motivation and conviction towards learning is all on you. You reap what you owe...or something along those lines I guess hehe.