[DaveCurd]

Great topic! Okay, here's my humble take.
From 19 to 22, I bounced around a few schools chasing a graphic design degree. It was only when I took an illustration course did it occur to me that freelance might be an option. Before long I was getting enough work to decide going full time freelance was better than going to science class, and I dropped out. So yeah, self taught on the technique, concept side, but I did learn some valuable lessons about the business side of art while in school (professional practice, invoicing, how to advertise, stuff like that). Now I'm 30, I've got a full time gig at Raven, make comics, still freelance for magazines, and I've been working long enough to have a little perspective on what I've missed and gained by skipping the traditional art school route.
What I've gained::
an outsider's perspective.
Not going the traditional path has insured my work is at least a little different than most because I learned in an unconventional manor. And in entertainment art, of course, it's good to be an individual, to have a look. It's weird, but warts and all, it's mine.
the confidence of ignorance. Instead of going head to head with the very best at an all star art school, I was drifting in the great plains (Alex can relate to this). Not really knowing how talented everyone was, and how many great artists were vying for the same gigs, allowed me to focus on working and improving, with little time devoted to doubt.
no debt.
This one's a biggie. It's nice to know I'm not upside down some $120,000.
What I've missed::
Re-inventing the wheel.
Like a tribe-less caveman, I had to figure out the wheel, the secret of fire, and the spear all on my own. It's true that in the age of the internet no man is an island, but we can all admit there is a difference between an internet tutorial, and having the instructor grab your brush and show you what's wrong. I know skipping art school slowed my development.
Contacts and opened doors.
Having classmates that would graduate, spread out across the world, and eventually be in positions to hire and or collaborate with me, would have been really, really nice.
Unfriendly competition.
We all have buddies that make art, either in the corporeal world or online. But they are indeed our buddies. At school I would have been competing with friend and foe, and I think that would have given me a little bit more tooth. It also would have helped bone up my "works well with others" skill.
Talking to someone that is living your dream.
This is a biggie. Being taught by someone that is doing what you would like to be doing is a profound experience. A teacher that not only teaches, but works in the industry, can supply one with not only a technical mastery, but practical incite, and even a foot in the door.

Self taught versus degree? I don't think the degree matters, but of course the work does. And good instruction and competition informs one's work and growth as a creative. When I look at where I'm at, I wonder if I've arrived here because or despite skipping school.

Keep in mind not all art schools are created equal, and neither are the instructors. If you can find a good school, and more importantly a great instructor, than going to art school is worth the debt. You will grow. But if you aren't in a position to attend the very best, you might be better served striving for improvement on your own. Well, as alone as you can be on an artist's forum.

[WoodIllustration]

OK I agree with most people on here that school really isn't necessary to be a talented and successful artist. I just recently graduated from the Minneapolis College of Art and design and can honestly say I probably would have improved just as much by practicing for 4 years on my own. And while attending the school I was told the only way to become successful is to get your work and name out there. I know a lot of folks who graduate and then don't do anything afterwards and never go any further then being a cashier at the local coffee shop.

Honestly the only good, in my opinion, that comes from attending a school is the contacts you make from meeting other artists.

On the other hand, if you want to teach it is a necessity.

[earthbound-satyr]

Personally, I have no formal art education.

Fortunately in my particular instance, I still had a teacher; my father. He works with Global Printing Group as a pre-press graphic designer, and he's worked in graphic design and illustration for 20 years, now. I place all the credit for my technical developments with him.

I think that the only way that I would have better benefited from art school rather than home instruction self-discovery is in the contacts I would have made with peers and instructors.

[Fantasio]

This is an interesting topic...
well, i have a degree as a diploma-designer, but also am self taught when it comes to cg-art...
the time at school has opened some doors to me, and taught me a lot of art in general, from which my cg-work also benefits.
the proīs of a degree is for sure the little itchy part that makes an agency or company think before they hire you(if you havnīt enough mouth to mouth propaganda)because they know what it means to do things you donīt like to do, and are you able to do all the shit someone else want you to do, and are you able to make the best out of it, like you were taught in school?

sure, a proper portfolio makes 50 percent of it, but a degree, on whatever school, which is recognized, put another 30 percent of awareness in the viewers mind- at least that he/she is aware of that you know what you do-- and are not just playing or fooling around.

yours fant

[DarkTownArt]

Help!

(Why help?)

Because of this: A few years ago it seemed like many people wanted to be educated in digital stuff by art schools. Back there it seemed to be cool to be educated by university or whatever, because not everyone could get it?

I couldn't afford it, so I learned from what other artists taught me. There were pretty good among them, people who already were real pros back then, so I learned from the best I could learn from.

Then I finally got a chance to attend university and got bored when it came to fineart because I realised that when you want the best, you need pros to teach you. Pros usually work in the industry, if they don't decide to help out at university because they have "nothing else to do" or think that they could pass on their incredible knowledge.

Back then as I couldn't afford it I was told "go to school kid". Now a days I say I was educated at an art academy, but not with painting. It was graphics design. But do you think people read that far?
They don't... I get comments thrown at my head how much art school sucks a lot recently and basically that being self taught is the thing and blahblahblah.

You know what?
Everyone has to find out for himself what works for him. But there are always masters who pass on their knowledge to the coming generation, even if they are comic artists you copy from because you admire them. Copying means learning nevertheless, eventhough it might take longer because the person isn't sitting besides you to explain you everything.
The first person I learned from was a comic artist, this is how I started working in the western style...

[quickreaver]

I come from an academic background...got a coupla degrees...and the BIGGEST difference I see between schooled artists and self-taught (and this is a broad generalization based on anecdotal evidence) is in the drive to practice and certain basics, like color theory. I wholely agree that if a person has the eye and strives to learn, no formal degree is necessary. But there are a ton of folks who struggle with anatomy and color and composition that keep making the same mistakes over and over because no one (read: an instructor) has told them otherwise and, in some cases, they don't even know they're doing something wrong. They frequently get frustrated when they hit a forum like this, and they're informed they've got some huge issues to deal with. All their friends and family have told them they're great, and they think they've worked SO hard. But they don't want to spend a year studying anatomy, or hunting down a life drawing class. They want to cut right to the chase, and frequently end up with wonky paint-overs or tracing photos.

So, in a nutshell, the piece of paper doesn't amount to much, except it implies the person holding it has a basic understanding of art fundamentals, and has learned how NOT to take short-cuts. And yeah, the networking rocks! I strongly encourage folks to get face-to-face professional training...but that doesn't mean a diploma has to come with it.

[exdevlin]

My background is nearly devoid of theoretical training in art on the human figure, landscapes, anything. My artwork is completely self-taught, and learned from observing other people's processes and color choices. I've read a whole lot on color theory, but I've discovered that it takes more than just reading tutorials on color theory to actually apply them. I do have friends that help me and offer me crits as I go along, but sometimes, it does feel like I'm missing some vital *key* somewhere that makes everything snap into place.

[Bluefley]

Very interesting thread!

Been reading through the pages and here's my 2 cents:

Personally, I think school can be useful just as much as the internet is, except the internet is free. I never went to art school, but instead have been checking out anatomy charts, color theory, history of art etc over the past years by myself, surfing the web. I've always been drawing and I feel that learning it all by myself has preserved the magic. When you have to work on a boring school assignment, you kinda lose interest and thats bad when it comes to art. I'd rather learn and apply the theory on stuff I enjoy doing.

And save my sorry ass a few bucks!

In the end, your degree only helps you a little bit if you wanna work in another country, to get a work visa, that's it. Even then, you don't really need one if you can make up for the lack of scholarship with your talent. In the end it just makes things a little bit easier.

Employers look at your reel, if they like it give you an art test, then interview, and if you pass that, you're hired. It always works the same way, with or without a diploma.

Drop out of school kids!

;P

[quickreaver]

It kinda feels like if you possess the drive to self-motivate and have a very critical eye towards your own work, you can educate yourself and succeed! But if art-stuffs don't come to you intuitively and you struggle with the basics, maybe a school or guided lessons are the way to go.

[kellyx]

Michael Whelan and Kinuko Craft are two of the finest artist's today, all around, not pinned to one field. Michael had a full scholarship to one of the finest art schools and felt it was too restrictive and dropped out. Kinuko Craft is self taught and has achieved about every award possible is this field. Both artist's have a crazy amount of self discipline.
I ever went to art school, but as was just said learned by observing and having other's help with crit's and pointer's from other artist's... also working on the craft about four hours a night... My boyfriend Se7en has mad skills and is self taught.
I don't really think there is a right or wrong approach at all, !!!Although, if a teacher teaches the student to paint like the teacher, this is a bad teacher!! I do know this, run for the hills and keep your style your own.

[quickreaver]

You know...something just occurred to me. Who is ever really 'self-taught'? If you study under someone, you're not purely self-taught. The question should be: do you need a degree? And the answer is "no!" You need a good education and mad skills, regardless of how they're acquired. As I said before, if you feel as though you trust your own judgment and drive, and you know you'll do the hard work, go for it on your own! But if you don't know where to begin, need the guidance or simply enjoy the camaraderie and the face-to-face experience of a group, then a more formalized education is your bag.

This topic always makes me chafe. All the supposedly 'self-taught' artists rush forward and thump their chests and crow "No one made me BUT ME! You shmucks that got a degree wasted your money..." For every visual artist who bailed on school and rose to stardom, there are twice that number who got a degree: Todd Lockwood, John Jude Palencar, Donato Giancola, Tony DiTerlizzi, Dan Dos Santos, James Jean, and so on.

Follow your heart, trust your head, and don't be afraid to go for what you want...even if it just might be a college education.

PS...No disrespect intended to degree-less souls! I just don't want it to sound like college is a waste. I don't think it is, but it's not for everyone.

[Crazylegs76]

Just touching on the subject of getting a degree and being self taught
I jumped in with desperation to get a degree in Computer Animation not knowing anything about it whatsoever and only what I gathered from resources outside of it and also coming in with only my Traditional selftaught BG to back me up when my skills weren't at a proffessional standard yet I felt I needed something more solid in my portfolio since everything seemed to be going towards digital and CG anyways....

I attended Fullsail University in Florida and for those who have heard or know of it is a very expensive, advanced, fastpaced school to get an education in even for the most professional artists....

Even though I gained a network with others learned alot of new things and skills to use later on I also gathered alot of stress and doubt in myself as a artist coming out of there then what I had going in which was determination, passion,ethnics and knowing what I wanted before jumping into it

I finished my Demo Reel and received my degree but found it very hard to find a career in what I wanted to do even with a extensive short term of experience and knowledge because my skills were not improved in traditional aspects like anatomy composition lighting ect. since my focus was forced towards just trying to come out with something so I could graduate

so I am currently rebuilding my Demo Reel/Portfolio taking the time to effectivly improve my skills in the areas where I couldn't do otherwise in school

In closing education is a great tool for those who really need it and can afford it but it is your own self taught tradition and passion as a artist that will get you through with or without regardless in my opinion....

[Etienne]

I think it's important to do what you feel is right, either path is valid. Just dont avoid doing a degree for the 'wrong' reasons (ie not wanting to conform, disliking authority, not wanting to have to measure up to other potentially more talented people, disliking critique etc etc). This is all important stuff to face up to and going to college forces you to deal with them, which is important because it's all stuff you will face in the industry (x100).

[cgaddict]

I attended college for two years, and it just wasn't my thing. My progress was very slow, and on top of that, I was paying for things that I could have learned for free. I stopped attending college altogether, and I'm very glad I did. I learned so much during the last couple of years; I wouldn't say I'm entirely 'self-taught', however. You always need a source for something, be it a book or a mentor. In my case, Andrew Loomis is a hell of a teacher

[quickreaver]

Etienne, I think you hit a really valid point, there. Several valid points, in fact!

Not every university is created equal, and every student learns differently. Some work patiently, chugging through classes many may deem unnecessary, some don't have that inclination. Some are naturally advanced, and don't need to study color theory, typography, graphic design, or Digital Art 101, whilst some get bored with the basics and try to jump into things beyond their understanding, then wonder why they're chronically frustrated by rejection.

And lemme tell ya, some schools spit out artists (degreed, no less!) who can't draw without tracing, nor think beyond "Shadows are black and highlights are white."

There's no set answer except do what works for you. Now, some companies may want to be certain you're proficient with specific programs and techniques; if you have a degree that confirms those requirements, it MIGHT get to the top of the application pile, above those who don't have that silly piece of paper. More importantly in attaining a job, though, is a solid portfolio and NETWORKING. Who you know is just about as important as what you know. This is true of ALL professions, IMHO.