[idkfa]

Its a combination of both. You must always find and learn things by yourself too, no matter if you are going to school or not. School is a good environment mostly. And no program is that rich that it can cover all your interests. So if you find out that you are mostly discovering things by yourself, and your teachers talk some random stuff, that is irrelevant to you, then consider self teaching and stop feeding those guys. Its about being awake or something... there are a lot of people these days that offer and suggest you fake necessities.

[IsmailW]

Degree matters if you want to get work internationally. <--This is the quickest path.

HR and/or Immigration look for academic credentials or national/international awards in your field. Easier to get you across borders and even teaching in universities.

Even if you don't want to work internationally, HR will look at a degree credential to narrow the stack of resumes they have to go through.

Degree also offers internship opportunities. Very valuable. If you can go through an accelerated degree program, I'd recommend that highly.

If you want to be a CEO of a company down the road, a degree is a pre-requisite unless you start the company yourself.


Portfolio will get you on the production, and how you perform will keep you there.

[bagelwithann]

Originally Posted by Taron

Indeed, it's funny how becoming old turns us into those "I wish I could've gone to school" types, haha. But, yeah, I would have loved to go study traditional painting and classical understanding within a school environment, where there's room for doing studio work and opportunity to be messy with some guidance, haha! One day, who knows, I might still look for a chance to do that, too.

Most people are afraid or discouraged by self-teaching, because they don't understand how much time it requires. I mean, there's so much material out there and people, who are ready to help (much like myself), that it goes a lot faster than 20 years ago. But it still takes time to truely understand it all. And a lot of people are rather impatient. If I had any advice I would suggest to find a lifestyle that allows you to exist while training yourself with patience and passionate curiosity! Piece by piece you learn and if you direct it yourself, you can pursue things that you truely want to create and therefore find a lot more motivation to hang on and explore.

Especially in the US it is brutally expensive to go to any university and people drown themselves in debt before they can even hope to get a job. Take an easy job that gives you enough time and allows you to sustain life decently while studying yourself. You may find some courses for certain things or go for a few online sessions, if they meet and pick up on your level of skill. Participate in forums, share and gather and if you're truely passionate about it all and you were feeling it from the start, you will most likely make it quicklier and with far less baggage into the industry and a pleasant carreer. And now I'll get a deathsquad sent after me from all the faculties, hahahahaha.

It's just an idea, really... school rocks!

Taron brings up some great points here, and something i'm actually living at the moment. I decided to leave a lucrative high tech sales position in the gaming industry nearly 6 months ago. I'm 30. I wrestle with this thought EVERY day because I truly see the benefits of school and wouldn't go do it like i did my undergrad. All we are between 18-21 are punks that don't listen anyways. The point which I agree with is that if you have enough cashflow coming in and are truly passionate about art & design of any form, you can teach yourself anything. I feel lucky in that I had enough savings to float me for 2 years, but I knowingly made some HUGE cuts to my lifestyle. I went from owning a house to renting a 530 sq. ft studio. I cook EVERY single meal, i bought super inexpensive insurance. Basically, i'm living off of $1800 a month half of which goes to rent and bills. ALL my time is spent drawing and learning. I substitute 1-2 night classes in the LA area so that i'm learning faster. The problem is, your mind can only handle so much and excess learning is stupid and a waste of money.

The only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time, so just make sure you have enough cashflow to cover your necessities and you'll make it happen. If you can't understand this, you probably should look at something else you are more passionate about.

[lebanen]

I think that it doesn't matter, as long as you have the knowledge to do the work.
There's no boss in the world who'll prefer degree over knowledge.

[tyrellcorp]

wow , just found this thread .. cant believe that it 4 years old..!

really needed some inspiration and this thread has loads..

[SanMar]

As mentioned, if someone wants to learn, they'll find a way.

Now, I've no experience in the digital art section, just the 'art and communicative practice' but it was still an art university.
From my experience it is absolutely important that if you want to go the higher education route, research the teachers very, very intensely. Talk to the students there to get better impressions, try to observe and talk to the leader of the masterclass (and his assistant) and then decide. The most talented artist can be a horrible, no good teacher if they do it for the prestige, dislike you on sight, do the job to aquire disciples who's main purpose will be to further the master's glamour (or ego), if they are unable to relate to people who think differently than them, are mostly outside the country or actively HATE the course section you are most interested in. You spare yourself a lot of stress and it isn't worth being able to tell people that you learned under Grand Master X if you suffer for four years, it can break your soul.

[Helenni]

I don't think expensive degree means more jobs and high salaries. Ability is more important.

[alessandrovene]

Nice thread,
I think art is a lifetime long learning process, and doesn't really matter if you have a degree; I personally loved to study art, but after I finished I never tough that I was done,
and I keep learning something new every day

Alessandro
http://alessandroveneart.com/

[Marucha]

I think schools are slowly becoming more and more of a for-profit business versus an 'institution', at least that is more the case in the U.S. That doesn't mean that there isn't any good programs or that it wouldn't be for you. However, you have to weigh the method of this approach with your current situation, your future plans, and what you need to do to become a better artist...

I don't think most schools can teach you good character, solid skills, and what it means to succeed in the real world. These days, you are put in a program and if you're lucky, you'll find your way into a class with a teacher who can provide you with the extra stuff you need for success. Sure, school will nurture and even encourage those things I mentioned, but you will have to become self-taught at some point anyway.

School is more about getting the tools to become successful... you getting there is going to be more about you putting in the effort and doing the rest to master the tools and build a portfolio to present yourself. 4 years is just not nearly enough to truly flourish in some fields. Hopefully you get your foot in the door somewhere and the education process can continue that way... but technically, the education process should continue for as long as you are an artist.

That said, there is no rule that says you need schooling. I went for 2 years in a program and have decided not to bother with 4. I feel like I've had enough 'nurturing' and I need to do more 'living'. I plan to put the money into traveling and finishing my fluency in a foreign language. I'm building my life around being an artist one day at a time in the process. I'm already married and we are planning a big move, so I've already decided how my life will look like. So I'm not distracted by what 'should be', I am making firm plans, completing my short term goals and focusing on the long term.

'Should' and 'are' are two different things anyway. For me, this is a lifelong journey and I'll go where it takes me...

[Rizo]

I'm a self thought artist, and I know excellent professionals that come from both schools and self though systems. I guess it depends mostly if you have the will power, dedication and focus to learn the craft on your own or if you have the time and money to go to a good school. Because even when you come out of a good school, that won't be a warranty that you'll be a great professional, only if you put your ass into it.

[Zersixs]

Hi, im new here and i wanna ask this. Im currently 15 years old and will be going a 3d artist course that goes on for 3 years now after the summer.

I wanna work as a prop/enviroment artist later on and the first year in this course we will be doing 2D art! yes, it may help me understanding some stuff in 3D aswell but for a whole year?

and we only gonna have 3D lessons max 4-5 hours every week, it feels very unnecessary to go in that school when i can be at home and teach myself, it takes time to learn right? and now im sitting on an average 4 hours each day learning new modeling and texture techniques. So is it worth going to this school or is it better to stay home and get selftaught? please reply.

I could also show some of my recent work if you want to!

Regards : Simon From Sweden

[Zentrope]

Of-course if you get assistance and help, the journey will be more smoother and faster with less bumps.
It takes a lot of time to learn about things if you are going with a self teaching mode!! STRUGGLE and more STRUGGLE

Spoon feeding is a good and easy option but if you plan on with the other stuff then prepare for a bumpy ride!

And as per your question regarding sketching and foundation's...

I attended Ryan Kingslien's Seminar and I asked him about what do you think about the future of technology in regards with software?

He replied that Basic foundations of Art is a core for everything and there will be a time when we will not be needing Topology, Uv's,etc...etc to achieve results......

All the labor work will a thing of past and only thing that will matter is the Vision and artistic value!

So focus more on Foundations!!

If you can't draw....You can't create!!

[Zersixs]

Very good answer Zen, i agree getting help make everything more easy but to master something you have to practice alot, it does not matter that much if someone show you how to do that specific task.

This is college and that means i will be in school for around 7 hours each day. Most of that time is for other lessons like math and the basic stuff you have in school. Therefore it do feel like i can teach myself alot more in less time if i stay at home and focus only on 3d art and drawing.

This is something i have as a hobby and motivation is not a problem, i can also set up my own goals to drive me forward. Since i already know the basic stuff i think the first year is a completely waste of time.

Very hard to decide if i should go in college or not


Regards : Simon

[countfrogula]

I was self taught in 3d for many years and its a long hard road, but I persisted. I recently decided to take the jump into online education and I'm glad I did. Being self taught is fine, but make sure your resources are very good when you do this or you will hit a lot of walls and go in circles much like I did for a long time. I am now learning methods and techniques by those who actually work in the major studios and it is making a world of difference in my work I feel. Either way you wish to go, just prepared to invest a lot of time, and at least some money for resources. If you are dedicated and work hard it will happen for you, best of luck.

[Zersixs]

Well... for some people its harder than others, if you like what your doing then it should not be so hard but thanks for your answer!

Regards Simon