Anyone who knows me for more than, oh, five minutes will probably learn my stance on art school. What was once simply "art school may be for a lot of people and that's swell, but I don't think it's for me" is now a raging nazi-feminist-esque crusade against the whole idea of "art school". Here's why:
1.) Art school costs money. And not just a paltry sum, we're talking tens of thousands (if not breaking the hundred-thousand mark) of dollars. Now you must be saying to yourself, "Erin, what do you have against paying money for a good college education?" Oh, I have nothing against that. If you're becoming a doctor, a teacher, an archaeologist, or even a writer, fantastic! You should pay for that education and be very proud of your degree(s). However, none of this applies to art. BECAUSE...
2.) A degree in art is virtually worthless. I say "virtually" because having a degree will certainly never hurt you on your resumé or in any sort of professional situation. But here's the thing; you don't need one. In any sort of art job, the degree is just some extraeneous sprinkles on what is (and I only hope) the delicious, buttery-frosted decadent five-layer cake that is your portfolio. When you go for an art job, the only thing the employer wants to see is your work. "Can you draw that cartoon monkey on model? Great, you're hired! Oh, and you have a degree from the Art Institute. That's cool too." Honestly, no one gives two shits in a handbasket about your education. If you can get the work done and make it right, that's all that matters. Not only that, but instead of focusing so much on complete two/four-year education for the sake of doing it, what is much more valuable to yourself and your potential debt is your ability to research what you really need to know for your particular professional goals and go from there. Which brings me to my next point...
3) Art school is not the only way to "learn art". Once you figure out the necessities of what you need to know for your particular vocation, you must find out where you can hone your skills. In most cases, community colleges can offer a much cheaper (and in many cases, a greater education. I know because this is happening to me right now) alternative to hoity-toity art schools. One time, and I shit you not, I looked through a catalogue for a community college in my area and this is what I found: A life drawing course taught by the same teacher that was teaching at the art college I used to go to. Same course, same teacher, one difference; $1,000. (This takes us back to Point 1.) Let me tell something to you. I am taking two courses in Flash this semester at a community college. In just one three hour session, I learned more valuable knowledge of a vastly important program than I had learned in a whole semester at bonafide art school. Also, the whole campus smelled like delicious chicken nuggets for some reason, and that was pretty great. Everything I've said so far builds to another point...
4) Art school bullshits you. Yes, it does. Why? Because art school wants your money. I'd hate to say this, but there are many people who aren't gaining enough from art school to enter into the professional world. Classes can enhance your abilities, but you need to have the talent and the ability to push yourself as well. Art school will not tell you this (particularly the school I went to). They will keep patting you on the back and tell you you're doing a great job so that you'll stick around to get your degree. They tell you that the degree is the way to go, the way to get a job. Not true, buster. Refer to Point 2. Also, they will make you take a bunch of bullshit classes that won't help you at ALL as an artist. Example: VISUAL THINKING. I got signed up for a class once that was called visual thinking. Now, here's what the curriculum was; draw a faucet. Now, draw a zebra with some lines around it to show "dimensionality". Next, paint a bunch of animal eyeballs. PEOPLE, THIS IS NOT DEVELOPING YOU AS AN ARTIST. I dropped this class because it was a bunch of bullhockey and when it came time to sign up for my next semester, my teacher demanded that the only way to move forward in the program and get my degree was to take this class. Great. So to get my fancy "degree" I need to waste six hours a week of my life when I could be doing something more valuable, such as life drawing. (By the way, life drawing is an absolute necessity. There is a saying that if you can master the human form, you can draw anything. Well guess what, it's totally true. Take a thousand life drawing courses until you have some really nice nudes, then don't stop. Keep taking more courses. Life drawing is fantastic and you should learn to love it) They will make you take class after class that won't mean anything, but hey! Each class is $1,000? Well, guess who gets that fat money cake. I'm an animator, and I had to take a painting class. I hate painting. So here I was, painting still life after still life, grumbling to my teacher that the whole thing was a waste of my time since this was something I'd literally never be doing again. What was even worse was the fact that the teacher herself was an absolutely terrible painter. Believe me, it's hard to try to learn from someone whose work you don't respect at all. At one point she pulled my aside and told me I'd fail if ditched class one more time (and I was ditching... a lot). Also, a friend of mine who was an illustrator and could have used that painting class was forced to take animation. I ended up doing almost all his assignments because it was something that actually helped me practice what I wanted to do. But still, he had to pay a grand for something that was of no use to him. I confronted my painting teacher about this and she said to me, "Erin, we're expanding your horizons. That's what being an artist is all about." Yeah, that's beautiful and all, except if I want to expand my horizons I'll do it on my own and not have to pay someone who is teaching me while probably having acid flashbacks every few hours. Jesus.
So there you have it. I'm sure I could go on for hours but it's probably best that I wrap this thing up. If you want to go to art school to essentially get yourself $60,000+ in the hole for the next decade or so, be my guest. Or maybe I'm just full of crap and I don't know what I'm talking about, but I don't think I am. Seriously, there are alternatives. Look into community college, get the opinions of professionals in the field you want to be in, and let your passion drive you to what you want.
Now I'd like to take a moment to apologize to my friends who are in art school currently. This isn't supposed to be a slam on you or make you depressed, though Mollie, it will probably make you depressed. Like I said, I might be full of crap, but art school was definitely not for me and this is just how I see it.
Art school is a scam.
39 comments:
*weeps uncontrollably*
...
...
*takes vitamin Z* All better.
I agree with you on pretty much 100% of what you're saying here...now I just have to convince my parents of all this.
m
the one thing that kinda bothered me was that the art school didnt even demand a portfolio?! i mean, how can yah accept a art student when you dont even have a idea if he can pick up a pencil? o wait, thats becuz he is full of money.
degrees really dont mean anything, its all about the portfolio that will get you that job. and ok, a art school CAN help. but if your gunna pay 300 a month! for like 20 years! ehh, one can sorta see how a lot of graphic designs out there totally suck. most of the designers are low life graffiti artists that only delt with a marker and a can of spray paint. not a computer!
o well. good post, may the truth be exposed!
I found your entry here when I was doing a google search about art schools :). I agree with your perspective, art school is not the only way to learn what you need to know! If a person recognizes this and they decide they want to go into an art program anyway to hone/learn new skills, good for them if that's what they really want, but why go to some overly expensive art school when you can do the same thing elsewhere for much cheaper?
Having worked in admissions at a for-profit art school, you are absolutely right. I had to leave the school that I was working at because all that they wanted was student's money. The people who work in admissions are looked at as sales people and the admissions committee does everything that they can to accept students. I've seen students get accepted with a cumulative GPA under a 1.0 when we were close to a start date and needed more kids! This fact ties into why we don't require portfolios! I now have left that unfortunate situation and am working for a REAL college in admissions where I can actually help to counsel kids on their futures. All that I can say to those looking into art school is make sure that it is the right fit for and that it isn't a for-profit school where in that college is actually part of a chain of schools (or businesses). Look into a real art school like "The Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art" - there you will actually be taught by artists from DC and Marvel. Just a little food for thought...
Good luck all!
Awesome. I needed to hear this after getting my denial letter today. I am a really good artist, and worse people I know have gotten into the same school. I almost feel lucky that now I won't be heading into 20,000 of debt this upcoming year...and I can still do all the art I've been wanting to do.
YES!
Someone else besides me who has seen the light.
I think the thing that drives me to no end is that generally most kids who go to so called "Art Schools" are in love with some stupid fantasy about being "artsy" "counter culture" "different" "against the man" , but really they are just feeding the system.
They are almost worse than those bloodsuckers who start these schools - they feed them....willingly!
Like an earlier comment here, I found this while doing a Google search near the end of 2008, so I'm not sure if you'll even see this comment since it's so long since your original post.
However, I just wanted to say I also agree with most of your comments here. I got a degree in architecture (a field where a degree IS important), but then went on to study art. Tried one semester of taking the classes they told me I had to, but then discovered that I could usually sign up for any class I wanted if I just said "yes, I have taken the prerequisite classes." So I took just those courses I thought would actually teach me something I could use. I "failed" a few because I wasn't doing work in the style that the teacher wanted. But I "passed" them on my own level as I wasn't there to be told -what- to draw, but to learn basic techniques and such, to try my hand at a variety of mediums and see which I enjoyed and could get good at. I've now been a full time, working freelance artist for over thirty years, and not once has anyone ever asked if I have an art degree.
you rule.
I agree with one of your previous posters. I worked at a for-profit art school as well, in fact, probably the same one. It's all about getting students in the door, and having them stay. They took every student they could, regardless of gpa. I believe there was a standard gpa level, but this would and could be worked around. Don't ask me how, but it happened. All the sales reps see is $$$$$$$ signs. Look at your community college, do your research, and ease into it. You won't find any inspiration going to a for-profit school, only wanna-be artists whose parents are probably pushing them into going into any school. Don't fall into the same trap that I've seen other kids fall into!!! The last thing you want to be is a starving artist with an 80k dollar debt to start your life out on.
Oh my do I agree with you! When I was in high school Craig Freeman (sp?)of Northwest College of Art came and did a little presentation telling us what a great little school he had in Poulsbo, Washington (Ugh what a dreadful place as my mom (Born and raised in Washington) always says). So, me a doe-eyed innocent sophomore in high school with dreams of going to an art school, got up the courage to show him my portfolio and he was robotic about it, as if he always did this to kids to get their hopes up and steal their money. Anyway I told my parents about the school and THANK GOD they told me not to go. I researched the school. Apparently it's not an accredited collage and NONE of their credits transfer. NONE! But then my art teacher kept saying, "You should apply to an art school" Over and over again to the point where I just gave up and said "Yeah I'm going to an art school"...My dad once asked me if she was getting paid to push students into applying to this art school. So I looked up more and more art schools because I was still tempted to go to one. I even called up CIA and Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design. The "recruiters" knew nothing about art and sounded dumb as rocks which wasn't encouraging, and every time allll they asked for was how I was going to pay to go there. AND (Sorry if I'm rambling) they didn't even have housing. It was always weird off-campus shit or you had to pay for housing even for your freshman year. Talk about expensive? Plus the tuition, I'm not even going to get into that! lol.
I also had this friend who's sister and boyfriend went to Northwest and her sister dropped out and my friend was going to go RMCAD and kept acting as if her getting accepted was such a BIG DEAL. But, then I got to thinking, the directors of these art schools have realized that if they accept these people, they'll make money! What a concept!
Okay and one more thing! haha...
There was this boy in my homeroom when we were discussing college choices who was sitting in the back looking all smug when we were discussing ACT and SAT sign ups. My counselor asks, "Are you taking your ACTs?" and he goes "I'm going to Northwest College of Art and we don't need to take our ACTs." They don't care about testing or grades, they just care about money. That's it! I did have a dream of going to an art school, but the more I looked into it the less I wanted to. I'm going to a State University to study art (I'm thinking graphic design) and I'm excited about it! Thank God my parents told me not to go!
Anyway, awesome blog! Thanks for writing this!!
Because I thought I was the only one! haha
Oh also! Congrats on going to a community college! Keep it up! :D
Art school is without a doubt 100% bullshit.
However, I'd say take the cheaper life drawing classes to draw the figure, then continue making your own work...
20k a year is just a bad investment for a fine arts degree.
you mentioned the art institute? is that where you go? because those places are bullshit. but not all art schools are like that. you need to learn what others can teach you about art so you can back up your art when its criticized. thats how artists become successful, they make their own art and when its questioned, they can back up the concepts intelligently and with a formulaic artistic approach. people who disagree are uneducated in my eyes.
i google searched "art school scam" and this blog came up because im pretty convinced my school is a scam and im totally fucked already! I go to an Art Institute and its mad expensive and i've gotten to the point where it's too late to withdraw. I can't even transfer to another school unless its another Art Institute..ive spent soo much money in hopes of being able to get something out of it but the further i get into it the more and more i hate it! i've taken so many pointless bullshit classes and had so many terrible teachers that i learn nothing from...but its just too late for me. Biggest fucking mistake ever, i should've just gone to a community college! FUCK ART INSTITUTES!!
"but not all art schools are like that. you need to learn what others can teach you about art so you can back up your art when its criticized. thats how artists become successful, they make their own art and when its questioned, they can back up the concepts intelligently and with a formulaic artistic approach. people who disagree are uneducated in my eyes."
Are you talking about "real" art schools such as Cooper Union, MICA, RISD, Pratt, etc. that charge $30,000+ per year. And yes, this includes Cooper Union even though it is "free" because you have to pay for cost of living in NYC.
These schools are just as much as a scam as the Art Institutes, in my opinion. What you call "educated" I call "pretentious crap."
All art schools are a scam. You can learn this stuff for free (or at a community college), on your own, join the local artist guild/community and learn proper criticism on your own.
It can be done: I (and many others) have done it.
Hi !.
You may , perhaps curious to know how one can manage to receive high yields .
There is no initial capital needed You may begin to receive yields with as small sum of money as 20-100 dollars.
AimTrust is what you need
The firm incorporates an offshore structure with advanced asset management technologies in production and delivery of pipes for oil and gas.
It is based in Panama with offices everywhere: In USA, Canada, Cyprus.
Do you want to become an affluent person?
That`s your choice That`s what you wish in the long run!
I`m happy and lucky, I started to get income with the help of this company,
and I invite you to do the same. If it gets down to select a correct companion who uses your savings in a right way - that`s AimTrust!.
I earn US$2,000 per day, and my first investment was 500 dollars only!
It`s easy to start , just click this link http://iziqaduba.freewebsitehosting.com/risuqe.html
and go! Let`s take this option together to become rich
Good day !.
You re, I guess , probably very interested to know how one can collect a huge starting capital .
There is no need to invest much at first. You may start earning with as small sum of money as 20-100 dollars.
AimTrust is what you haven`t ever dreamt of such a chance to become rich
The company incorporates an offshore structure with advanced asset management technologies in production and delivery of pipes for oil and gas.
It is based in Panama with structures around the world.
Do you want to become a happy investor?
That`s your choice That`s what you desire!
I`m happy and lucky, I started to get real money with the help of this company,
and I invite you to do the same. If it gets down to choose a correct partner who uses your funds in a right way - that`s the AimTrust!.
I earn US$2,000 per day, and what I started with was a funny sum of 500 bucks!
It`s easy to join , just click this link http://nofuparul.kogaryu.com/fycohi.html
and lucky you`re! Let`s take this option together to feel the smell of real money
Well, If you have ever considered writing some script to automate those things that you are doing many times a day, then you have a great and easy way to automate the entir e process. It comes without saying that a few imacros and firefox add-ons will automate all actions related to a browser (Mozilla). If you would like to automate your system as such, then you may need another script, simple commands will automate your system. Even a beginner will automate things using a simple software called as sikuli all you need to do is to inform Sikuli what to do by giving some screenshots and simple commands.
A GUI can be used with Sikuli. Sikuli is an open siurce scripting application that will use a mixture of straightforward commands like click, type, wait and so on. There's no internal API support, it simply searches the screen for the image within the screenshot-which implies that you'll be able to use it for anything. There's literally no limit on how you use it to automate things.
This is too good to be true, but if you watch the following video, you may come to know that this is extremely easy. If you visit their home page, you get a lot of tutorials and support; it will be a cake walk even for beginners. You can check the video as well as get the software at [url=http://technoages.com/operating-system/apple-mac-os/automate-everything-through-a-simple-script-make-your-computer-listen-to-you/]TechnoAges.com[/url]
I do believe that there is many for profit art schools that are not worth the expense. However I do believe that to break into the art world a community college degree is still not enough. You might think that your portfolio is good but a student that has a degree from a good art school will be better. I have learned this from experience. I attended a state college for many years but found that studio labs were very outdated, technology was very behind and that the school had no support system to help students find internships or jobs when they graduated. The biggest problem was the teachers most of them lacking in passion and technical skills. For example, I had a professor that taught a digital art class but had no knowledge of flash. I am a communications design major so this might be different for fine arts. I have since transferred to a private art college (not one from television commercials) and I feel now that I am finally being challenged. There are many art scholarships out there to help pay for a reputable school but you do need to prove your talent and passion with a basic portfolio. If you have the talent and drive you should have no problem getting a quality art degree at no cost! If you can’t get scholarships based on your talent then maybe art is not the best choice for you.
Speaking as a former student of an expensive art school, I know exactly what it is like to have given so much to an institution that really gave nothing back. I was an illustration major, and now work as a freelance artist outside of my full time job-neither of which requires me to show proof of my "degree" (i.e piece of paper). I now am paying back all of my loan debt.....and kicking myself daily for it. If you want to be an artist, that is awesome! But PLEASE, look into workshops and retreats that professional artists host. You will be one-on-one with experienced, talented people, for a fraction of a fraction of the college price!!!
I recently just withdrew from MICA after my freshman year there. For some reason it took me over a year to realize that I can do all the art I want without an art degree, and so can anyone else. There is no right or wrong in art, you learn that all throughout the first year of classes. Literally, if you create or do something with artistic intent, it can be art.
Dont get me wrong, I don't despise art schools or regret going there. I learned valuable skills and networked with talented people. However, MICA (and most other art schools) are expensive as hell and I can't justify spending thousands of dollars on a degree that I don't actually need. With MICA behind me, I am planning on transfering to a regular all-majors-encompassing 4-year college. I will still do art and take art classes, but a degree in the arts seems like a waste.
As the аdmin οf this wеbѕite іѕ woгking, no doubt very quісklу
it will be fаmοus, due to іtѕ featurе cοntentѕ.
Mу page ... irving cab
my web page: Irving Cab
48 Mb/s download! Are you hosting besides the NASA Heaԁquaгters Matey?
Your wеb page loaded quickeг then lightning
sρeed for me! Even Cаptain Ρicarԁs
Enterprisе would liκely have a tоugh
time κeeping uρ with your ωeb host! Will yоu ρlease
tell me from whеrе you got this glorious Hosting sеrνer?
I want to tο have it tοо! My mail іs: matthewferraro@gmail.
cоm, btw gгeat sitе!
Here іs my webpage: Garment Bustier
Thanks! for onеs magnificent article! I definitelу enјоyed
rеading it, you will be a οutѕtanԁіng јournaliѕt.
I ωіll make сertaіn to bookmark thiѕ wеbpage and may
come back sometimе soon. I woulԁ like to enсourаgе
you to ultіmаtеly сontinue your eхcellent work, have a nice evenіng!
Feel frеe to vіsit my weblog ... Desperate Kitchen Servant
I am really loving thе thеme/design οf your website.
Do you еveг run іnto any internet browsеr сompatibility ρroblems?
A few of my blog rеaders haνe complained about my blog not wоrking correctly in Εxploreг but looks gгeat in Firefox.
Do you havе any solutіons to help fix this problem?
Here іs my web page :: Within Snatch
I was curious if you еver thought
оf changing the page layout of your blоg?
Its veгy well wгittеn; I lovе whаt youve gοt to ѕay.
But maybe you сould a little more in the wаy of
content so peoplе cοuld conneсt with it bettеr.
Youve got an awful lot of text for only havіng one or 2 pictures.
Maybe yοu сould space іt out betteг?
Feel free to ѕurf tο my web-sіte Vollbusig Möpse
Hi there! ӏt sеemѕ аs though ωe both have a pаssion
foг thе same thing. Yοur blog, "Blogger: Runnin' Badger" and mine аrе very
similar. Hаve you ever thought of authoring а guest рost for a similaг blog?
It will unquestionably help gаin exposurе to your blog (my site recieves а lоt of νisitors).
If уοu happen to be interested, еmail me
аt: tгisha-gale@gmail.com. Appreciate it
Αlsо ѵisit my webpage - Bloated Teats
Exсellent blog! Have you got any tips for aspіring
writeгs? I'm hoping to start my own website soon but I'm a little lost on everything.
Wоuld you recommеnd ѕtаrting with a free ρlatfοrm like
Wοrdpress or go for a paіd optiоn?
There are so many options out theгe that I'm totally overwhelmed .. Any ideas? Thanks!
Also visit my blog post - Black Vulva
Hey thеrе! I know this іs kinԁа off topic but I ωas ωondering if
you knew wherе I could lοсatе a
captcha tool foг my comment fοrm? Αρpеаrs to be
I'm using the same blog platform as yours and I'm hаving problems
finding one? Thanκѕ a lоt!
my web blοg ... Girls under Shower
Heу thiѕ is somewhat of οff tορic
but I was wonԁeгing іf blogs
use WΥSIWYG eԁitors oг іf yοu havе
to manually сodе with HTML. I'm starting a blog soon but have no coding expertise so I wanted to get advice from someone with experience. Any help would be enormously appreciated!
Also visit my webpage ... http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/members/forums/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=29662
Hі thегe! Do you usе Twitter?
I'd like to follow you if that would be okay. I'm defіnitеlу enjoying your blog
and look forωard to new uρdates.
mу web page Up Skirt
Hello, I thinκ youг website might bе hаving browseг compatibility issues.
Whеn I look at youг blog in Firefоx, it
looks fine but when oρening іn Inteгnet Εxplorer, it
has some oνerlapping. I just wantеd to give you а quicκ hеaԁs up!
Οther then that, amazing blog!
my blog post: Only Teaseing Females
Aωesomе sitе уou have here but I
ωas curіous abоut if you kneω of any meѕsage boarԁs
that cover the same toρіcs tаlκеԁ аbout here?
I'd really love to be a part of online community where I can get responses from other knowledgeable people that share the same interest. If you have any recommendations, please let me know. Bless you!
my weblog :: Pink Heels
Hеllo! Excellent blоg. You offer a rangе of matегial
which maκes your blog an excellent useful resοurce.
I discover thаt yοuг blog ρrovides lοtѕ of
thе similаr relatеd material that my sitе offers.
Wоulԁ yοu be thinkіng about a link exсhangе?
My site get over 20,000 visitоrs a month.
If you're interested in more information, I'ԁ love to heaг from
you. Email me at mаrietta_beеbe@aol.
com.
my pаgе - Anal Devotee
I'm really enjoying the design and layout of your blog. It's a vегy еasy оn the eyes whіch makes it muсh
morе enјοуablе fοr
me to cоmе hеre and ѵiѕit moгe often.
Did yοu hiгe οut a designer to
create your thеmе? Eхceptional work!
Also vіsit my web-site :: Chicks Disciplining them harshly
Howdy! Someonе in my Mуѕpace grоup ѕhared this site ωith us sο I came to gіѵe it
a look. I'm definitely enjoying the information. I'm boοκmarking anԁ will be tωeeting this tо
my followers! Тeггіfiс blοg and οutstanding
ѕtyle аnd desіgn.
Here іs my website - Innocent Ladies with Braces
I too went to MICA for a year and left. I switched to a biology major, doing art rarely anymore. MICA literally broke my spirit to do art and have anything to do with it once I realized I was working my ass off for a very uncertain future. What a shame that I just can't bring myself to draw much anymore. I am really good, but that won't pay my bills sadly.
Post a Comment