Don't go to art school, do this instead | My art school experience

[@ArtBusinesswithNess]

Did you go to art school? If yes, was it helpful? If no, do you feel like you struggle more as a self-taught artist?

[@celartz]

I attended community college! I was a Fine Arts major there, and I learned a lot from the different classes I took. We do have an art school here in my city, and back then I wanted to go there, but it was just too expensive. In the end, I went to community college instead and I don't regret it. My instructors were helpful, and I learned a lot when it came to traditional painting, drawing, and working with 3D materials too, and I really enjoyed it. Even before that, I took a few summer classes when I was a kid where I learned the basics of Photoshop. Those were a lot of fun.😊Looking back, I'm glad I didn't go to art school because I can only imagine how much debt I would have been in by the time I was done!

[@ArtBusinesswithNess]

That sounds like a really great option that you did!! One thing I hear time and time again is that expensive art schools don't always equal a better education.

[@mariona-ym3du]

Wow, I just dropped out of art school, so this is perfect timing!

[@ArtBusinesswithNess]

😂😂 Perfect!!

[@marychaseflynn]

I've taken classes from various art schools which were offered to the community on a one time basis live on campus, this way I could pay as I go and only take the class that interested me. I've also had good luck because my local library subscribes to several paid online subscriptions which allows us to take software classes for free as long as you have a library card. One of these online services even had a class by an artist on how to make money from your art which actually was quite interesting and detailed!

[@ArtBusinesswithNess]

That's so smart!! I never thought to check if my library had subscriptions like these. You're very clever and resourceful!

[@IrynaBoehland]

Thank you for the library idea! I have never knew about this.... where do I look for such subscriptions? (I have a library card and online account)

[@ArtBusinesswithNess]

@@IrynaBoehland I imagine you can ask at the counter, or give them a call.

[@IrynaBoehland]

@@ArtBusinesswithNess yes, I am planning on it!

[@IrynaBoehland]

Thank you, Ness! I would add, looking at my friend with formal degree in Art - she grasps everything faster than me, has confidence, knows the lingo, and has connections in the field. Since she tried many mediums and techniques she is faster with figuring things out. And if I am quite timid when it comes to a large project, she is not. Like you, I learned Procreate on my own and slowly learning Ai. Ps and Affinity Designer.

[@ArtBusinesswithNess]

It's hard to say if those are things she learned in art school or not (apart from industry connections). Confidence, endurance for large projects and learning fast can be learned in other settings, and then some people are naturally good at those things also.

[@eliclaes7533]

I did illustration in Belgium ( so luckily this didn’t cost me much ), the only useful class was life drawing. and in illustration class it self they gave assignments and just let us work on it in there, and you could come to them but to me they only said that my style was “too commercial and not experimental enough “🙄. so I’ve quit in year 3 and didn’t get my bachelors. Did a course in a vocational school in concept art that was very good tho.

[@ArtBusinesswithNess]

Thanks for sharing! That's similar to my experience in visual arts, they'd mostly just let us work. That's an insane comment to make on your work though, illustration is by nature very commercial and having a commercial style that people actually want to buy isn't a bad thing at all! Teacher was confusing this with a modern art or fine arts class🙄.

[@RaphaelAvant]

I started out in a community college in visual arts. Personally, I did learn a lot from taking classes and I would have not learn on my own, however I learned a lot after college as well. Udemy has many good art educational classes.

[@ArtBusinesswithNess]

Thank you for sharing your experience! I’m glad to hear you got a lot out of your college experience ❤️