dinolover 3,610 Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 Don’t go to art school The traditional approach is failing us. It’s time for a change. I’ve had it. I will no longer encourage aspiring artists to attend art school. I just won’t do it. Unless you’re given a full ride scholarship (or have parents with money to burn), attending art school is a waste of your money. I have a diploma from the best public art school in the nation. Prior to that I attended the best private art school in the nation. I’m not some flaky, disgruntled art graduate, either. I have a quite successful career, thankyouverymuch. But I am saddened and ashamed at art schools and their blatant exploitation of students. Graduates are woefully ill-prepared for the realities of being professional artists and racked with obscene amounts of debt. By their own estimation, the cost of a four year education at RISD is $245,816. As way of comparison, the cost of a diploma from Harvard Law School is a mere $236,100. This is embarrassing. It’s downright shameful. That any art school should deceive its students into believing that this is a smart decision is cruel and unusual. Artists are neither doctors nor lawyers. We do not, on average, make huge six-figure salaries. We can make livable salaries, certainly. Even comfortable salaries. But we ain’t usually making a quarter mil a year. Hate to break it to you. An online debt repayment calculator recommended a salary exceeding $400,000 in order to pay off a RISD education within 10 years. Don’t do it. Don’t start your career with debilitating debt. Please. I beg you. Think long and hard whether you’re willing to pay student loan companies $3000 every single month for the next 10 years. You’ve got other options. You don’t have to go to college to be an artist. Not once have I needed my diploma to get a job. Nobody cares. The education is all that matters. The work that you produce should be your sole concern. There are excellent atelier schools all over the world that offer superior education for a mere fraction of the price. Here are a few: Watt’s Atelier Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Arts The Safehouse Atelier There are more. Many, many more. And none of them will cost nearly as much as a traditional four year school. And then there are the online options. The availability of drawing and painting resources is incredible. Sitting at a computer I have direct access to artists all over the world. I have the combined wisdom of the artistic community to pull from at my leisure. For less than a few grand a year I can view more educational material than I would see at any art school. You can get a year of access to all of the Gnomon Workshop’s videos for the cost of a few days at the average art school. With all of these options it can be a little daunting. So you know what? I’ve come up with a plan for you. Do this: The $10k Ultimate Art Education $500 - Buy an annual subscription to The Gnomon Workshop and watch every single video they have. $404.95 - Buy Glenn Vilppu’s Anatomy Lectures and watch all of them. $190 - Buy all of these books and read them cover to cover. $1040 ($20/week x 52 weeks) - Weekly figure drawing sessions. Look up nearby colleges and art groups and find a weekly session to attend. $2500 - Sign up for a SmART School Mentorship when you feel ready to get one-on-one guidance to push your abilities. $2400 - Sign up for four classes from CGMA. Get taught by professionals in the industry on exactly the skills you want to learn. Free - Watch all of these keynotes. Free - Study other things for free. Suggested topics: business, history, philosophy, English, literature, marketing, and anything else you might be interested in. $500 - Throughout the year, use at least this much money to visit museums in your area. And not just art museums. All museums. Free - Create accountability. One of the great advantages to attending a school is the comradery. So use the internet to create your own. Go join a forum where you can give and receive critique on the work you’re developing. There are many different ones out there that can suit whatever flavor you prefer. The rest - Materials. Buy yourself some good art materials to create with. Whether digital or traditional. Don’t skimp. There. For less than a quarter of the tuition for RISD you’ve got yourself a killer education. You’ve received more quality, focused education than I think you’ll find at any art school. Moving forward There has never been a better time to be an artist. I’m inspired by the sheer quantity and quality of internet resources available to artists. But I encourage all aspiring artists to think long and hard about their options. Student loans are unforgivable through bankruptcy and can wreck your financial future. Establishing a career while under the unceasing brutality of student loans makes an already difficult task nearly impossible. Find another path. Art is a wonderful, beautiful, fulfilling pursuit. Don’t ruin it with a mountain of debt. Disclaimer: I do not mean any offense to any of the educators at art schools. I have numerous professors who I consider close friends. This is neither an attack on you, nor your teaching abilities, nor the value that you provide for your students. I’m talking about the schools, not the artists teaching at them. well to be fair, for students who get in with huge scholarships.. really only pay like 15 thousand a year... I guess this is for students who arent really wanted by the art schools. RISD gives like 20 students out of 500 .. a year... full rides... also... RISD does adjust their tuition to your financial status... so... what do you think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deerhan 3,762 Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 well. Too late for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmn 2,622 Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 so... what do you think? That art is a hobby you do in your spare time in the evening after you're done with your real studies for the day. (and if you're actually talented, you can start make a living off that) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GodBot 1,005 Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 If your talented , you don't even need to go to school Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seyoncé 320 Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 It sounds like a lot of work and self motivation to do it by the 10k plan they suggested. But if it's something you're passionate about and know you can't handle art school financially, I'm sure it's very possible indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chunface 3,496 Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 i dont have enough talent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinolover 3,610 Posted June 26, 2013 Author Share Posted June 26, 2013 That art is a hobby you do in your spare time in the evening after you're done with your real studies for the day. If your talented , you don't even need to go to school no company or editor is ever going to hire you if you dont have a degree. you're. you are not your talented. your talent. you are talent? well. Too late for me. same. oh whale. it's not as expensive as it seems though, i mean.. who actually pays full price besides rich families? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeMyBoy 1,659 Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 My philosophy: As long as you're committed to your studies and are in post secondary education than you are doing better than 70% of the world population. You are far better off building your resume than you are sitting idle waiting for something to happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deerhan 3,762 Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 same. oh whale. it's not as expensive as it seems though, i mean.. who actually pays full price besides rich families? dat picture. Idk. I haven't really paid attention to the costs of the school I applied to. whoopz We can go into debt together. That guy must've had a suck ass time in that art school. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GodBot 1,005 Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 no company or editor is ever going to hire you if you dont have a degree. you're. you are not your talented. your talent. you are talent? same. oh whale. it's not as expensive as it seems though, i mean.. who actually pays full price besides rich families? Pretty sure anyone will hire you if you have a masterpiece of a portfolio and I meant to write you're Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TotoroSmile 1,600 Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 Same goes to design degree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
removed929393303 15,230 Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 I have a love - hate relationship with art school. If your talented , you don't even need to go to school Not true. Most employers want someone with a degree and will choose someone with one over you even your portfolio is slightly better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sane 16,342 Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 I didn't even need to read that and I already agreed lol Art is something that you can learn to do really well for little to no money. It's not like medicine or law that require a huge amount of knowledge and fancy practice setups, all you need is a humble piece of paper and a pencil or whatever other medium you use. Countless art technique and lesson books exist, and they're really informative. Paying thousands of dollars for a class that won't really teach you anything you couldn't get for free or on the cheap is just a huge insult to education. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaiELF15 611 Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 Private schools are just a big rip off.( Unless you have money to burn, or a job waiting) . I learn that the hard way now im stuck with a 10K loan I have to pay off in the next 10 years.. Community would have cost me 2k... Art and Food are just the worst.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youchewflop 1,027 Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 I have no talent its ok Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GodBot 1,005 Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 I have a love - hate relationship with art school. Not true. Most employers want someone with a degree and will choose someone with one over you even your portfolio is slightly better. When I say talented , I mean people like this guy , maybe I should say gifted instead of talented Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
removed929393303 15,230 Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 When I say talented , I mean people like this guy , maybe I should say gifted instead of talented Well that's an autistic savant, that's an entirely different case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinolover 3,610 Posted June 26, 2013 Author Share Posted June 26, 2013 When I say talented , I mean people like this guy , maybe I should say gifted instead of talented you think too narrowly. fine arts is something only a small percent of students who go to art schools go into. architexture, industrial design, interior decorating, textiling, glass , digital arts etc gifted? this man is wildcard, have you even seen into his background? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holke 2,349 Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 My roommate just came back from art school. She attended Cal Arts and although it is seen as a great school, it was a big fat waste of money. My uncle graduated from RISD and although he worked with Gus Van Zandt and hung out with icons such as Francesca Woodman, he didn't hit it big with his fine art photography. Now, he works at Kroger. It's sad, really. I applied to RISD when I graduated and got a small scholarship, but didn't take it because it wasn't as big as I would have liked. I'm really glad that I didn't go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinolover 3,610 Posted June 27, 2013 Author Share Posted June 27, 2013 My roommate just came back from art school. She attended Cal Arts and although it is seen as a great school, it was a big fat waste of money. My uncle graduated from RISD and although he worked with Gus Van Zandt and hung out with icons such as Francesca Woodman, he didn't hit it big with his fine art photography. Now, he works at Kroger. It's sad, really. I applied to RISD when I graduated and got a small scholarship, but didn't take it because it wasn't as big as I would have liked. I'm really glad that I didn't go. does risd not give big scholarships? i might just jump the boat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mochichan 12,341 Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 I got to a cheaper school and then transfer after 2 yrs. It's easier on my money and I get all the general education stuffs out of the way while paying less anyway I'm going to go into commercial designs since it's easier to get jobs and considering classes in animation and game designs too since I like those stuffs but yeah you really have to work hard. -_- I was never interested in any jobs beside drawing and since I am good at it why not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holke 2,349 Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 does risd not give big scholarships? i might just jump the boat. It just depends. My portfolio wasn't really big at the time. I've done a LOT of work since then, so I know that I could probably get a larger scholarship if I applied again. I just don't want to do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hey Im K 1,309 Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kazuma Kiryu 1,823 Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 I want to go to art school but i don't have any skilzzzzzz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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