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Drop out of art school?
He Kienan, I know you've talked a lot about whether or not to go to art school, however I'm asking from the opposite point of view. I'm currently in my freshman year of art school and it's honestly been an awful experience apart from the friends I've made. The teachers are lazy and crazy ( doesn't believe in perspective lines or learning human anatomy), I'm learning things that feel irrelevant , the school seems to HATE digital art, and overall I feel like I'm not getting my money's worth. I feel as if I practiced on my own as much as I spent on stupid projects then I would get much better faster. I'm really torn as whether to drop out or not. My parents just want me to finish for the sad excuse of a piece of paper that is a diploma, but I honestly feel I'm hurting myself and my family by staying in college and wasting money. Thoughts?




I feel you though. I think a degree is a degree though honestly. Even though you may feel like the experience doesn't help you the degree helps you survive. I've been told this many times. Trust me at times I do feel like my degree is a waste of money. I feel like you have two options: 1. efficiently teach yourself 2. transfer to a different school instead of dropping out. I'm currently doing the first option right now and I'm comfortable with it but that may not be what you are used to. It's too late for me to transfer when I'm in my 3rd year at my university. My school is bearable but anything illustration related I have to learn myself. Usually undergrad classes at 4 yr are mostly for the basics though until you get into grad school I've noticed. So this is why you might feel this way. Technical school is another encouraged option like full sail and etc. but it's very expensive but focuses on technical aspects. Also a lot of people look down on technical school for unreasonable and reasonable reasons. But at technical school maybe the first year there maybe be better in terms of learning.
So before i started at Full Sail I was possible thinking of joining VCU in Richmond VA which has an amazing art program. The problem is that VCU is an art elitist school. If you apply and have anything in your portfolio resembling graffiti or anime or anything along those lines you are told to redo your portfolio or do not attend. A friend of mine went there for Illustration and it was more or less like your saying. I feel I have heard so much about this from other people too, a general art school is what I think is the problem. Finding somewhere like Full Sail or Gnomon or like Crylica said CGMA etc is the key. A school that is focused in on a certain kind of art. Most general art schools focus on traditional/classical art schools tend to look down on arts for entertainment industry. Well chats just kind of my view on it. Hope it helps
What do you think of Full Sail? I've looked into it and it seems kinda weird but im honestly open to anything at this point. Do you think they would prepare me for a career in the concept/character art field?
I think its a good choice to have. I'm taking Game Art and they are really putting me through the paces. They cover everything from 3D to 2D on everything. They also have won some awards for game dev and music. It super expensive but my old commander once told me there is good debt and bad. I did only did it cause the Army paid for it annnnd their online courses include a brand new MacBook pro and an intros pro with the Adobe CC for free. I needed the resources to get that step ahead. Also their networking connections along with their career assistance in second to none. Do some research though, cause Gnomon is amazing along with tons more. FDZ school is amazing too so look around and get a feel for what is offered etc
Your school reminds me of my high school class, it had similar views (and hated digital art). It catered towards 'fine art' which is extremely hard to break into. It may be better to sign up for an online class such as smART art school, CGMA, etc. If you really aren't benefitting from the class, you can drop out. Keep in mind that eventually overseas companies may want to hire you, and it is much easier for them to get a work visa for you if you have a diploma or degree of some sort. I know some artists (like Ignatius Tan/muju) went to art school purely for the paper.
Huh I didn't know Muju did it for the paper I totally love his work though. On the subject of school though. I feel like majority of my professors just tell me they don't really know too much about digital art. They don't hate it which is a good thing at least.