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What’s the difference between fine art and commmercial art?

admin — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:05:52 +0000

The Oxford Dictionary describes art as,”The expression of creative skill through a visual medium such as painting or sculpture. The product of such a process; paintings, drawings, and sculpture collectively.” Some argue that the line between Fine Art and Commercial Art is very definite, but really, it is only the intentions that seem to separate the two.

In one example, that a lot of you will know of is by the now legendary artist, Michelangelo. Between 1508 and 1512, Michelangelo was commissioned by at that time one of, if not the most powerful, global organizations in the world, the Roman Catholic Church. Taking over four years to complete, this artwork was a commissioned job and therefore is actually Commercial Art, although it is considered one of the artists finest pieces of artwork and one of the world’s greatest and most famous fine art achievements!

Basically, any artist pursues their own conceptual goals and ambitions through expressing their creative skill in their own artwork. However a Commercial Artist is under commission to produce a creative fine art piece for a commercial art project. The Commercial Artist can still use their creative skills but to the clients needs and ambitions for the project. Some tend to see this as a hindrance to the artists creativity. This is not always the case as it only shifts the meaning of the artwork. The Artist still needs to employ their creativity, conceptual and compositional skills to create the artwork.

Sometimes a Commercial Artist’s creativity can be stifled by the client, in the instance of a client taking on certain aspects of the project. The client may be involved in or in complete control of the conceptualisation and direction of the project by supplying to the artist their own creativity and conceptual problem solving abilities. This can a lot of the time hinder the artist as the client may not actually be able to communicate their ideas easily or feel their own view is the correct view rather than that of the audience the project is aimed at. This can produce artwork, that when presented to the audience in the form of advertising, product packaging, etc, misses it’s target and seems to fail for the client.

However, on some occasions, the client has done the research and has a correct feel for their audience. The conceptual ideas they then discuss and present to the artist to follow work perfectly and gives the artist a firm foundation to apply their creative ability to the project at hand and hence producing a very successful piece of artwork.

How do I become a professional photographer?

admin — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:08:12 +0000

A professional photographer is a person who derives his income from within the field of photography. If a person works a full time position in another profession and works at being a photographer on the side then that doesn’t constitute a true professional photographer but they are a semi-professional. Someone who has a passion for photography but only for personal interest or as a hobby is an amateur. Although these labels are accurate, there are some amateur photographers whose work is as good as or better than some professionals. Beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder.

Many professional photographers are self-taught. They invest in a camera that seems perfect for what they want to shoot. After learning about the camera, many people take courses in photographer to understand how to compose a shot and how to create different effects and moods with lighting.

As with many other professions, becoming a professional photographer is helped by who you know. Begin to speak with other professionals in your field. Perhaps work as an intern or apprentice for someone that you admire who works near where you live. Normally, most will give advice freely and even warn you of the ups and downs in the business. If they don’t need anyone to help them then perhaps they’ll allow you to “shadow” or follow them around for a day or two as they work within this industry.

If you are serious about becoming a professional photographer, you can also take courses in an art school to earn a certificate of completion or a degree. If you have not purchased a camera and lens at this point, the instructors will direct you as to what to get that is the best for your area of interest. Although you will be taught in a classroom and hands-on situation, reading how-to books on photography as well as going to galleries and viewing photos is one way of gleaning from others what to look for in a photo.

Another invaluable way to move toward becoming a professional photographer is practice, practice, practice. Then after you have shot many photos, get others who will be honest with you to critique your work. Divide your photos into two piles: those that are good and those that need improvement. Evaluate the reasons for each and learn from it. After you take time and realize what you did right in the ones everyone liked, take another round of shots. Compare them to the first ones and continue doing this. Practice truly does make perfect.

Finally, begin to enter photo contests. Many famous photographers began exactly that way and soon they were winning. This built their name so when they applied for a position with a magazine or wherever, they had accolades for their work. Combine that with offering your services to others for a small fee at first and you’re now on your way to becoming a professional photographer and getting paid to do what you love.

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How Do I Become a Professional Photographer?

admin — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:02:06 +0000

How do I become a professional photographer?

This is a question many people ask when they are exploring the different careers within art. Many opt to become professional photographers because it can be an interesting a fulfilling job.

Professional photographers work with many different people on a daily basis, whether they be models our tourists that the photographer is trying to capture, knowing how to work with people is on the list of required skills to become a photographer.

There are many ways to become a professional photographer. Some work for large companies that send photographers out to take pictures of all sorts of different things. Some photographers work for themselves and make a name for themselves in the industry. Those who do art photography try and get gallery deals, those who decide fashion photography is their calling can ask to work with a model, and some people work for themselves and make their money by selling prints and doing portfolios for people.

What skills are required for this?

Anyone with a camera can think they are a professional photographer but only the truly skilled make it. Attending school for photography is another good way of answering the question, “how do I become a professional photographer?”

In school, students are taught photography from experts in the field, people who have working as professional photographers and art photographers and can tell you about the industry first hand.

Schools can also teach you all about the technical working of the camera, your main instrument. This is important to know as most people feel the best photographers know their cameras inside and out.

Photography school also teaches you to be the best photographer you can be by showing you all of the different lighting techniques that photographers use. That is an incredibly important skill and it is much more difficult than just turning on the light. There are many different formations you can make with the light and each will have a different outcome in the picture.

Becoming a professional photographer

To become a professional photographer, you must intern or work with a professional photographer. There are many mentoring programs out there that set students up with professionals in their field so they can learn first hand. This is the best way how I can become a professional photographer. Learning from a professional is a beneficial experience. They can teach you tips and tricks that your teachers might has missed out on.

You must also create a portfolio. Work with clients, models, or friends as much as possible to create a good portfolio, and keep it updated.

What’s the Difference Between Fine Art and Commercial Art?

admin — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:04:15 +0000

Fine artists mostly create for enjoyment and passion and many times will work for a single commissioner rather than a business. They will sell piece by piece through a broker or through personal contacts. Unlike a fine artist, the commercial artist frequently has a background in fine art, but chooses to create art which are needed by a client. Fine art is usually passion driven whereas commercial art, although this artist can have passion as well, is business driven only creating art that is paid for by a business client.

Commercial art like fine art uses many mediums including ink and paints as well as a digital medium. It is also created by software such as Adobe Illustrator whereas fine art does not use computers to generate any images.

Fine art sometimes is created to sell if that’s the goal of the artist. There is a market for fine art and there always will be but it just doesn’t have the ability to make a living for the artist like commercial art does unless the artist becomes very popular. Commercial art can sell commodities of all kinds but fine art sells itself based purely on aesthetics. Although it is true that fine art can be produced on a mass scale, it normally is not unless they make serigraphs or lithographs which usually are limited and numbered to give them more lasting value.

The main difference between fine art and commercial art is that fine artists decide what they will create themselves and what medium to use. The commercial artist is hired to create what the client wants and decides what medium will be used for the product. And although purists feel that fine art is aesthetically more pleasing, there are many very creative commercial artists who have a true talent but they would rather work in this arena.

Both fine artists as well as commercial artists want to design and create art that is understood and is excellent. Although they are working toward different goals, they both want to create art that has a message that is easily conveyed. Both also have the ability to have their works widely displayed. With fine artists it is in a more subtle setting such as an art gallery. Unlike fine art, commercial artists can see their work splashed all over billboards, magazines and television.

Yes, there is a big difference between fine art and commercial art as has been stated, but they are both artists nonetheless. They are both trained in their craft and usually very much love what they do which is very important if you plan on making your life’s career.

Life as an Architectural Photographer

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:00:22 +0000

Life as an architectural photographer is quite an interesting life indeed. If you love diversity in a vocation where every day holds something fresh and new and you enjoy photographing structures, unique lines and even archeological digs, this is the career choice for you. Of course what an architectural photographer does during his entire day depends upon what art they are called upon to produce: informational photographs, works of art or even magazine and promotional materials. Perhaps in the period of one week, all of those tasks are performed. This vocation varies one day to the next allowing for life as an architectural photographer to be very exciting.

Some people fail to realize that architecture is an art form. And especially with architectural photographers, they have to be especially concerned about light levels, textures and focusing because any varying in any of those aspects of photography can create an erroneous look and feel to the photograph. If a specific mood must be achieved for a specific client, then there are issues such as how to frame the image and creating the perfect lighting to accomplish the end result.

Another part of the day of an architectural photographer could be documenting photographically, an entire building project. Before and after pictures, step by step, are very important to those involved in the project. Aerial photography might be warranted in this situation as well. Many times with this type of project, the building contractor will use the photos taken in his portfolio so there is great pressure to produce exactly what the eye sees in real life.

Similar to photographically documenting a building project, this type of photographer might spend some of his day taking inside shots of residential as well as commercial renovations to be used as part of the contractor’s promotions and his portfolio. These types of images have to be very detailed so the photographer has to figure out how much to include in each frame for the exact outcome and effect needed.

Similarly, interior designers hire architectural photographers to exhibit to potential clients their before and after shots as well. A person’s business many times depends on how well the photographer can display, in one small photo, the work that is done by professionals in every field. Many times while shooting images, they end up in various books of art, locally at first, and then on a national level. These skills of the architectural photographer are honed and developed day after day as he works within his vocation.

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Life as a Portrait Photographer

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:44:07 +0000

Just about anyone who can aim a camera can make a portrait. It goes without saying that some do it better than others. Top portrait photographers do it all the time, reliably producing outstanding portraits with just about every subject they photograph. What do they know and what do they do that makes their portraits special? The answer to both these questions is “quite a bit,” because there is lots to know about a lot of things in order to produce a great portrait. The best way to start is by learning the basics and taking it one step at a time. You may not have the studio, the equipment and the technical resources that the best portrait photographers have, but you can still produce excellent portraits by following their basic techniques and by understanding what makes a good portrait.

A portrait is defined as a likeness of a person, especially of the person’s face. Simply that. But, the word in general use has deeper connotations in life as a portrait photographer. A photographic portrait is understood to be a good quality image that not only captures a person’s physical likeness on film or on a digital camera’s sensor, but also something of the person’s character, generally in a manner that is attractive and pleasing to the subject. A good portrait will contain at least one element that reveals the subject’s personality, attitude, unique mannerisms or any of the other features or traits that form the individual nature of the person. It will tell us something about the subject. You may have heard someone remark that a particular photographer “really captured” their father or child, for example, in a picture. They are referring in part to the image being a true physical likeness, but what they are really saying is that the image also reveals a significant, identifiable part of the subject’s character. The portrait photographer who has never previously met the subject therefore has quite a challenge.

We all reveal our feelings and attitudes differently. Some of us may show our individual character with immediate transparency, while others may be more difficult to “read” at first. The portrait photographer must become proficient at studying people whom he or she doesn’t know in order to capture their essence. This means watching for signals in a subject’s mannerism, reactions, expressions, body language and so on, and then judging how best to have the subject’s character revealed for the camera during life as a portrait photographer.

Life as an Architectural Photographer

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:53:32 +0000

Living a life as an architectural photographer one first needs to understand what it is…Architectural photography is specialized photography of structures. It involves special lenses and techniques to portray the subjects in proper perspective and without photographic distortion. It is primarily concerned with accurate portrayal of the structure, rather than artistic merit.

Architectural Photography is a form of photography that focuses on capturing buildings, houses, bridges, sculptures, ruins, and other structures to highlight the beauty of the structure’s architectural form or elements. It may be done for commercial reasons. A structure may be photographed at different angles to create the desired impression. At its best, architectural photography communicates the ambiance of a manmade structure.

Life as an architectural photographer is a commitment of time, of resources and of funds. Creating high- quality images on location presents a complex series of challenges. Thorough planning and communication among the client, photographer, location owner and representatives at the site can help ensure maximum efficiency and productivity. The material in this checklist has been gathered from design firms and architectural photographers around the country.

While each assignment is unique, the information will be helpful in anticipating issues that may come up during the planning and actual production of a location photography project. It is a useful reference guide for the designer, the client, for others involved in the assignment and for the photographer as well. The photographer’s fee is predicated on the use of the images and the costs of production. Broader usage increases the value of the images and fees are adjusted proportionately. Client and photographer must understand if there is leeway in the budget for unexpected conditions, extra views, variables in time, materials and job costs.

If the budget is fixed, are the limitations clearly understood by all parties? If the client needs to negotiate a lower fee, what can be given up in return? This might involve restricted usage, few images, less elaborate lighting or styling, smaller format film for less formal photographs, more flexible schedule with longer lead time, more prominent credit line for the photographer, among other options.

Once all terms are understood and agreed upon, the client should be willing to sign a proposal or contract and to provide a purchase order along with advance payment to confirm the assignment during your life as an architectural photographer.

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Life as a Commercial Photographer

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:40:18 +0000

Are you interested in a career in photography? There are many different ways to earn a living as a photographer. However life as a commercial photographer offers many advantages over other areas of the photographic profession.

Commercial photography is a broad term. As a commercial photographer it’s possible to work in the fashion or commercial industries, as a photojournalist or even a portrait photographer.

To become a successful commercial photographer it’s important to have a base level of talent. However talent alone doesn’t always cut it. Commercial photographers need a high level of skill, creativity, excellent timing and the ability to adapt to a situation. Many people who become commercial photographers attend school and get a degree in photography, commercial or otherwise. It’s also usually very helpful to get an internship of some kind.

Mentorship programs can be particularly helpful to anyone interested in life as a commercial photographer. Mentoring programs offer students the opportunity to gain valuable first hand experience learning commercial photography in a professional environment under the tutelage of real, working commercial photographers.

They also provide students with the chance to make valuable contacts that can prove so important in breaking into the world of being a working commercial photographer.

Commercial photography can be an exciting, creative field. It can also be very lucrative. Commercial photographers frequently find work in the interesting fields of photojournalism and fashion. Many will work on staff for newspapers, magazines, or services that provide stock photos.

Photojournalism is a particularly exciting area of commercial photography. Photojournalists are often dispatched to the scene of local, national or international events. Their job is to be there to capture the pictures that will go out over wires to newspapers and web news pages all over the globe. Photojournalists have the unique opportunity to photograph history as it happens.

Still other commercial photographers work as portrait photographers. These sorts of photographers are often hired to shoot weddings, graduations and other special events. They also may do promotional headshots for actors, models and other people who work in entertainment. This aspect of commercial photography is attractive as it allows one to essentially be their own boss and work on their own terms.

Commercial photography is a profession that attracts many talented people. Because of this it can be extremely competitive. If you feel that life, as a commercial photographer is for you then you need to do whatever you can to give yourself an edge over the competition.

A photography degree is a good start, but it may not be enough. A mentoring program can give you an advantage that potential employers will take notice of.

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Life as a Web Designer

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:39:02 +0000

Thanks to the Internet there is now a whole segment of creative jobs that simply did not exist fifteen to twenty years ago. One such job is that of a web designer. Life as a web designer involves synthesizing artistic talent, technical skill, marketing know-how and business savvy.

Many web designers work in-house in salaried positions. Their job involves daily upkeep and maintenance of a company’s website as well as creating and redesigning web pages as needed.

Many other web designers work freelance. This allows them to enjoy the freedom of working from their home office and being able to largely set their own hours. At times freelancers are required to report to the office, either for meetings or to work with an in-house web design team.

Working as a web designer can be a very lucrative and rewarding career. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, projected income and job prospects for web designers are both above average.

Life as a web designer can be all about the freedom of self-employment. However it can also involve working in the creative, fun environment of a multi-media or marketing firm. The work one does as a web designer will be seen by people all over the world.

Unlike other media-centric jobs, web design is fairly decentralized these days. Practically all businesses, big and small need a website to stay competitive. This means there are possibilities for employment as a web designer all across the country. The freedom of the digital era even allows web designers to work abroad or for clients that may be thousands of miles away.

However web design can be a high pressure and at times competitive field. In addition to technical skills, web designers must have a solid understanding of both design and marketing principles. They must deliver their work on time and on budget.

There are now many degree programs available for people interested in web design. However due to the competitive nature of the business a 4-year degree may not be enough. Many aspiring web designers also participate in an internship of one sort or another.

Mentoring programs are an excellent way to gain firsthand experience. They allow students to study web design while working in a professional web environment, under the tutelage of real, working web professionals. Internship programs also afford students the opportunities to make the connections, which can prove integral to launching one’s career as a web designer.

If you have the artistic and design talent, as well as the drive to succeed, then life as web designer might be a perfect career for you.

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Photography School

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:27:53 +0000

If you decide that you want to attend photography school then your next step is to find a very good school that is perfect for you. Although there are many to choose from, there are areas that need to be covered in order to be trained correctly. The photography school should focus on development, theories of photography as well as “hands on” practical instruction. Of course, each student will apply their own artistic style, but there are basics that need to be taught as a basis to build on.

There are many areas of this career choice that can be studied such as: advertising, fashion and photojournalism. A good photography school will incorporate both artistic and commercial projects to give the budding photographer the education to encompass all types of photography and be skilled in many areas.

The best photography school will always offer very practical applications on many topics to provide each student with tools to become a professional photographer. The photography school’s program should include courses on lighting, theories of color, black and white photography, Photoshop, location as well as studio photography, landscape and nightscape photography as well as dark room techniques.

The best case scenario is that every teacher is either now or has been a professional photographer so that they have extensive knowledge as well as being aware of the latest digital techniques. There are many demands, more than ever before, in visual technology. Therefore it’s imperative that the teaching staff understand the newest equipment and technological advances.

Within this career choice, there are photography schools that offer bachelor’s degree in visual arts as well as graduate degrees. Of course, there are also fast-track schools that teach and train new photographers within months and they earn a certificate upon completion. Whichever photography school is chosen, it’s very important to thoroughly investigate them to discover what degree or certificate is offered, how long to complete the curriculum and the cost of the school.

Finally, it’s imperative that you look at the portfolio of the school you are considering as well as possible job placement. After investigating, you will know the reputation of the schools as well as possible online reviews of the teachers and courses. If possible, tour the campus area of the photography school and spend time speaking with those that can give you a more in-depth understanding of what it has to offer. In that interview, you will discover the equipment you will learn on as well as being given course catalogs and other resources to aid you in your decision.

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Picking Out a Good Photography School

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:59:52 +0000

If you think that photography is your calling, it’s about time that you look into attending a photography school. Too many people assume that photography is just about pointing a camera at something. In reality, it’s an art form and one that can only truly be mastered after a bit of education.

Photographers spend their day working with clients in various settings. Graduates can find employment for large photography firms all the way down to simple freelance work. There are also different specializations that a student could go into, such as digital photography, scenic photography or portrait photography. Each has a unique science behind it that can be learned through education and personal experimentation.

One of the big debates you might find out there is whether or not to attend a two year or four year program. The four year program probably seems like a logical solution because it provides an extended education, but most students don’t find that necessary. Getting a higher degree isn’t going to influence the chances of getting a job, so the extra two years just result in unnecessary costs, if anything.

By attending a simple, two year photography school, students get immersed in the hands-on training they need to really understand the career. Lighting, camera angles, lens adjustments and the like are all covered through classes specific to photography. Some curriculum may also require basics like math or English, but that is only intended to make for a well rounded education.

Something great about technical schools is that they focus on giving students the biggest education for the least amount of money. The semesters are short and to the point so that every dollar spent is used for a good reason. The educators at these schools are trained professionals who have actual experience in the field. They can share said experiences with their pupils.

Once the program is complete, a photography student should be able to seek help from the school to gain employment. Since there are so many different career opportunities for photographers, most students do not find difficulty getting a job once they get out of school.

Almost every photography school one would look into will have some sort of financial aid available. This allows students to get help paying for the already affordable programs found with technical schools. In a dour economy and on a tight student budget, every cent counts. Shortened programs available through technical schools allow students to get into the work force quicker so that they may begin to establish a substantial income. Then it’s just a matter of motivation.

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Careers in Web Design

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:02:12 +0000

The Internet era has ushered in a whole segment of creative jobs that simply did not exist twenty years ago. One such career is that of a web designer. Careers in web design involve the creation of web pages, the content of which is intended to sell, inform or entertain.

Many web designers work in salaried, in-house positions in multi-media, advertising, marketing or other types of companies. Web designers enjoy being able to work in a creative, fun environment in the company of other web professionals.

Many more web designers work as freelancers. Freelance web designers enjoy the freedom of being able to work out of their home office as well as largely being able to set their own hours. However even freelance web designers may have to report to the office at times, either for a meeting or to work with an in-house web team.

Careers in web design are well suited for anyone with good tech skills and a firm grasp of both design and marketing principles. While web design can be creative and fun it can also be very high pressure. Web designers are responsible for bringing projects in on time and on budget.

Web design can also be a competitive field. However, there are many good opportunities available. Not only that but web design is fairly lucrative. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that job and income prospects for web designers are both above average.

Many aspiring web designers attain a 4-year degree or attend a technical trade school. Many are graduates of prestigious art and design schools. Due to the high number of bright, talented people attracted to web design careers; students would do well to participate in an internship program of one sort or another.

Mentoring programs are a kind of internship that can be particularly helpful. In mentoring programs students gain the opportunity to learn web design first hand in a real, working web environment, under the guidance of actual professional web designer.

Equally important to the valuable hands on experience students gain in such programs, is the chance to make contacts and connections necessary to getting a foot in the door of the web design business.

Unlike other media-centric jobs, web design has become a fairly decentralized profession. In the 21^st Century, any business that wants to remain competitive needs a website. Because of this it’s possible for a good web designer to find work practically anywhere.

If you have artistic talent, technical and marketing savvy, as well as a drive to succeed than a career in web design might be for you.

Is a Degree Worth Getting when Pursuing a Career in Media/Arts?

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:52:48 +0000

You know the end of your favorite film? The one you’ve watched a million times and always smile when they get to that special scene, that climactic scene, right at the end…? That one.

Where do you think it started? It started at the beginning of the film. The filmmakers crafted, built and brought you along on that journey which made the ending pay off that much more. They did the work.

Let’s look at the question again…is a degree worth getting when pursuing a career in media/arts?

Thinking about the question the same way you think about your favorite movie. Sure, you could wing it and hope that the audience gets it at the end. Or, you could put in the work, the sacrifice, at the beginning of the movie of your life, or your career, and guarantee that it pays off in the end.

They are serious questions. There are tons of good reasons to not get an education. But, how serious are you about your dream? Do I go for it now? Or do I get the education I need to do it properly? Do I just wing it, or do I earn the tools I need to enter the world of media/arts properly prepared to kick some alien ass?! Because that’s what we’re talking about…setting your goals and attaining it. Writing the screenplay of your life and making it come to life. A career in media/arts, whether you are a writer, a director, a producer or a marketing whiz, starts with what you know. That’s what you get paid for…what you know, how you think and how you execute on your dream. Sure, you could wing it and go it on your own. Lots of people do. And it surely doesn’t make you any less of a creative mind to go that route. But in today’s hyper-competitive world, getting the right education while you attack your dream will only make the end of your movie that much more gripping and makes a degree worth getting when pursuing a career in media/arts.

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Art School

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:47:17 +0000

Art school is a colloquial term for any educational institution (whether elementary, secondary, post-secondary/undergraduate, or graduate/postgraduate) with a primary focus on the visual arts, especially graphic design, illustration, painting, photography, and sculpture. They are distinguished from larger institutions which may also offer majors or degrees in the visual arts, but only as one part of a broad-based range of programs (such as the liberal arts and sciences).

France’s École des Beaux-Arts is perhaps the first model for such organized instruction, breaking with a tradition of master/apprentice instruction. If accredited as a college, most art schools grant a Bachelor of Fine Arts, B.A. or B.S. degree. Associates degrees and professional diploma programs are common as well. In recent years a number of art schools have begun to offer some or all of their curricula online, which by nature transcends national boundaries. When online courses require production of traditional drawings or other such materials, they are usually photographed or scanned for submission and review by instructors.

Art education is the area of learning that is based upon the visual, tangible arts—drawing, painting, sculpture, and design in jewelry, pottery, weaving, fabrics, etc and design applied to more practical fields such as commercial graphics and home furnishings. Latest trends also include photography, video, film, design, computer art, etc. Within art schools “visual arts education” encompasses all the visual and performing arts delivered in a standards-based, sequential approach by a qualified instructor as part of the core curriculum. Its core is the study of inseparable artistic and aesthetic experience and learning. Finding the right art school is a very individual decision. Everyone has their own approach to learning, their own ideas of what makes a school appealing (or not), and their own extracurricular priorities and considerations.

Your own personal approach is going to determine the path that’s best for you. One of the biggest questions you need to answer when considering your path to an art education is what you hope to do with your skills when you’re done. Will you be a full-time artist? Will it be a part-time job? A hobby? If you want to study art for your own personal enjoyment, maybe you don’t need a degree – though you may want to take a class or two to broaden your awareness of the particular area or aspect of art that interests you. Learn the technique, the vocabulary, the best tools, and then continue on your own. On the other hand, if you are looking to make a living at it, extensive training is almost always required. Sure, raw talent may get you places, and if your work is good, credentials may not matter to a buyer. But in a wide world of art, you’re more likely to make your mark if you learn from those who have gone before you at art school.

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