Are there any art schools that focus on teaching its students digital painting skills with the ultimate goal of producing concept artists and illustrators for the game and film industry?
To explain myself more:There are a lot of good art schools around the world. But, what’s their purpose? I’ve heard a lot of people who wanted to learn how to draw/paint and they didn’t learn that in art schools. Instead, these schools teached them “what art really is”.I’ve heard people complain about how their schools only teached them art concepts (what is art, why, and such) and didn’t even developed their art skills. Some other people complain about how they learnt to paint, but in a way that was satisfactory for the actual art market, and any other thing they did was not good or was ignored/discarded.So, what I understand is that there is an inustry of art, where concept artists and illustrators go to find jobs, helping to create videogames, films and books, and then there is an art market, in which I would include the Fine Arts stuff. Expositions of paintings where people spend 10 minutes looking at a pure white picture, okay.Of course I am very interested in the first industry. To be a concept artist is something I really would like to have the opportunity to try as a job one day. So, listening to all of these complaints, and seeing how many, many people that work in this games&films indutry are practically self taught, I’ve always wondered if there really are art schools that teach you the art skills necessary to really be a part of that industry.I’m talking about skills like these, to put an example (yeah, I have high expectations…)(image by the artist exitmothership)Which schools would be good examples of this? Are there schools like these in Europe?
What are some career paths/jobs that combine computer engineering and art?
Well, I picked up a minor in art while doing my BS, so... it's kinda doable. At least on the education side. I was lucky, Rice University had a distribution system that required one to take courses in 5 of 6 areas with four courses per each of the three divisions (each of which had two areas). So I doubled up on art versus languages. (I also took a ton of art and history of art in grad school, to the vast annoyance of my advisor, but that's a separate topic).If I had to do that in a school which had specific course requirements, it would have been harder - I would have probably had like 142 hours versus 134. But I would still likely have done it.I immediately think of anything having to do with digital imaging - that ranges from games to medical imaging to motion picture effects. Game design is NOT in this picture; that's a whole different (and equally fascinating) topic, but making realistic graphics happen in real time in games involved epic programming, deep knowledge of many areas of theoretical computer science, and is full of arty stuff. (and BTW, you should be following Glyn Williams, and reading his back-posts, if this stuff is of interest to you).That's long-term end-game stuff, though, for the most part. You said "entering college" which I assume to mean you've already decided where you're going. You've already cut out a lot of possible options that you'll have to work around as you go.For instance, there's the Computer Graphics and Visualization program at Rochester Institute of Technology which is very well thought of due to its highly technical focus but also having a ton of stuff drawing from their Graphic Design BFA program as well.You'll have to look at curricula like these and figure out how to jam that into the courses offered at your school. Don't be afraid to take five years instead of four to make it work.And also don't be afraid to roll up your sleeves and just write stuff on your own. That's always the best way to learn, by doing.Best of luck.
TFS (Tokyo Film Center School Of Arts)?
Does someone know something about this Film School? If it's a good one? And if not, do you know which are the best film schools in the world (not only from USA)?
Are there careers in art that don't involve actually painting, or at least don't require you to be good at art?
Thank you, George, for the compliment of the A2A.First, allow me to congratulate you on refusing to contribute to the vast quantity of crap art floating around in the world. On a personal level, I greatly appreciate that. I also understand it. I painted professionally for many years, and enjoyed it, but got to the point where - in order to keep growing as an artist - I would have to have become more self-revelatory than I was prepared to be. By my standards, that condemned me to mediocrity. So I quit painting. I was selling every painting I made, and this made my representing galleries quite unhappy, but I knew I was stuck and could go no further. I had made a nice living making decent paintings, and I enjoyed it. I learned from it; I progressed; they were of good quality, and did not embarrass me, then or now. But I knew the next steps were beyond me. They still are. I lacked the courage. Therefore I made a decision. There is no point sending art out of your studio of which you cannot be proud, or at least satisfied. I turned to the business of art. I built my (former) husband's career (he is a remarkable artist), I have had an art gallery for over three decades now. I consult to artists and to other galleries, I speak and write about art. So yes, there are other avenues. One can work in a gallery, or a museum. There are many businesses that are affiliated with art - framing, shipping, insuring, curating, appraising, restoring, cataloguing, selling. Some of these - especially selling - can be very well compensated. Others are not, and some are menial. Some people get regular jobs and then volunteer as docents in museums to keep their passion alive. But there are a great many options. You have to explore what your particular talents are, and what opportunities exist where you live. Or, are you willing to relocate? Certainly, the maximum possibilities will be found in art centers such as London, New York or Los Angeles. Many of the fields in art require some small backround in art history and then can be learned "on the job". The field is quite flexible in that way. But if you are determined, you will surely find a way. It is a field built on the determined passions of its lovers and it seems to always find room for more.
Naval Careers: Arts and Photography?
I was a recruiter for the Navy, and I am not a disabled retired Navy Veteran. There is only about 1 in 10,000 people in the Navy that have anything to do with Art or Photography as part of their job specialty. If you really want to join, make sure you get a guarantee from the people at the processing center (not the recruiter). That still only means you will be given the chance to attend the school, and if you pass the school within the accepted amount of time, with the minimum grade, then you will be one of the very few. That means you will or at least can be one of the Navy photographers to cover the war zone. The Navy has been putting their people on the ground. So you may be covering photos in the active infantry war zone, not on a ship miles away from the rifle fire. So if you still think this is for you, talk to the detailer at the processing center, and be ready to wait for a seat in the school.
Should I take an arts major even though I am not good in it?
There must be some reason you are considering this or you would not have asked the question. However, you don’t explain that reasoning.In general, one should never pursue a major that is not liked, or for which one has no talent. You are spending time and resources to master that major, and presumably to have a career in it. If you don’t like it or aren’t good at it, then it increases the likelihood you are going to be unhappy after graduation — and quite probably, have difficulties pursuing that major in school.Perhaps in this case you really like art — it calls to you in some way — but you aren’t good as an artist. If that is the issue, explore majors around art that perhaps involve things where you do have talent: art history, restoration, art education, graphic design, museum administration, animation, computer-assisted art… You could also look at taking a fine arts minor or double major in conjunction with something you are better able to do that you also like.Talent in art can be developed, some, but it may take time, and even then some people can only develop so far. If you are thinking of making art as a future, consider getting your degree in something where you have talent, you like the work, and you can see a near-term career. Then, pursue art on your own time as an intense hobby. Practice, learn, and develop. Visit shows and museums. Build your own collection. Sponsor other artists. Volunteer at community centers to help kids or retirees explore their own artistic sense.You can “live” art in various ways. You don’t need to major in art to support it or appreciate it.But overall, it is your life. You need to pursue the path you think is best for you. i would simply suggest that there are more paths than you might initially think there are.
Can an associates degree in Studio Art (or fine art) lead to a good paying job?
Sure it can!…. but the degree itself isn’t what is going to get you through the door.Infact now-a-days companies will use computers to weed out anyone who doesn’t meet their minimum requirements — and in a lot of cases that means AA degrees.That doesn’t mean it is impossible — just more difficult.If you want to get a good job in commercial arts — you should focus on 2D and 3D design and both traditional and digital graphic design. These skills are requisite to jobs involving industrial design, concept art, graphic arts/design and contemporary digital arts — namely motion graphics animation.You career path will likely have a period of freelancing where you are working on your own — that freelancing leads to a full tim position based on the people you meet and work with.