This fall thousands of students, many of them artistically inclined, are going back to the classroom – and many of them are looking ahead to college. Often, a major question looms: Should I go to art school? There are so many options to pursue art as a career: teaching oneself, studying part-time at a community college, studying art at a traditional college, going to art school, or even going to an atelier or apprenticeship route.
Over the years, we've interviewed countless working artists about their creative journeys. One question we almost always ask is their opinion about art school. Many of them went to art school, but some didn't. Some loved their art school experience, and some regretted it. Some wished they had gone to art school, and some are glad they didn't.
Whether or not to go to art school is a difficult question, and not just because it can often be expensive. Below, we've collected a handful of opinions from artists we've interviewed over the years. If you're asking yourself this question, then maybe their insight can help you make a decision!
Carolina Peláez: "College is a place of expansion and openness to possibilities."
"I do believe that college is a place of expansion and openness to the possibilities that exist in the real world of creativity," says illustrator Carolina Peláez. She loved learning, and having a supportive, structured place to do that. "In my case, I’ve greatly valued the support, professional seriousness, and knowledge I’ve received from past teachers. I was always aware that I was the one who enjoyed acquiring that knowledge and saw creative potential in that information."
That being said, experience is a better teacher than instruction, she says: "On the other hand, I do believe that we should take charge of our learning and expertise, nurturing our skills and interests in a self-taught way, with discipline. I think that’s what makes the difference between a very good artist at what they do; they have surely dedicated a lot of time to studying and practicing their craft. Some knowledge is not acquired in college, but through experience."
Kevin Cortez: "School was essential to my journey."
Graphic Designer Kevin Cortez didn't feel like there were many opportunities to get into art in his hometown, so school helped expand his opportunities. "Well, school was essential to my journey because it gave me a community I didn’t have before. In my hometown of Rialto, CA, there aren’t many avenues to creative careers that aren’t gigs on the side after your 9-5. While many people find success that way, I knew I wanted to dive headfirst into this industry and learn from people who have spent their entire careers dedicated to art and design. School gave me the opportunity to be surrounded by like-minded people, and it put me in Los Angeles. Suddenly, I could find inspiration just by walking outside. So I guess I’d recommend schooling to someone who has yet to find access to these things."
That being said, he choose to go to a four-year college, rather than an art-specific school, because they wanted to have career options just in case art and design didn't work out: "I chose a more traditional state school because it seemed less risky to me, but I know that’s my own conditioned thinking. Everyone’s journey to school is different, and while I don’t think anyone needs school to be a designer, I know it informs every fiber of my creative process to this day."
Ashley Nichols: "I [wasn't] learning anything that I couldn’t [learn] on my own."
In contrast, Ashley Nichols had a terrible art school experience. Some of that was because of larger circumstances with the specific school she attended, but she also felt like it wouldn't have been a good fit regardless: "Some of the best advice I have would be related to art school, and that is: You don’t need to go if you can’t afford it, [or if you can’t go to a good one]. It wasn’t necessary for me."
Her advice, though, is that while it wasn't for her, it could be good for others, especially because of the connections one can make in school. "[T]here is a lot to gain by going to art school, and that is the connections you make while you’re there. So if you can afford to go, I say go for it, because one of the best things you’ll get out of it is meeting peers who are going to help you along the way."
Yulissa Mendoza: "It’s important to not limit one’s thoughts on where knowledge can come from."
"I used to tell people that college was a waste of my time," says photographer Yulissa Mendoza, "but deep down it’s because I didn’t go out of my way or take the time to soak in and take part of all that my school had to offer ... As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to realize that I move the way I do because of my college experience. Those qualities are some of the things I admire most about myself, so now my answer is the complete opposite."
Mendoza studied cultural anthropology in college, not art. So while they didn't take photography or other art courses formally, they don't necessarily consider themselves self-taught: "I am a self-taught, but community made artist. What I mean by that is I’ve learned a lot of my skills by being a sponge and listening to what strangers and friends have to say, or even by offering a hand. I’ve learned and grown so much as an artist through others’ teachings, conversations, and everyday life. Art and its lessons can come from an institution, a video on a screen, or someone’s bedroom, and it’s important to not limit one’s thoughts on where knowledge can come from or by who can be teaching it."
Vera Brosgol: "If someone else can pick up your tuition bill ... go for it!"
Though she mostly works on children's books and graphic novels now, artist and author Vera Brosgol actually studied animation in college. "I went with animation because it seemed like one of the more practical art careers – if such a thing exists. It was pretty clear I was going to go into some kind of art field, but being able to support myself was really important to me ... animation appeared to be full of people with mortgages and health insurance and all the normal stuff, sheltered a bit by a big studio."
That was a career decision, with future finances in mind. But these days, financial considerations might send students in the other direction: "I think a decade or two ago, I’d have recommended art school, but things have changed so much I’m not sure I would anymore. Tuition’s so much more expensive than it was, the job market is unstable – even in animation – and being saddled with $150k in debt and an art degree seems unwise. But if someone else can pick up your tuition bill, by all means, go for it!"
Eunbi Kang: "I don't think there is a right way to study art ... [but] there are definitely wrong [ways]."
"I chose an art school because I wanted to learn firsthand the know-how of instructors working in the industry," says illustrator and visual development artist Eunbi Kang. "Even though I don’t think there is a right way to study art, I personally think there are definitely wrong study methods. So, I chose art school because I wanted to have a teacher who could directly give me feedback. Under a well-structured curriculum, instructors or my college friends could tell me more directly where to start or what my bad artistic habits might be." That's one major benefit of going to a good art school – getting feedback and instruction from expert, professional artists. While there are plenty of free art education resources online, there are a lot of bad art tutorials out there. And if someone teaches themselves bad habits, it can be very hard to break them later on.
"However, times have changed a lot," they continue. "I think we are living in an era where we can learn as much as we want as long as we follow the right study methods and schedule. The disadvantage of learning on your own is that you may learn the wrong methods on your own. Yet, if you are sure that you know exactly the direction and method you want, I think you can do it faster and more efficiently than anyone else [if you teach yourself]."
Gigi Murakami: "I don't think art school is a necessity."
"I think it’s really incredible how much information there is online for budding artists! It’s a great time. Had I been born a bit later, I think I might’ve skipped going to college and just invested in creator-run online courses," says manga artist Gigi Murakami. "I don’t think art school is a necessity. However, in the case of artists who live in rural areas or aren’t very self-motivated, I think art college can be a good way to jump start your skills and motivation, and it places you in an environment ripe for networking. It also depends on what you want to do in art as well. If you’re looking to be an employee of a studio or company, you will need a portfolio and a degree."
They weren't looking for that, though, necessarily. And while they went to an arts-focused high school, they didn't have the finances needed to go to art college. Murakami initially went to a state college, but was forced to drop out because of health concerns before they finished. "I was self-motivated (and lucky) enough to still push through," they said. And it ended up turning out for the best: "My career goals are more in line with creating my own studio and less with being an employee of a studio, so in my experience, no one has ever asked me for a resume or even an official portfolio tour when working together!"
Alexis Franklin: "I felt like I was wasting my time [in art school]."
"I did go to an art institute for a year and a half after high school," says artist Alexis Franklin. But because she'd been drawing since she was a small child, she didn't feel like it was the right fit. "I left because I felt like I was wasting my time. I wasn’t learning anything, but I was spending a lot of money ... I didn’t feel like I was learning, and I didn't like the environment."
After being forced into taking classes that she didn't feel were relevant to their interests, like 3D sculpting classes, she dropped out. That doesn't mean she thinks art school is always a waste of time and money – but it was for her: "I have nothing against art school. I only gave it one try. I just think the one I went to wasn’t a great choice for me. I would just go home and practice on my own."
Omar Gomet: "I always shock myself at how far I’ve come."
"When I started [art school], I was pretty confident in my skills as an artist, but couldn’t imagine the lengths that the program would take my art," says character designer Omar Gomet. "I wanted structure and to learn what was necessary to make me a better artist, and I feel like the Academy of Art did just that. I look back at my sketchbooks before my education I always shock myself at how far I’ve come."
One of the main benefits of art school is structure. If you're the type of person who can create structure for yourself, then maybe self-teaching is a good path. "When it comes to education, I don’t have a preference on how one learns it, all I can say is to know yourself as an individual and decide what is best for you. If you’re someone who can handle the responsibility of guiding yourself to learn, then do that. If you need a little bit more guidance and structure, then going to school is OK too. In this present day, there are so many ways and places creatives can go to learn, which is absolutely great as the choice is yours."
Joshua Leonard: "Colleges will not teach you how to draw."
"I actually went back to school when I was 34 years old," says artist and animator Joshua Leonard. "[This] actually helped me, because I was laser-focused. I was a full time student, and had a full time job at the time. I got off work at midnight and would stay up until 3:00-4:00am doing homework and animation." While college can provide structure, it's really up to the student to commit to putting in the work. For Leonard, it was better to wait until he was a bit older, more mature, and had more experience under his belt.
"I think students should really understand that, more than anything, colleges will not teach you how to draw." he says. "They expect you to already know! I have an extensive illustration background, but I didn’t know how to animate, storyboard, character design, or develop characters, so that’s really the reason I went to an art school."
While it was very useful for him, because he wanted to learn specific skills, does he recommend art school for aspiring artists? "I don’t think so. Most of the studios that I’ve ever worked at never required a degree from me. They saw my portfolio and word of mouth from other industry veterans."
Jenny Li: "I personally wouldn’t apply to art school again if I went back in time."
Jenny Li had a unique journey, in that she went to art school to study both art and music simultaneously. She had played piano for many years, and didn't want to decide between one or the other. So she would animate short films, and also compose the music for them. "There weren’t many options where I could pursue a focused education on both music and art at the same time at a conservatory level.
Looking back, though, I would say music school was much more worth it than art school was, and even though I met lots of great people and made some amazing friends, I personally wouldn’t apply to art school again if I went back in time. It’s just so expensive, and there are so many great, affordable resources out there on the internet. Unless you benefit from being in a community or having a structure that can provide you with assignments and deadlines, I think self-teaching is absolutely the way to go when it comes to art.
Bonus: a couple more perspectives
In the post below, Marco Bucci discusses how he taught himself art, landed big clients, and created a career for himself without art school:
And in the post below, we interviewed a few artists specifically about their art school experiences, and went in-depth about their thoughts:
