Best state school in Texas for art?

[The Grimace]

I'll begin by saying that I am absolutely limited to schools in Texas. I am in the Air Force, and part of my enlistment in Texas was free money for state schools for life. I would like to take advantage.

I would like to go to a school where people are more motivated and creative, willing to work together and go beyond the course curriculum. This is way more important to me than getting a degree.

I most want to do special effects work for documentaries, so any school that might be best geared for 3D rendering and animation/digital art would help. Even going to a school that is heavy into film would be nice for collaborating with people.

I do know that UNT has connections with Terminal Reality, who is now working on the new Ghostbuster's game, and that just makes me drool. I really don't want to go to UNT however...

Anyone who has any input, I would greatly appreciate to hear it. The work I've put into being set to go to school and have it paid for, has been 5 years in the making, and I want to do it right.


EDIT// Also I should note that I am stationed in Hawaii...which makes going out and visiting Texas colleges near impossible =(

[thesinfulsaint]

I don't think there are any art schools in Texas... That's not to say that there aren't state universities with special effects programs. A friend of mine who's from the Dallas area tells me that there are schools that will teach you that information, but they are not based heavily on art.

If you can afford it, you might want to check out Ringling's CA program. There are quite a few Texans here because it's just about the closest art school.

[Bubs]

I hear Sam Houston has a decent animation and art program, if you're around that area. Take in mind that compared to the rest of the schools in the country, you could do much better, but I hear that the animation degree is pretty good, and they even keep in touch with the industry. Look for a figure/life drawing class taught by a teacher named Viser: He was my drawing II teacher this semester, and man he is one fantastic teacher. The kind that will push you far past your limits.

Other than that I hear Austin is an alright place for art as well.

[Gozza]

I go to Sam Houston, and yes you can do much better. You wont learn many technical skills because every professor is heavily into concept. The animation program is awesome, but it geared specifically for game animation. It's lead by David Dawson, who is a fantastic teacher and will push you past your limits, but it's worth it. He's pretty relaxed and if you don't want to work on games he'll give you other projects to work on. If you have any more questions just PM me.

[The Grimace]

Thanks all! That's very helpful information, I hadn't even looked at Sam Houston. Game animation isn't quite what I'm looking for, but I really think I could learn a lot of what I want to know from it. Especially now that it is moving more toward film level quality.

I will get about 40 grand I can use anywhere in the country, but I would wind up using so much of that for out of state tuition. I hear a lot of good things about Ringling. I'll need to check into what that would cost, but if anyone has any cost information about Ringling, that would be great!

Thanks again all!

[Andrew Marks]

The only good art school in Texas that even looks appealing is that Gemini school in Austin and thats private and cost a arm and a leg. If you really wanted to get all you can get from an art school. I would suggest going to an art school where a great majority of artist are such as The Academy of art University in San Francisco, CA or Ringlings in Sarasota, Fl. There are alot of schools out there, you just have to look for them. I would suggest judge the school by thier professor's and student's works.

[Maxine Schacker]

If you have a company in mind that you want to work for, get in touch with them and ask them what skill base they are looking for. Special effects for documentaries? I have no idea how deep your fine art training needs to go. Just what is it you'd be doing?

[ZaFort]

There are Art Institute Schools in both Dallas and Houston. I've seen in the paper they're opening one in Austin in 2008.

http://www.artinstitutes.edu/CampusL...s/Default.aspx