Advice for more schooling

[zao75231]

Hello,

I'm a concept artist/illustrator and have been doing freelance and very little in house work for a video game and vfx company. I'm been doing freelance for 8 years now and I'm debating if I should get more schooling and this time in Illustration at the Academy of Art University. I got my Associates of Applied Arts at the Art Institute of Dallas and currently a online student at Full Sail University. I'm going for my BA in Game Art.

Do you guys think it would be a good idea to attend the Academy of Art online? I'm reading books on how to make my art better but I just can't help how much my art will be better with more schooling. On the other hand...there is that debt already roaming above my head, lol. The answer seems simple enough (don't take more schooling) but I would love to hear other opinions, ideas, feedback, experiences and all that jazz.

Look forward to your comments,
Rob

[dpaint]

Game Art degrees are bullshit, plain and simple. Anyone tells you different they are full of it. I am sick of looking at game art degree graduates who can't draw and paint; these schools should be prosecuted for fraud.

Find professional artists that are also good teachers like the guys at LAAFA and spend your money on something useful. They have online classes too, if you can't attend in person.

[zao75231]

Wow, awesome. Thanks!

[JeffX99]

Yeah...a BA in game art would be BS imho. I teach it but I've also done it for 20+ years...as has dpaint. There are some great schools...Academy is actually really good but in this case I wouldn't recommend. And I definitely wouldn't recommend the others you listed...unless they have some instructors with proven, quality industry experience.

My advice would be to buy a bunch of Gnomon DVDs, download some TAD stuff and maybe take a workshop or intensive, shorter duration classes somewhere like Red Engine Studios.

Basically you know what you need, you know what you're up to, just do it. Good luck!

[zao75231]

Thanks man, appreciate it. Yeah I didn't get into game art until I found this website back in 2004 and saw all the great artists on here and what type of stuff that they were creating. It's been 8 years now and still learning everything about the game industry how it's all just a bunch of bull shit, with layoffs and all. Realizing it will take a long time to better my skills and actually be where I want to be in my life. I'm 28 years old and I see a bunch of artist younger than me and doing better in life. I just get a bit jealous and envious. I know I shouldn't follow in other peoples footsteps, everyone haves different paths. My path is my own and I'll keep doing my best...I just need to do more of it, lol.