Is TAD unattainable? (aka. quality education)

**cmkinusn** · June 28th, 2011, 04:57 PM

I am a sailor in the Navy and for the longest time I was looking, before I joined, for a school to learn art from the basics like the foundations degree program. I ended up joining due to economic hardships waiting for me to step out of high school. (no jobs, no affordable schools, nothing) I finally gave up after joining the navy and signed up for fullsail's online Game Art course. Now, I realize this is a big mistake, but what can I really do if I want any hope of learning the trade?

The TAD program, even for military members, is impossible to join without one of three things: lot of credit, incredible artistic skill already (scholarships), or lots of money. I could easily afford a payment program of maybe 250 dollars a month or even 300, but 500 a month is just completely out of reach!

And this all for just the foundations program, not even entertainment or entertainment 3d which are what I would need to get into the business. I talked to Destiny Green and all she could do is apologize for the education being so hard to afford. I cant even get the military to cover it will tuition assistance or even my GI bill, because its not accredited.

I dont care about accreditation or degrees, if there is a way to afford this program I will take it.

ps. my mom and dad have terrible credit, I have only just started mine, and the rest of my family will likely be just as unwilling if all I could get is an unsecured loan...just imagine the interest rates!

**Black Spot** · July 2nd, 2011, 07:57 AM

I would suggest working your butt off using the free information on this site and get up to scholarship level.

There are also downloadable videos etc you can purchase - next forum down.

**cmkinusn** · July 2nd, 2011, 08:08 PM

Oh yes, I found the downloadable videos and they are great. Im just dissapointed that such a great education is so far off for a budding artist. Though the more I look around (CGsociety workshops and their extensive list of dvd tutorials, downloadable tutorials from TAD.org, and other wonderful resources) the less I feel like im completely helpless without this education. What are some other great sites for online workshops, downloadable videos, etc?

**I-Z** · July 3rd, 2011, 11:48 AM

Hi, theres some good tutorials on Feng Zhu's youtube channel, though I think a lot of them are suited more to someone with a good grasp on the fundamentals

For learning basics and fundamentals I found the gnomon workshop dvds very useful these ones in particular for me:
Feng zhu -Environments
Scott Robertson- Perspective
ID rendering
Mark Goerner - Rendering interiors

Personally I prefer learning these in a class environment (feedback, friendly competition etc) but its top quality knowledge at a fraction of the price, plus you can take you're time and keep going back to it,

hope I helped!

**cmkinusn** · July 3rd, 2011, 04:39 PM

Gnomon Workshop has to be the very best of any resources I have seen. I am going to be looking into the their subscription for the tutorials on their website, those tutorials look absolutely amazing from the sample videos for each I saw. Any opinions on that subscription?

**JakehC** · July 3rd, 2011, 10:55 PM

By the time you get to scholarship level you prolly wont need TAD. =/

Maybe you should look at signing up up for Illustration Academy's VLP program. You will be learning from pretty much the same people providing pretty much the same content.

Its only about 500$ a year. And you could supplement it with some life drawing workshops. And you should be fine. Do that for about 3 years and you'll be doing well.

**cmkinusn** · July 4th, 2011, 11:36 AM

Hmm...so grab VLC, get the Gnomon Tutorial Subscription, and take some life-drawing workshops. That sounds so much cheaper than getting an education at a full-on university.

I will probably start that next year or so just because money is tight, but that is such an amazing idea. Thank you guys, its appreciated!

**Thyname** · July 11th, 2011, 06:52 PM

Hey cmk. My name is Evan Norman and I am attending TAD and I am just about to enter into my 3rd semester. I am in the first class of TAD and I had to solve that very problem you are facing.

Honestly, no reason to beat around the bush. TAD is different from other schools and it is much cheaper in total but it is expensive to attending DURING your education. Every other education is deferred.

I would also look into the Illustration academy. It is a program that is run by the illustration side of TAD and while it doesn't apply directly to entertainment, it has some of the best knowledge about picture making that money can buy. I would look into local figure sessions and many other things.

I can say this. Personally, I think TAD is the best education out there but if you really have the burning desire to make great art, then nothing and I mean nothing will stand in your way. I believe Jason moved to alaska to work on fishing boats to earn the money to go to art school. And I don't mean that money will stop being a problem if you have the will, I mean that no obstacle will not be overcome.

Just keep swimming,
-evan

**Pavel Sokov** · July 11th, 2011, 07:49 PM

Originally Posted by Aryeh

By the time you get to scholarship level you prolly wont need TAD. =/

Maybe you should look at signing up up for Illustration Academy's VLP program. You will be learning from pretty much the same people providing pretty much the same content.

Its only about 500$ a year. And you could supplement it with some life drawing workshops. And you should be fine. Do that for about 3 years and you'll be doing well.

a 500$ a year program? I am confused, can you send me a link? Whats the catch?

**Jason Manley** · July 12th, 2011, 12:35 AM

Originally Posted by cmkinusn

Oh yes, I found the downloadable videos and they are great. Im just dissapointed that such a great education is so far off for a budding artist. Though the more I look around (CGsociety workshops and their extensive list of dvd tutorials, downloadable tutorials from TAD.org, and other wonderful resources) the less I feel like im completely helpless without this education. What are some other great sites for online workshops, downloadable videos, etc?

I know the feeling. Before building all the download and educational programs for CA, and back when I was in school there was nothing. I had to pay six figures to go to art school. TAD has cut the total cost of education to 1/3 the price of the big art schools, and CA has provided a ton of resources including TAD's visual literacy program being there thanks to the Illustration Academy. www.visualliteracyprogram.com

The option of going to a big art school and taking out all the loans can leave a student with up to 1k a month or more in payments for loans. Indentured servitude is what it amounts to. TAD is tough with the 500 a month plan but most our students are doing that, including some who work full time, have cut any and all wasteful costs from their living, and go at it that way.

There is an option...start by taking two classes. If 250 a month works for you then take two foundations classes and put your heart and soul into them. I am absolutely positive that you will have great info to improve your work and grow toward your goals that way.

There are more opportunities for you to learn now than EVER before in art history. Which ones you choose are up to you. I wish you luck and will look forward to working with you if you choose TAD.

Jason Manley

**Pavel Sokov** · July 14th, 2011, 11:53 AM

I am personally still very put off by the idea of online education. We cant have a live model, the faculty can't really come up to me and teach me how to measure objects using my pencil, or how to even hold the thing right. (I am taking some art classes on the side of my marketing degree and finding out that I have no idea how to use a pencil after all these years painting digitally).

I just have a hard time imagining how personal attention would work on an online chat room type setting.

**Jason Manley** · July 15th, 2011, 04:38 AM

Originally Posted by Pavel Sokov

I am personally still very put off by the idea of online education. We cant have a live model, the faculty can't really come up to me and teach me how to measure objects using my pencil, or how to even hold the thing right. (I am taking some art classes on the side of my marketing degree and finding out that I have no idea how to use a pencil after all these years painting digitally).

I just have a hard time imagining how personal attention would work on an online chat room type setting.

Ask the students who are growing at such great pace. They will tell you the truth.

In ways the system we use here is better than in person because we crit nearly every piece of art. You are not going to have a live model when you hit the career world, especially in entertainment.

At TAD we give more demos in a month than I got in a year in art school elsewhere. Live photoshop. Live traditional. Live Maya/Max/Zbrush. Live Painter. The works.

The best thing you can do is ask the other TAD students though. Though the proof is in the student work. I would suggest speaking to to Jon Neimeister or Evan Norman or Nate Abell or Kirsten Zirngibl or any of the other students who have been through the first or second semester of information gauntlets. If you can keep up with this program you can keep up in the professional world.

Best,

Jason