Great conversation. I went and studied art and visual communication at university at the young age of 52 and I agree with all of your comments. I do not feel that it gave me any advantage when it comes to being successful financially as during the entire course only 2 units focused on this. What it did give me was exposure to many mediums and forms, a much greater understanding of the history and how that interacted with the world, the ability to question everything to academics and my cohort where the feedback was considered and meaningful. This also gave me a greater mental plasticity in problem solving and in embracing investigative processes and this informed my lived practice totally. (In fact I would have to admit that my works prior to this where not overly informed or considered.) I also found a passion for art books, book binding and also achieved a major sequence of animation through my elective units. The animation taught me more about how objects interact and react to the environment and how to manipulate this to lead the viewer into a head space than any of my art subjects. So is university worth it? in my opinion, if you want to experience different views/ideas and be pushed out of your comfort zone albeit with a safety net definitely! If you believe it will give you the ability to make it in the financial side of this world? It is not the smoking gun! It will put you in the realm of people in that space however it is still up to the individual to put in the hard yards like any business. Hemingway I digress. Don't usually put this much into a comment. Love your work and how you approach it Jono. Thanx for sharing. Cheers
@@wanderlustaesthete4117 hey grammar Nazi : Learnt and learned are both used as the past participle and past tense of the verb to learn. Learned is the generally accepted spelling in the United States and Canada, while the rest of the English-speaking world seems to prefer learnt.
i am in my second year of a BFA of Fine Art so i thought I would put in my 2 cents. I had the preconception when i entered art school that they would teach me how to draw, how to paint. Technical skills like shading, foreshortening, perspective, anatomy etc. To an extent it does, but not to the extent i thought it would. There are videos on youtube that have the same information I have learnt, and they are free. What art school gives you is less a step - by - step education on how to draw and paint, but more guidance on what is or isnt working in that individual piece. Which I find faulty, because there are only so many skills you can learn in the short period of doing a single work, that can be addressed. In terms of painting, i never feel like i was taught anything, it was just self directed. Which was surprising and kind of useless in a way. because you can just paint by yourself then. Access to nude models, guidance from teachers, taking to working artists, being in a community of like minded people are all good things. But if you are going with the intention to learn technical skills and leave art school being able to paint a classical painting and know anatomy to a T, then you may be disappointed. It is up to what you expect out of it that will determine your experience.
So interesting. I agree with all of the above. I sometimes wonder if technical skills aren’t taught because a lot of the professors lack them and are unable to teach it themselves.
I did architecture and I can say the same, they dont teach you how to do things, often because these technical skills change with time and some of the lecturers are in their 70s. You learn from each other and you learn from books. They teach you approach, they teach you to balance being too precious and being too quick - they teach you history of art and architecture and they teach you why something is good/bad. The main thing you learn is to compete with each other - essentially its a contained space to work hard, harder than you would work if you were at home. They are a voice of wisdom not a resource for tips and tricks.
That was my experience as well, except that the faculty I was dealing with was pretty nasty, which I hope wasn't the case for you. There's also the problem of having to focus on subjects that have nothing to do with what you want to study, so your attention is always being divided which leaves you with less time to develop your skills. I've come to the conclusion that Art Schools need to be set up like trade schools, where the focus would be on developing artistic and business skills rather than "individual expression" and becoming a "well - rounded" person - whatever that means.
I studied product design and sold art on the side.. I applied all the thinking that we were taught in the design school to my art works and learned all the technical skills off TH-cam and from years of public evening art sessions. I really and truly believe that the opinions of lecturers on my art would have killed the passion completely. I found the free communal resources around me not only taught me everything I needed to know, but also allowed me to freely evolve my style.. and I hate to say it but every art dealer I speak to is always so happy to hear I didn’t study at any local institution, that says it all.
I graduated from art school in 2002, with a degree in Fine Art. My college was a good place to go, but it completely lacked any tuition in how to actually run an art business. I graduated, painted by myself for about 3 years and then quit. 17 years later, I'm only now starting back up again. Here's my take on the pros and cons of art school education: Pros: you'll be in the perfect environment which is conducive to channeling and crystalising your creativity. It's a unique place where you'll have access to all sorts of equipment and cheap tools/materials. Everyone around you is working in the same direction, it's inspiring and energising. You'll have access to someone who can guide you and support you, give you pointers. If you're lucky you might be able to travel (I went to New York). It gives you a large block of time to explore, experiment, fail, try again etc. I was lucky in that I didn't have to work at a job at the same time. It teaches you how to talk about your work, how to give and receive critique. Cons: Degree-level art education (at least where I went) doesn't seem to really focus on technique, such as teaching you classical subjects of art like anatomy and perspective. It's very expensive, in my opinion, especially for what you get. I've heard many artists say they weren't taught anything about the business/financial side from their college. For example, where I went, there was no instruction or help about how to actually sell your work, which to me is a huge failing on the part of the college. I think these days an art education at college or uni is really not essential to becoming an artist. In terms of technique, you can learn pretty much everything you need to learn from TH-cam, online tutorials, books and self-learning. If I could go back to 1998 and revisit myself, when I was making the decision to go, I'd say it really isn't worth it financially. It was a great time and I had a lot of fun and enjoyed the freedom and life experience it gave, but the debt it left behind isn't worth it.
There was a time, about a year or two ago. When I was deciding on going to study Art. To add to my portfolio and gain some added experience. Money became a constrain, so I decided to focus my financial energy on building my portfolio in going for exhibitions and utilising social media. Thank you Jono for this amazing video
Hi Jono, I totally agree with you. It is never too late to make a pivotal decision on whether to art or not art. For 33 years I was a counselor for one of the largest cities in Virginia...serving individuals with mental health disorders. After several months of burn out I decided to turn my focus back to my first love and passion....which was and still is the Fine Arts...specifically drawing. Your story and passion inspired me to start drawing again. I practiced and practiced daily for a year and then met with a publisher. I showed him some of my drawings and now I am drawing for authors. And yes You Tube is a great way to start learning new skills ...you can learn drawing to marketing to running a business. So Thank YOU Jono Dry for inspiring me to look beyond.
I just graduated art school and I gotta say it's worth it if you make it worth it. At some point we had to do internships and I managed to one as a yacht designer. Then after the study I landed a job there and I get to travel across the globe to do what I love. The study gave me the opportunity but it's all about takes those and getting the best out of it
I have learned much more from TH-cam than I have from an art class I took. Best drawing advice I ever received was from Dry. "Its not about applying the graphite. It's about applying it and moving it around"
I thought art school was a must to become an artist, now I now that it is not about the path you decide,but where it's heading. THANKS Jono,you opened my eyes to a topic that made me feel weird for a long time.By the way BIG fan
I was an actor from grade 7 through 12. Additionally, I graduated high school in 1982, and I was elected class artist by my school's graduating class. I wanted very much to go to art school, but I could not afford it. I tried making money from my art on the side while working a full time labor occupation. Then in 1984, I received an apprenticeship as a graphic artist for a very large advertising company. I worked 10 years for that company, and during that time the entire industry made an enormous paradigm shift from using traditional methods such as paste-up to digital. As such, the company that I had worked for made the switch to digital around 1989, and so I learned digital graphic design through on-the-job training and the internet. Then in 1996, I began running my own graphic design and web design business after teaching myself html (yes, I first began building websites by typing html code using Windows Notebook). In time I switched to using various web design programs such as Microsoft Frontpage and Adobe Dreamweaver. Things are so very much different now than when I first began back in the early 80s!
Even though your videos don't apply to my life or my hobbies, it always makes me so happy to see you producing stuff. To see how far you've come and to see the degree to which you have pursued passionate work always makes me a little emotional. I know we haven't spoken in years and my feelings don't factor into your life but I feel compelled to say I'm proud of you and I hope you receive all the recognition you deserve
Hey Jono! Thanks for the awesome video! I also decided not to go to art school, deciding that I didn't have to study to pursue my art. In the background while working at my full time job I managed to gather a small amount of success with my art over the last 10 years. While it is definitely possible to learn on your own, there is something about feedback from somebody knowledgeable that can help you prevent your own self-feedback loop. They can tell you what is good when you think it's bad, they can also tell you what is bad when you think it is good. I think that level of constructive criticism is something artists who don't go to school may struggle with (not having a network of peers) or struggle against (taking feedback quite hard).
Good question. My own experience is that the majority of art schools really do little but - teach theory that may (or may not) serve the artist interests. And - they are rather expensive for what they provide. I saw one artist who had considerable talent before the schooling, and her art after it was (in my opinion) far behind her actual talent shown before. Buyer beware.
This is very relatable. I didn't feel like I got what I anticipated or hoped for from Art school (for photography). Everything I "learned" in school, I had already learned from the books I read and the experience from doing shoots prior going to school. For me, it was a waste of money. I can see how it could work for someone who needs the structure and/or discipline. If you can do a mentorship/ apprenticeship with a few different experienced artists, you'll learn so much more and save a lot of money. There are so many great online resources now.
It’s so true. I went to art school and they don’t teach you technical skills, they don’t teach you business or branding and you don’t really get exposure to industry. Essentially it’s just a few years of figure out what your discipline is and make art and be prepared to have strips ripped off you during critique. So, it taught me to have a thick skin. That’s it.
Personally I think this question is completely arbitrary. It's all so relative and unique to the individual artist. I could say the same thing about the path I took - If I didn't go to school for wildlife biology which led me to more time spent outside and a greater understanding of our environment, I would have never learned to create the work I do today. In the end, the most important thing is to follow your passion and create passionately around whatever that is for you. It might be found in art school or might be found during an internship for something totally unrelated. The desire to create is best fueled by your own personal interests imo.
The biggest problem I had with university was they never taught you anything about business & how to be a working artist, I found the whole experience very stifling and harmful to my art, I am also a graphite artist but the university I attended never saw drawing as an art form. They were more interested in the students copying the trends of the time rather than developing your own skills. It became about playing the percentages & grades rather than the art itself. Which wad a shame Needless to say I lost my enthusiasm for art for nearly 20 years. I'm working again now but if anyone is thinking about further education in art research very carefully where you want to study and make sure it suits you so you get the most out of it, remember try to have a long term plan.
Great video. You're right the debate about whether to go to art school or not is kind of subjective. I was Self-taught. I didn't go right after high school either. I was 24 when I went to art college, and I don't regret it. I got a lot exposure. I went for illustration, but I found a love your sculpture as well and sequential narrative. I learn some of the business side of illustration, how to present myself, give and take criticism. I went to MCA in Memphis. It was sadly close down during the pandemic. The building still stands though. Easy to find it online. I agree with everything in this video.
As someone who went to art school, unless you have the time and money and want that on your CV, or you're looking to work in a field/company that requires one, I say no. If you're into creating, you can learn the basics and even mid to advanced tecniques through smaller courses, both online and in schools. And I've found that in the art world, your education is becoming less and less relevant, your body of work and who you connect with over that will have a much bigger influence on how you succeed. That said, some places still take education very seriously, and if you happen to be one of those people, go ahead!
i've been in art school only i think 4 years then kicked me out for some reason, in my opinion art school don't really teaches me anything, the teacher only tells me what to draw or not to do, it's about pratcising and understanding how art works and find your own medium and comfort zone in art skills. after art school of not graduating, i'm still learning and learned more myself, my own artstyle than art school. :)
This is such an important video. I started as “self taught” but then I plateaued and needed that structure to guide me. I found a private art school here in South Florida called De Vita Academy of Arts and What’s different about this school is that it’s all about art. It’s not cheap however I have grown by leaps and bounds. Point is for me art school definitely is taking me further in my art skills than if I had continued on my own.
I did and wish I hadn’t. What you get out of it isn’t worth the expense at all. The things I’m glad I learned there were what art really is. The difference between aimless or utilitarian craft and intent and the realization of it in a chosen media combined with the reaction of the audience. It’s extremely difficult to be financially successful as an artist because the market is so saturated. Every kid that never did his homework in school thinks art is an easy way out- they call themselves artists yet flunk right out of art school. The “I wanna design video games” people.
Such a good video. No matter your age, or level, the nature of creativity is to grow. To continue to learn and change. Develope your unique self. Wherever you are in your journey, grow.
Iv never ben to art school but I did take art every year in school growing up. And I hav to say my best Teacher wasn't until high school. For example he Would hav us put are Desks in a big Circle and put a plant on a stool he sed open your mind and draw it the way you see it. He Aloud us to step out of the box .moste of the class did as thay seen it just because thay really didn't won't to be thar. But it was a ivy tipe plant. So I Drew the pot as a woman's face and the plant as the Hair. And I called it mother Nature. I love art but never took time to go to school for it because I got to do things my way At my own pace. Now I am 55 I do Chalk, charcoal, penci,l oil painting, acid etching, photography, computer art, Commercial art, advertising, and airbrush painting , iv made a good life for myself and my family. But with that being sed I'm still learnihow.. And I love your work and look forward to wats next
I learned art from my teacher for eight years,he told me so much about art 🥰 but i learned a whole new world about art from youtube ☺️ thank you for creating videos ✨
Hey guys I have done a BVA and it definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone. It definitely helped me with my art history but not so much in the skills that I wanted to learn, realism. I found it weird that I had to figure this out on my own while at art school. Although when I think about this conversation topic of art school vs no art school I cant help but think about Cesar Santos and his story of being 2/3 through a BVA and realised that the BVA wasn't teaching him what he wanted so stopped it and went to Angel Academy of Art in Florence, Italy. I found this story refreshing as Jon says nothing is permanent and Cesar Santos is just one example of that. I do think that art school has its merits but also getting 1:1 teaching is something great as well.
I’m a self taught artistic polymath and although the idea of being pushed beyond my comfort zone sounds thrilling beyond words, I only became a full time artist when I turned 53, so a bit old to be mixing it up with young college students. What has helped me immensely in my art career has been an online mentoring course that covers, among other areas, the business side of doing art as a living. It, in effect, took all the trial and error/guesswork out of the equation and in 3yrs I turned a profit, which is beyond my wildest dreams! Something that wasn’t covered in this look at art school and something we hear constantly in the mentoring course, is the testimonials of how art school crushed budding artists into laying down their artistic dreams for decades before picking them up again and finally realizing them. Harsh and uncaring critiques from professors and peers killed any sense of creativity they had-so sad. I’m involved in local art leagues and rub elbows with art school trained artists who can’t sell their work-mainly due to a lack of business training. I try and point them in a great direction, but they are unwilling. *Shrug* What more can one do? And just because I’m turning a profit doesn’t mean I’ve arrived-I feel I have much to learn, but I’m not in debt and my work pays for itself, which is more than many school-trained artists can say. Still, to be young and have the opportunity…
Unlearning and then relearning are such integral components of your tragetory as an artist. Art school does offer that but if you are ready to absorb it. In the end I suppose its also about your own journey and what you aim to become. Thank you Jono for making this amazing video.
I am mostly self-taught in Painting and drawing, though, I did 4 years in Graphic Arts/Technology. Basic Graphic Arts, to some extent, does help with Painting. Because I am terrible at Mathematics, I no longer involve myself in the field of Graphic Arts, a misdirection from my Secondary School's DeAndre, as I even told my former Dean that she had directed me in the wrong direction concerning my Art, and working with my hands, etc. I told her that all I ever wanted to do was my Paintings as a personal/career path. I never cared if I remained poor, as long as I had a roof over my head, and enough food....I'm happy with it. In Secondary School, I took up Technical Illustration, Independent Study Art in which all that the teacher did was show me how to stretch raw Canvas on my selected size frames, and priming the canvas in prep for painting.....then he brought two boxes of paints (Oil and Acrylic), and told me I am to have a go at it....rest was all self-taught. The teacher and other Students alike were impressed with my work. Did a few works in Oils, and a few in Acrylics. One Oil Painting won 1st place in the School's Art Contest.
Such an interesting and useful conversation to have right now and very well curated by Jono. I've been basically going at my tattoo/art studies independently but have been considering going to some formal art education program and this gives me so much to think about. Thank you!
I can relate to this, having this kind of problem is not easy that's why I always watch at yt artists that shares and teach what they learnt. It is essential to us who can't afford/take art schooling.
I totally agree with this video. It depends on the individual and their circumstances. I didn't go to the worse public schools, but a lot of my high school education was based on STEM education. I also did not own a computer and shared my mother's work laptop. I took high school art classes up to level 4, a digital design class, and was on the yearbook staff, but I barely knew anything about the art world/design. I would never have ended up in the career I have today without going to a university. I was exposed to so many different career options, I was given the space to craft my skills, and I had time to explore. However, the student loans and costs do suck. It is definitely not for everyone. If you are someone who can learn on their own, you have the skill, access to technology, and a space to learn, then a university may not be for you. Plus, there are so many fellowships, communities, apprenticeships, and boot camps that exist now that did not exist when I was going off to school in 2012. I say, find what works best for you. All are great options.
I loved art school, but it's just one of many components to building an artistic life. I think if you can find a way to go, it's totally worth it! You get access to more equipment/supplies, and different mediums as well. Critique groups at school can be really helpful, too.
I am self taught but work took over and I didn’t draw for 30 years but in retrospect I wish i’ed go to art school Never lost the love of art I suppose that’s just life drawing again so every cloud as a art lining happy days😎
Thank you, thank you! Great video. I love all the different opinions. This one goes under saved videos to watch again and to share with artist friends.
I think the perspectives presented in this video apply to most learning that takes place at university. I spent a lot of my life at university, both as a student and as an instructor. I had two options when going to university -- go to art school or go to engineering school. I ended up going into engineering but many of the comments in the video are as true for engineering as they are for art. Part of the problem, as I see it, is that universities present themselves as preparation for a vocation, but that has never really been the case. You may learn some technical skills along the way, but the biggest value of a university education is (1) exposure to things you would never have taken on personally and (2) learning how to think in structured ways. Both of these points were made in the video. I may be wrong, but this video sounds like it was only considering academic art schools. I would be interested to hear opinions about ataliers, which sound more vocational. I know that they are more technically oriented, but do they also provide better practical learning when it comes to being a professional artist?
No way! Self taught!!!! Your super human to be so amazing in your creations! I'm sorry I just am blown away. I can't ever think of art as work it's such a love there's no work needed for me but man I am so beginner your an inspiration to know I have a chance! Hehe thank you for always sharing!
There are a lot of really bad "Art Schools" out there and I say that from personal experience. I majored in painting when I went to university and the whole experience was so unrewarding that I stopped painting the day I graduated, and I haven't picked up a brush since. That was 38 years ago. My advice to anyone wanting to be an artist today is to avoid the rat - race of Art School and devote your time to watching You Tube videos on the subject. You'll learn more technical skills and save yourself an enormous amount of money as well as spare yourself the grief of departmental politics.
@@LofiMagick69 Honestly, not enough to actually do it. I don't even doodle anymore. But I really do enjoy watching videos of artists like Jono, Ed Swarez & Gerda Lipski doing their thing, so I guess there's maybe a tiny, glowing ember still burning under all the ash. I won't say "Never again", but I can't imagine ever being as dedicated as I was before going to art school.
After a rather long stint in the US Navy, I decided I wanted a university education. Thirty years ago I earned and was awarded a BFA from the Univ. of FL. During the five years I was there was a nascent conception circulating that a university education was supposed to prepare you for "business". Having already seen the "real world", I never bought into that idea. I liked the older idea that the purpose was solely academic, not about how to get a job later or make an "art business" or how to promote my work. If I wanted that I would have gotten a degree in business administration. The College of the Arts was a great mix of interesting people in a hotbed of creativity side by side with Masters candidates who wanted ultimately to teach art, art historians, and many distinguished professors concurrently producing and exhibiting their own art, like photographers Jerry Uelsmann and Evon Streetman and ceramic sculptor Nan Smith. You also mingled with people not just in art+art history, but the theater and dance school and school of music. Although I had an interest in photography, while there I developed a real love for intaglio printmaking. Of course, there was occasionally discussion in class about "why don't we learn the business side of art". One of the best reasons given by some of my professors was basically, "We're not here to teach you business, we're here to teach you how to think." I still think it's valid. When you're creating art, then in group settings critiquing it in an environment that's relatively "safe" you gain not only a thicker skin, but you also learn how to describe in words what it is you're trying to communicate with art. You learn from history, how it influences your work and how to assimilate it into your own, hopefully allowing it to be noteworthy and not simply derivative. Whether you're aim is to travel an art festival circuit, get into small area galleries or try to make a splash on the international scene, you better have a thick skin because art critics will pull no punches, nor your audience. And it helps to be able to talk about your work to help people understand it and your pov. Certainly these days you can learn many skills in this video format, but I think there's no substitution for the person to person interplay of a well rounded college art education. Well, that's my 2 cents for what it's worth.
I would love to have studied art or design. The curiosity in art and be able to go thrue "themes" during years, understand more about the backrounds in art or specefic painting and my backrounds as well. Also having the possebilities art school offers by trying new things, the room, the tools...step up my borders...get on edges overcome them or not. I really like diversety there is not only one thing I am hooked up with. Drawing, painting sculpture, collages, engraving, printing, writing, painting on silk, woodworking, digital arts, espcially the old craftman shift with modern possebilities and so on. It sounded for me like a wonderland, ad lleast in my head. I actually never tryed to get into art school, becouse I felt not good enough. I am living in a art school city, to become a member in that art school( every art school in Germany, I think) requieres an art portfolio. I was always like "na, they don't take someone as me, not enough drawing expierence, not enough acryl paintings and so on." A friend of mine tryed to get in and was not accepted. TH-cam was and is my teacher, and now I am diving a little bit deeper into my possebilities. I love the hughe variety. Art is how to see something and change it into something new (don't knew who said this, but I like it).
If you lack self-discipline, then yes, school is a good thing for you. If you are well disciplined, TH-cam is a great alternative plus no student loan debt. Tons of videos and education for free. One caveat of going to a school is seeing how other artists minds work and making lifelong friends, which can be beneficial when entering the job market. On a side note, no one will ever not hire you if you have a college degree or not, it comes down to if you can produce beautiful art. I heard this over and over from my instructors and again when entering post-graduation employment. Never once was I asked about my education or what school I attended. Just my two cents.
Hi Jono formost thank you for always being super transparent in your videos. You are a teacher in my eyes . If you one day decide to retire pencil art I am nonetheless still eager to have insight of your life experiences. Thank you for being so humble giving us insights of how a life of quality experiences is lived.
I have a BFA. Massive student loan that I've almost paid off from a decade of full time work. Had a great time, learnt alot and paved a way for me to become successful as an adult and earn excellent money being a teacher... However, I don't think I'd recommend this path to my kids. I think hard work and creativity or problem solving will suffice, especially with all the free access to amazing artist's and ideas from the internet.
I'm just a budding artist from India. My reason for not joining an Art institution primarily was the cost. The fees weren't really feasible for my family. Additionally my family isn't all that supportive of my work so asking to learn art was not an option. They feel art is just a hobby and you can't earn anything from it. I had good drawing skills and I pretty much self-learned and I have improved so much by myself. Another reason I realised along the way why not to join art school is that not all have the same level of skills. There will be many more who will be a lot better than you that is kinda intimidating and negatively motivates you knowing that you still aren't good enough despite your struggles. Self-learning in this case was very much better because the only person I was comparing me was myself and I saw myself growing and improving. And watching people making and teaching artworks also gave me a goal of how I would want my artwork to be. The only downside was as shown in this video where you can get exposure to a lot more technical and art-related knowledge in an institution which you can't get it on your own.
Hi, Jono, how're u doing? Totally, totally i agree with you. I love this video a lot, the world needed it. Thank you And more importantly, you are a fascinating artist.💛
I went to the wrong art school as an adult. I wanted to learn the technical skills of creating art and the business skills to be able to make a living as an artist. What I got was a school that was more interested in manipulating students into creating what they regarded as 'fashionable' art rather than developing their own vision of the world. It didn't help that I'm a person who's has high functioning autism and very poor social skills. I guess I was unlucky that the two years I did manage to survive were years when the some of the other students and tutors who were there at that time were emotionally abusive to people they didn't like or whose talent exceeded theirs. YT didn't exist then unfortunately.
One can never knows if going to school or not and whether it is Commercial viable or not. Never thought it never sounds simple to go in art school and expect specific thing such as how to draw and more. I only figured out that one can make career out of art is doing cartoonist, design books or stationery etc. so I don't have to be anxious to pursuing art school in financial stability? How can one know they are doing something wrong in their art journey if not schooling? Wow do we get pressure out of comfort to do things we are not taught? Receiving conversation into putting something into context I came across ig or TH-cam seeing a creative work such as figurative to be something I am inspired of yet no idea how one relate to a sketch that feels part of something such as making use of object and portrait of a face to as if it was made to melt together. how do people end up unable to defend themself? It is really scary when I heard materials can be expensive regarding what might be requested at art school. Well as for building portfolio to meet galleries/exhibition that gives hope to which direction one can discover what type of art one aims after.... Rather than covering huge expenses not knowing whether in the process of schooling you aren't going to meet the bill that is huge along the way. Thank you very informational to guide the clueless mind like mine... I learn everything from you it's amazing
The biggest advantages to going to school are peers and facilities. Having classmates helped feed my energy & inspiration, in addition to providing different perspectives of my work & theirs. Now that I’m accustom to online meetings with Covid, the benefits of in person interaction is even more evident and appreciated…especially with art. Having the use of facilities and equipment may be an even bigger advantage. It was unbelievable to have wheels, kilns, forges and all manner of fabrication tools available to me which cannot be replicated for less than a small fortune…not to mention the SPACE in which to work. Having designated areas and tools suited to the medium I wanted to work in is sorely missed…along with the peers that would spend countless hours there with me.
So, the question is what do you want to learn? For me, I'd rather learn the proper technique at an atelier with training. NOT studying at an university, because look around who will make it with their B. A. in fine arts... they are driving taxi... And if you want to learn about art, go to museums, read books, look at paintings, no need to study... no need for a student loan. I wanted to study art - my map did not fit the critique of the professors, I was rejected, when I came to get my map, one of the assistants told me, they never saw such realistic drawings but I did not fit in because they thought that was all I could do. I was so heartbroken, I did not draw for over 2 years, meanwhile I studied a topic where I now earn quiet good, and in my free time I can paint whatever I want, I can say no to making comissions if they don't fit my style or liking. On the other hand, I met someone who studied art at the same uni I wanted to go, and from what I heard and saw from this guy, I am very happy I was rejected, because this guy can't even draw a figure stick nor is his art history knowledge any good. So yeah, dodged a bullet.
I would like to be an artist. After finishing school, there was a moment a had to decide between going to an art school or studying chemistry… I’ve chosen chemistry and know more than fifteen years later I’m love to watch Jono Dry and see his beautiful paintings. I do some “art” for myself, but maybe it would have been a better decision to go to the art school.
It was a discussion between going the “saver” way to earn money or maybe to “risk” something and do something what my passion is about. Just a little daydreaming of being a cool artist ;)
My personal opinion is that most people don’t need to go to college, and I’ve always advised my kids not to go unless the field they want to go into requires a degree. A perfect example that demonstrates my reasoning is the film and video industry. My husband did not go to film school- he got a job at a news station, worked his way up to directing the news, then left to work at a production company, and then later started his own production company which has been a successful business for the past 25 years. Meanwhile, we’ve watched countless starry eyed kids head off to film school, graduate with mountains of debt, and then have to go get a job in some unrelated field because there is no way they can afford to pay off their loans on PA jobs, which is where you start, film degree or no film degree. Not only was film school a waste of time for them, but it actually hindered them from going into the field they wanted to get into. I’m not saying not to learn, to educate yourself, to immerse yourself in learning everything you can about the field you’re interested in. But I am saying that 9 times out of 10, there are better- yes, better- and much more financially logical ways to go about it.
Im a pencil and tattoo artist and I've met people that have taken classes, courses..apprenticeships... and have spent a good amount of money in trying to learn or improve. You can definitely learn things and improve but what I've noticed is if you don't have it...you just don't have it...no amount of courses can teach something that comes from the soul. Everyone has a form of art and we should definitely strive to find what that is and Excell in it. Don't rely on schools or courses..it can also hinder your form. Find the art within yourself and express it.
For every person who falls into that category there are another 50 artists who's skills and technique were improved through schooling. Many people who attend art school do "have it" and are usually much better for the education and the experience. I think you would be hard pressed to find many working artists who would agree that schools and courses can "hinder your form". Again... most of the people who hold this opinion have never actually gone to school for art, which is fine but that opinion is not based in any real knowledge of the experience.
You don't go to art school to become a good artist, or learn how to be successful as an artist. You go to gain exposure, learn new ways of thinking, make connections, etc. But as everyone has already stated, it is completely separate from gaining skill or success as an artist. Art school does not have a strong value proposition financially for most people, it is a luxury for those seeking personal development.
In the first-ever class of my art college, my teacher told us that this is not school, we won't teach anything, and if we want to learn something, we have to find our own way. The first thought it gave me was that Wow online courses are a much better investment.
I think, how to draw is always self learn, but Art School, "knowledge is power" and Teachers are experienced, it wont go waste, u ve someone to point out the mistakes and u get to introduce about different topics with in a time period, self learn could take more time..either way, it depends on Artist..Art School or no Art School, if the Artist is not ready to step up, draw, experiment, its always a waste of time, money, energy..
School is really just what you make of it. Ideally it's a place and time to fool around with your passions and see where it takes you. Obviously, the cripling debt of school fees stifles that real quick. Students in the US should just all turn to YT-academy until universities reform themselves and their ridiculous fees ... what can I say, I'm German and lucked out. Couldn't say whether I'd have studied Japanese Studies if I'd have had the prospect of several thousands in debt...
hey ,i love you art ,i am 23 yrs old can you give me a general path and guide and the steps from what should i learnand how should i learn, to learn sketching from scratch to realism
I have not learned art from anyone.. I had fun in drawing since my childhood.. I am just 13.. And i made potrait 3-4 times till now.. One was of PM of New Zealand (NZ) "Jacinda Ardern" and I got her reply too😀😀
Actually NO-ONE should go to art school. That’s my conclusion after going to art school. With the exception of classical ateliers like the Florence Academy or New York academy of art. They can teach you skills. All other art schools only take your money, leave you without skills and if you’re already skilled, they will deliberately try to destroy you and your future. I wish to god I had not gone to art school but instead finished my course in Florence, and then proceeded to study either design, illustration or scenic art at university. Or science, or child education, biology or midwifery, but NOT ART. Art school really made it extremely difficult for me to have anything left in life to live for, as it took an astronomical amount of money and gave nothing back. Nothing. Art school is destructive and depraved. I chose art because it’s my passion and I’ve always made art and I’ve got talent. But the art world is a joke.
Great conversation. I went and studied art and visual communication at university at the young age of 52 and I agree with all of your comments. I do not feel that it gave me any advantage when it comes to being successful financially as during the entire course only 2 units focused on this. What it did give me was exposure to many mediums and forms, a much greater understanding of the history and how that interacted with the world, the ability to question everything to academics and my cohort where the feedback was considered and meaningful. This also gave me a greater mental plasticity in problem solving and in embracing investigative processes and this informed my lived practice totally. (In fact I would have to admit that my works prior to this where not overly informed or considered.) I also found a passion for art books, book binding and also achieved a major sequence of animation through my elective units. The animation taught me more about how objects interact and react to the environment and how to manipulate this to lead the viewer into a head space than any of my art subjects. So is university worth it? in my opinion, if you want to experience different views/ideas and be pushed out of your comfort zone albeit with a safety net definitely! If you believe it will give you the ability to make it in the financial side of this world? It is not the smoking gun! It will put you in the realm of people in that space however it is still up to the individual to put in the hard yards like any business.
Hemingway I digress. Don't usually put this much into a comment. Love your work and how you approach it Jono. Thanx for sharing.
Cheers
I learnt everything from yt only... One of my teacher is jonodry himself
Learned*
@@wanderlustaesthete4117 hey grammar Nazi : Learnt and learned are both used as the past participle and past tense of the verb to learn. Learned is the generally accepted spelling in the United States and Canada, while the rest of the English-speaking world seems to prefer learnt.
Me too
@@wanderlustaesthete4117 learnt is correct. But it should've been 'teachers' instead of 'teacher'.
But are you able to make a living being an artist?
i am in my second year of a BFA of Fine Art so i thought I would put in my 2 cents. I had the preconception when i entered art school that they would teach me how to draw, how to paint. Technical skills like shading, foreshortening, perspective, anatomy etc. To an extent it does, but not to the extent i thought it would. There are videos on youtube that have the same information I have learnt, and they are free. What art school gives you is less a step - by - step education on how to draw and paint, but more guidance on what is or isnt working in that individual piece. Which I find faulty, because there are only so many skills you can learn in the short period of doing a single work, that can be addressed. In terms of painting, i never feel like i was taught anything, it was just self directed. Which was surprising and kind of useless in a way. because you can just paint by yourself then. Access to nude models, guidance from teachers, taking to working artists, being in a community of like minded people are all good things. But if you are going with the intention to learn technical skills and leave art school being able to paint a classical painting and know anatomy to a T, then you may be disappointed. It is up to what you expect out of it that will determine your experience.
So interesting. I agree with all of the above. I sometimes wonder if technical skills aren’t taught because a lot of the professors lack them and are unable to teach it themselves.
I did architecture and I can say the same, they dont teach you how to do things, often because these technical skills change with time and some of the lecturers are in their 70s. You learn from each other and you learn from books. They teach you approach, they teach you to balance being too precious and being too quick - they teach you history of art and architecture and they teach you why something is good/bad. The main thing you learn is to compete with each other - essentially its a contained space to work hard, harder than you would work if you were at home. They are a voice of wisdom not a resource for tips and tricks.
That was my experience as well, except that the faculty I was dealing with was pretty nasty, which I hope wasn't the case for you. There's also the problem of having to focus on subjects that have nothing to do with what you want to study, so your attention is always being divided which leaves you with less time to develop your skills. I've come to the conclusion that Art Schools need to be set up like trade schools, where the focus would be on developing artistic and business skills rather than "individual expression" and becoming a "well - rounded" person - whatever that means.
This description is so accurate. Graduate last year with my BFA but now feel like that I'm on my own that's where the real learning begins.
I studied product design and sold art on the side.. I applied all the thinking that we were taught in the design school to my art works and learned all the technical skills off TH-cam and from years of public evening art sessions. I really and truly believe that the opinions of lecturers on my art would have killed the passion completely. I found the free communal resources around me not only taught me everything I needed to know, but also allowed me to freely evolve my style.. and I hate to say it but every art dealer I speak to is always so happy to hear I didn’t study at any local institution, that says it all.
I graduated from art school in 2002, with a degree in Fine Art. My college was a good place to go, but it completely lacked any tuition in how to actually run an art business. I graduated, painted by myself for about 3 years and then quit. 17 years later, I'm only now starting back up again.
Here's my take on the pros and cons of art school education:
Pros: you'll be in the perfect environment which is conducive to channeling and crystalising your creativity. It's a unique place where you'll have access to all sorts of equipment and cheap tools/materials. Everyone around you is working in the same direction, it's inspiring and energising. You'll have access to someone who can guide you and support you, give you pointers. If you're lucky you might be able to travel (I went to New York). It gives you a large block of time to explore, experiment, fail, try again etc. I was lucky in that I didn't have to work at a job at the same time. It teaches you how to talk about your work, how to give and receive critique.
Cons: Degree-level art education (at least where I went) doesn't seem to really focus on technique, such as teaching you classical subjects of art like anatomy and perspective. It's very expensive, in my opinion, especially for what you get. I've heard many artists say they weren't taught anything about the business/financial side from their college. For example, where I went, there was no instruction or help about how to actually sell your work, which to me is a huge failing on the part of the college.
I think these days an art education at college or uni is really not essential to becoming an artist. In terms of technique, you can learn pretty much everything you need to learn from TH-cam, online tutorials, books and self-learning. If I could go back to 1998 and revisit myself, when I was making the decision to go, I'd say it really isn't worth it financially. It was a great time and I had a lot of fun and enjoyed the freedom and life experience it gave, but the debt it left behind isn't worth it.
Thanks for sharing your perspective, Kalila 🙂
There was a time, about a year or two ago. When I was deciding on going to study Art. To add to my portfolio and gain some added experience.
Money became a constrain, so I decided to focus my financial energy on building my portfolio in going for exhibitions and utilising social media.
Thank you Jono for this amazing video
Hi Jono,
I totally agree with you. It is never too late to make a pivotal decision on whether to art or not art. For 33 years I was a counselor for one of the largest cities in Virginia...serving individuals with mental health disorders. After several months of burn out I decided to turn my focus back to my first love and passion....which was and still is the Fine Arts...specifically drawing. Your story and passion inspired me to start drawing again. I practiced and practiced daily for a year and then met with a publisher. I showed him some of my drawings and now I am drawing for authors. And yes You Tube is a great way to start learning new skills ...you can learn drawing to marketing to running a business. So Thank YOU Jono Dry for inspiring me to look beyond.
I just graduated art school and I gotta say it's worth it if you make it worth it. At some point we had to do internships and I managed to one as a yacht designer. Then after the study I landed a job there and I get to travel across the globe to do what I love.
The study gave me the opportunity but it's all about takes those and getting the best out of it
I have learned much more from TH-cam than I have from an art class I took. Best drawing advice I ever received was from Dry. "Its not about applying the graphite. It's about applying it and moving it around"
I thought art school was a must to become an artist, now I now that it is not about the path you decide,but where it's heading. THANKS Jono,you opened my eyes to a topic that made me feel weird for a long time.By the way BIG fan
I was an actor from grade 7 through 12. Additionally, I graduated high school in 1982, and I was elected class artist by my school's graduating class. I wanted very much to go to art school, but I could not afford it. I tried making money from my art on the side while working a full time labor occupation. Then in 1984, I received an apprenticeship as a graphic artist for a very large advertising company. I worked 10 years for that company, and during that time the entire industry made an enormous paradigm shift from using traditional methods such as paste-up to digital. As such, the company that I had worked for made the switch to digital around 1989, and so I learned digital graphic design through on-the-job training and the internet. Then in 1996, I began running my own graphic design and web design business after teaching myself html (yes, I first began building websites by typing html code using Windows Notebook). In time I switched to using various web design programs such as Microsoft Frontpage and Adobe Dreamweaver.
Things are so very much different now than when I first began back in the early 80s!
Even though your videos don't apply to my life or my hobbies, it always makes me so happy to see you producing stuff. To see how far you've come and to see the degree to which you have pursued passionate work always makes me a little emotional. I know we haven't spoken in years and my feelings don't factor into your life but I feel compelled to say I'm proud of you and I hope you receive all the recognition you deserve
Hey Jono! Thanks for the awesome video! I also decided not to go to art school, deciding that I didn't have to study to pursue my art. In the background while working at my full time job I managed to gather a small amount of success with my art over the last 10 years. While it is definitely possible to learn on your own, there is something about feedback from somebody knowledgeable that can help you prevent your own self-feedback loop. They can tell you what is good when you think it's bad, they can also tell you what is bad when you think it is good. I think that level of constructive criticism is something artists who don't go to school may struggle with (not having a network of peers) or struggle against (taking feedback quite hard).
Good question. My own experience is that the majority of art schools really do little but - teach theory that may (or may not) serve the artist interests. And - they are rather expensive for what they provide. I saw one artist who had considerable talent before the schooling, and her art after it was (in my opinion) far behind her actual talent shown before. Buyer beware.
In all careers are the same thing
You must do theory because is the base of everything but in the reality is different.
I think the practice is all
This is very relatable. I didn't feel like I got what I anticipated or hoped for from Art school (for photography). Everything I "learned" in school, I had already learned from the books I read and the experience from doing shoots prior going to school. For me, it was a waste of money. I can see how it could work for someone who needs the structure and/or discipline. If you can do a mentorship/ apprenticeship with a few different experienced artists, you'll learn so much more and save a lot of money. There are so many great online resources now.
It’s so true. I went to art school and they don’t teach you technical skills, they don’t teach you business or branding and you don’t really get exposure to industry. Essentially it’s just a few years of figure out what your discipline is and make art and be prepared to have strips ripped off you during critique. So, it taught me to have a thick skin. That’s it.
Personally I think this question is completely arbitrary. It's all so relative and unique to the individual artist. I could say the same thing about the path I took - If I didn't go to school for wildlife biology which led me to more time spent outside and a greater understanding of our environment, I would have never learned to create the work I do today. In the end, the most important thing is to follow your passion and create passionately around whatever that is for you. It might be found in art school or might be found during an internship for something totally unrelated. The desire to create is best fueled by your own personal interests imo.
I have been really influenced by your sketches .... Your sketches are amazing ..Love from India 😊
i still a self taught artist and now 10 x moe carful with my drawings
The biggest problem I had with university was they never taught you anything about business & how to be a working artist, I found the whole experience very stifling and harmful to my art, I am also a graphite artist but the university I attended never saw drawing as an art form. They were more interested in the students copying the trends of the time rather than developing your own skills. It became about playing the percentages & grades rather than the art itself. Which wad a shame
Needless to say I lost my enthusiasm for art for nearly 20 years. I'm working again now but if anyone is thinking about further education in art research very carefully where you want to study and make sure it suits you so you get the most out of it, remember try to have a long term plan.
Great video. You're right the debate about whether to go to art school or not is kind of subjective. I was Self-taught. I didn't go right after high school either. I was 24 when I went to art college, and I don't regret it. I got a lot exposure. I went for illustration, but I found a love your sculpture as well and sequential narrative. I learn some of the business side of illustration, how to present myself, give and take criticism. I went to MCA in Memphis. It was sadly close down during the pandemic. The building still stands though. Easy to find it online. I agree with everything in this video.
As someone who went to art school, unless you have the time and money and want that on your CV, or you're looking to work in a field/company that requires one, I say no. If you're into creating, you can learn the basics and even mid to advanced tecniques through smaller courses, both online and in schools. And I've found that in the art world, your education is becoming less and less relevant, your body of work and who you connect with over that will have a much bigger influence on how you succeed. That said, some places still take education very seriously, and if you happen to be one of those people, go ahead!
Curating and organizing a conversation in such an interesting and useful way is an art in it's self
i've been in art school only i think 4 years then kicked me out for some reason, in my opinion art school don't really teaches me anything, the teacher only tells me what to draw or not to do, it's about pratcising and understanding how art works and find your own medium and comfort zone in art skills. after art school of not graduating, i'm still learning and learned more myself, my own artstyle than art school. :)
This is such an important video. I started as “self taught” but then I plateaued and needed that structure to guide me. I found a private art school here in South Florida called De Vita Academy of Arts and What’s different about this school is that it’s all about art. It’s not cheap however I have grown by leaps and bounds. Point is for me art school definitely is taking me further in my art skills than if I had continued on my own.
I did and wish I hadn’t. What you get out of it isn’t worth the expense at all. The things I’m glad I learned there were what art really is. The difference between aimless or utilitarian craft and intent and the realization of it in a chosen media combined with the reaction of the audience. It’s extremely difficult to be financially successful as an artist because the market is so saturated. Every kid that never did his homework in school thinks art is an easy way out- they call themselves artists yet flunk right out of art school. The “I wanna design video games” people.
I am so grateful for how caring a person you are, taking the time to interview people and put together this video. Much appreciated.
Such a good video. No matter your age, or level, the nature of creativity is to grow. To continue to learn and change. Develope your unique self. Wherever you are in your journey, grow.
I was rejected from art school then clapped back at them by winning the regional award for an art competition and now I sell my art for $500 and up.
That's whys up bro
keep going
i thought you went to poland...
Amazing 👍
How you sell your artworks to $500? And which medium you use?
Iv never ben to art school but I did take art every year in school growing up. And I hav to say my best Teacher wasn't until high school. For example he Would hav us put are Desks in a big Circle and put a plant on a stool he sed open your mind and draw it the way you see it. He Aloud us to step out of the box .moste of the class did as thay seen it just because thay really didn't won't to be thar. But it was a ivy tipe plant. So I Drew the pot as a woman's face and the plant as the Hair. And I called it mother Nature. I love art but never took time to go to school for it because I got to do things my way At my own pace. Now I am 55 I do Chalk, charcoal, penci,l oil painting, acid etching, photography, computer art, Commercial art, advertising, and airbrush painting , iv made a good life for myself and my family. But with that being sed I'm still learnihow..
And I love your work and look forward to wats next
I learned art from my teacher for eight years,he told me so much about art 🥰 but i learned a whole new world about art from youtube ☺️ thank you for creating videos ✨
Thanks for watching! 😊
@@JonoDry ☺️
I draw since I was young until now it gotten better but not perfect. I am still learning on my own. Your videos helped me so much ❤️
Hey guys I have done a BVA and it definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone. It definitely helped me with my art history but not so much in the skills that I wanted to learn, realism. I found it weird that I had to figure this out on my own while at art school. Although when I think about this conversation topic of art school vs no art school I cant help but think about Cesar Santos and his story of being 2/3 through a BVA and realised that the BVA wasn't teaching him what he wanted so stopped it and went to Angel Academy of Art in Florence, Italy. I found this story refreshing as Jon says nothing is permanent and Cesar Santos is just one example of that. I do think that art school has its merits but also getting 1:1 teaching is something great as well.
I’m a self taught artistic polymath and although the idea of being pushed beyond my comfort zone sounds thrilling beyond words, I only became a full time artist when I turned 53, so a bit old to be mixing it up with young college students. What has helped me immensely in my art career has been an online mentoring course that covers, among other areas, the business side of doing art as a living. It, in effect, took all the trial and error/guesswork out of the equation and in 3yrs I turned a profit, which is beyond my wildest dreams! Something that wasn’t covered in this look at art school and something we hear constantly in the mentoring course, is the testimonials of how art school crushed budding artists into laying down their artistic dreams for decades before picking them up again and finally realizing them. Harsh and uncaring critiques from professors and peers killed any sense of creativity they had-so sad. I’m involved in local art leagues and rub elbows with art school trained artists who can’t sell their work-mainly due to a lack of business training. I try and point them in a great direction, but they are unwilling. *Shrug* What more can one do? And just because I’m turning a profit doesn’t mean I’ve arrived-I feel I have much to learn, but I’m not in debt and my work pays for itself, which is more than many school-trained artists can say. Still, to be young and have the opportunity…
This was so encouraging for me! Thank you for sharing! Oh by the way, you have the most calming, beautiful voice!🥂🎈
Unlearning and then relearning are such integral components of your tragetory as an artist. Art school does offer that but if you are ready to absorb it. In the end I suppose its also about your own journey and what you aim to become. Thank you Jono for making this amazing video.
Thanks for watching, Bilal!
@@JonoDry an absolute pleasure my love. Stay blessed.
I am mostly self-taught in Painting and drawing, though, I did 4 years in Graphic Arts/Technology. Basic Graphic Arts, to some extent, does help with Painting. Because I am terrible at Mathematics, I no longer involve myself in the field of Graphic Arts, a misdirection from my Secondary School's DeAndre, as I even told my former Dean that she had directed me in the wrong direction concerning my Art, and working with my hands, etc. I told her that all I ever wanted to do was my Paintings as a personal/career path. I never cared if I remained poor, as long as I had a roof over my head, and enough food....I'm happy with it. In Secondary School, I took up Technical Illustration, Independent Study Art in which all that the teacher did was show me how to stretch raw Canvas on my selected size frames, and priming the canvas in prep for painting.....then he brought two boxes of paints (Oil and Acrylic), and told me I am to have a go at it....rest was all self-taught. The teacher and other Students alike were impressed with my work. Did a few works in Oils, and a few in Acrylics. One Oil Painting won 1st place in the School's Art Contest.
Such an interesting and useful conversation to have right now and very well curated by Jono. I've been basically going at my tattoo/art studies independently but have been considering going to some formal art education program and this gives me so much to think about. Thank you!
I can relate to this, having this kind of problem is not easy that's why I always watch at yt artists that shares and teach what they learnt. It is essential to us who can't afford/take art schooling.
I totally agree with this video. It depends on the individual and their circumstances. I didn't go to the worse public schools, but a lot of my high school education was based on STEM education. I also did not own a computer and shared my mother's work laptop. I took high school art classes up to level 4, a digital design class, and was on the yearbook staff, but I barely knew anything about the art world/design. I would never have ended up in the career I have today without going to a university. I was exposed to so many different career options, I was given the space to craft my skills, and I had time to explore. However, the student loans and costs do suck. It is definitely not for everyone. If you are someone who can learn on their own, you have the skill, access to technology, and a space to learn, then a university may not be for you. Plus, there are so many fellowships, communities, apprenticeships, and boot camps that exist now that did not exist when I was going off to school in 2012. I say, find what works best for you. All are great options.
Jono,it would be a lot better if you increase your sound on video,it would sound much more clearer 😊
I loved art school, but it's just one of many components to building an artistic life. I think if you can find a way to go, it's totally worth it! You get access to more equipment/supplies, and different mediums as well. Critique groups at school can be really helpful, too.
I am self taught but work took over and I didn’t draw for 30 years but in retrospect I wish i’ed go to art school
Never lost the love of art I suppose that’s just life drawing again so every cloud as a art lining happy days😎
Thank you, thank you! Great video. I love all the different opinions. This one goes under saved videos to watch again and to share with artist friends.
Glad it was helpful!
I think the perspectives presented in this video apply to most learning that takes place at university. I spent a lot of my life at university, both as a student and as an instructor. I had two options when going to university -- go to art school or go to engineering school. I ended up going into engineering but many of the comments in the video are as true for engineering as they are for art. Part of the problem, as I see it, is that universities present themselves as preparation for a vocation, but that has never really been the case. You may learn some technical skills along the way, but the biggest value of a university education is (1) exposure to things you would never have taken on personally and (2) learning how to think in structured ways. Both of these points were made in the video.
I may be wrong, but this video sounds like it was only considering academic art schools. I would be interested to hear opinions about ataliers, which sound more vocational. I know that they are more technically oriented, but do they also provide better practical learning when it comes to being a professional artist?
No way! Self taught!!!! Your super human to be so amazing in your creations! I'm sorry I just am blown away. I can't ever think of art as work it's such a love there's no work needed for me but man I am so beginner your an inspiration to know I have a chance! Hehe thank you for always sharing!
Thank you so much 😀
Very insightful video, I do think it all depends on the person and this video really helps puts it in perspective with different points of views
There are a lot of really bad "Art Schools" out there and I say that from personal experience. I majored in painting when I went to university and the whole experience was so unrewarding that I stopped painting the day I graduated, and I haven't picked up a brush since. That was 38 years ago. My advice to anyone wanting to be an artist today is to avoid the rat - race of Art School and devote your time to watching You Tube videos on the subject. You'll learn more technical skills and save yourself an enormous amount of money as well as spare yourself the grief of departmental politics.
Do you want to pick the brush back up?
@@LofiMagick69 Honestly, not enough to actually do it. I don't even doodle anymore. But I really do enjoy watching videos of artists like Jono, Ed Swarez & Gerda Lipski doing their thing, so I guess there's maybe a tiny, glowing ember still burning under all the ash. I won't say "Never again", but I can't imagine ever being as dedicated as I was before going to art school.
After a rather long stint in the US Navy, I decided I wanted a university education. Thirty years ago I earned and was awarded a BFA from the Univ. of FL. During the five years I was there was a nascent conception circulating that a university education was supposed to prepare you for "business". Having already seen the "real world", I never bought into that idea. I liked the older idea that the purpose was solely academic, not about how to get a job later or make an "art business" or how to promote my work. If I wanted that I would have gotten a degree in business administration. The College of the Arts was a great mix of interesting people in a hotbed of creativity side by side with Masters candidates who wanted ultimately to teach art, art historians, and many distinguished professors concurrently producing and exhibiting their own art, like photographers Jerry Uelsmann and Evon Streetman and ceramic sculptor Nan Smith. You also mingled with people not just in art+art history, but the theater and dance school and school of music. Although I had an interest in photography, while there I developed a real love for intaglio printmaking. Of course, there was occasionally discussion in class about "why don't we learn the business side of art". One of the best reasons given by some of my professors was basically, "We're not here to teach you business, we're here to teach you how to think." I still think it's valid.
When you're creating art, then in group settings critiquing it in an environment that's relatively "safe" you gain not only a thicker skin, but you also learn how to describe in words what it is you're trying to communicate with art. You learn from history, how it influences your work and how to assimilate it into your own, hopefully allowing it to be noteworthy and not simply derivative. Whether you're aim is to travel an art festival circuit, get into small area galleries or try to make a splash on the international scene, you better have a thick skin because art critics will pull no punches, nor your audience. And it helps to be able to talk about your work to help people understand it and your pov.
Certainly these days you can learn many skills in this video format, but I think there's no substitution for the person to person interplay of a well rounded college art education.
Well, that's my 2 cents for what it's worth.
Thanks for sharing, Matthew!
I would love to have studied art or design. The curiosity in art and be able to go thrue "themes" during years, understand more about the backrounds in art or specefic painting and my backrounds as well. Also having the possebilities art school offers by trying new things, the room, the tools...step up my borders...get on edges overcome them or not. I really like diversety there is not only one thing I am hooked up with. Drawing, painting sculpture, collages, engraving, printing, writing, painting on silk, woodworking, digital arts, espcially the old craftman shift with modern possebilities and so on. It sounded for me like a wonderland, ad lleast in my head. I actually never tryed to get into art school, becouse I felt not good enough. I am living in a art school city, to become a member in that art school( every art school in Germany, I think) requieres an art portfolio. I was always like "na, they don't take someone as me, not enough drawing expierence, not enough acryl paintings and so on." A friend of mine tryed to get in and was not accepted.
TH-cam was and is my teacher, and now I am diving a little bit deeper into my possebilities. I love the hughe variety. Art is how to see something and change it into something new (don't knew who said this, but I like it).
If you lack self-discipline, then yes, school is a good thing for you. If you are well disciplined, TH-cam is a great alternative plus no student loan debt. Tons of videos and education for free. One caveat of going to a school is seeing how other artists minds work and making lifelong friends, which can be beneficial when entering the job market. On a side note, no one will ever not hire you if you have a college degree or not, it comes down to if you can produce beautiful art. I heard this over and over from my instructors and again when entering post-graduation employment. Never once was I asked about my education or what school I attended. Just my two cents.
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hi Jono formost thank you for always being super transparent in your videos. You are a teacher in my eyes . If you one day decide to retire pencil art I am nonetheless still eager to have insight of your life experiences. Thank you for being so humble giving us insights of how a life of quality experiences is lived.
I have a BFA. Massive student loan that I've almost paid off from a decade of full time work. Had a great time, learnt alot and paved a way for me to become successful as an adult and earn excellent money being a teacher... However, I don't think I'd recommend this path to my kids. I think hard work and creativity or problem solving will suffice, especially with all the free access to amazing artist's and ideas from the internet.
Thank you for sharing all your experiences, very informative! Thank you Jono for creating and sharing the video.
Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Though, I'm not an artist myself, I like how insightful this video is. Thanks for sharing this, I'm fan of yours, from Philippines.
Thanks for watching, Cora!
I'm just a budding artist from India. My reason for not joining an Art institution primarily was the cost. The fees weren't really feasible for my family. Additionally my family isn't all that supportive of my work so asking to learn art was not an option. They feel art is just a hobby and you can't earn anything from it. I had good drawing skills and I pretty much self-learned and I have improved so much by myself. Another reason I realised along the way why not to join art school is that not all have the same level of skills. There will be many more who will be a lot better than you that is kinda intimidating and negatively motivates you knowing that you still aren't good enough despite your struggles. Self-learning in this case was very much better because the only person I was comparing me was myself and I saw myself growing and improving. And watching people making and teaching artworks also gave me a goal of how I would want my artwork to be. The only downside was as shown in this video where you can get exposure to a lot more technical and art-related knowledge in an institution which you can't get it on your own.
With what I've learned, I managed to open my TH-cam channel to showcase my artworks and I will continue to grow my artwork and myself through this.
Hi, Jono, how're u doing?
Totally, totally i agree with you. I love this video a lot, the world needed it. Thank you
And more importantly, you are a fascinating artist.💛
I went to the wrong art school as an adult. I wanted to learn the technical skills of creating art and the business skills to be able to make a living as an artist. What I got was a school that was more interested in manipulating students into creating what they regarded as 'fashionable' art rather than developing their own vision of the world. It didn't help that I'm a person who's has high functioning autism and very poor social skills. I guess I was unlucky that the two years I did manage to survive were years when the some of the other students and tutors who were there at that time were emotionally abusive to people they didn't like or whose talent exceeded theirs. YT didn't exist then unfortunately.
Without painting the beauty was abondoned❤️🌹 iam a very bignner at the drawing
One can never knows if going to school or not and whether it is Commercial viable or not. Never thought it never sounds simple to go in art school and expect specific thing such as how to draw and more. I only figured out that one can make career out of art is doing cartoonist, design books or stationery etc. so I don't have to be anxious to pursuing art school in financial stability? How can one know they are doing something wrong in their art journey if not schooling? Wow do we get pressure out of comfort to do things we are not taught? Receiving conversation into putting something into context I came across ig or TH-cam seeing a creative work such as figurative to be something I am inspired of yet no idea how one relate to a sketch that feels part of something such as making use of object and portrait of a face to as if it was made to melt together. how do people end up unable to defend themself? It is really scary when I heard materials can be expensive regarding what might be requested at art school. Well as for building portfolio to meet galleries/exhibition that gives hope to which direction one can discover what type of art one aims after.... Rather than covering huge expenses not knowing whether in the process of schooling you aren't going to meet the bill that is huge along the way.
Thank you very informational to guide the clueless mind like mine... I learn everything from you it's amazing
Your sketches are absolutely amazing 👌🏻 Greetings from Scotland 😊 Have a great day everyone 🌻
❤
Thank you so much 😀
The biggest advantages to going to school are peers and facilities. Having classmates helped feed my energy & inspiration, in addition to providing different perspectives of my work & theirs. Now that I’m accustom to online meetings with Covid, the benefits of in person interaction is even more evident and appreciated…especially with art. Having the use of facilities and equipment may be an even bigger advantage. It was unbelievable to have wheels, kilns, forges and all manner of fabrication tools available to me which cannot be replicated for less than a small fortune…not to mention the SPACE in which to work. Having designated areas and tools suited to the medium I wanted to work in is sorely missed…along with the peers that would spend countless hours there with me.
So, the question is what do you want to learn? For me, I'd rather learn the proper technique at an atelier with training. NOT studying at an university, because look around who will make it with their B. A. in fine arts... they are driving taxi... And if you want to learn about art, go to museums, read books, look at paintings, no need to study... no need for a student loan. I wanted to study art - my map did not fit the critique of the professors, I was rejected, when I came to get my map, one of the assistants told me, they never saw such realistic drawings but I did not fit in because they thought that was all I could do. I was so heartbroken, I did not draw for over 2 years, meanwhile I studied a topic where I now earn quiet good, and in my free time I can paint whatever I want, I can say no to making comissions if they don't fit my style or liking. On the other hand, I met someone who studied art at the same uni I wanted to go, and from what I heard and saw from this guy, I am very happy I was rejected, because this guy can't even draw a figure stick nor is his art history knowledge any good. So yeah, dodged a bullet.
Thank you so much for the video, had been pondering over the topic for a long, and I think it does help :)) ❤
Glad it was helpful!
I apresiate's this man hard wrk
I learnt soo much about ur drowning
That is amazing 💜✨️
I would like to be an artist. After finishing school, there was a moment a had to decide between going to an art school or studying chemistry… I’ve chosen chemistry and know more than fifteen years later I’m love to watch Jono Dry and see his beautiful paintings. I do some “art” for myself, but maybe it would have been a better decision to go to the art school.
Why do you think that would had been the better decision just curious
It was a discussion between going the “saver” way to earn money or maybe to “risk” something and do something what my passion is about.
Just a little daydreaming of being a cool artist ;)
Thank you so much for your videos.
Glad you like them, Ameer! Thanks for watching 🙂
My personal opinion is that most people don’t need to go to college, and I’ve always advised my kids not to go unless the field they want to go into requires a degree.
A perfect example that demonstrates my reasoning is the film and video industry. My husband did not go to film school- he got a job at a news station, worked his way up to directing the news, then left to work at a production company, and then later started his own production company which has been a successful business for the past 25 years. Meanwhile, we’ve watched countless starry eyed kids head off to film school, graduate with mountains of debt, and then have to go get a job in some unrelated field because there is no way they can afford to pay off their loans on PA jobs, which is where you start, film degree or no film degree. Not only was film school a waste of time for them, but it actually hindered them from going into the field they wanted to get into.
I’m not saying not to learn, to educate yourself, to immerse yourself in learning everything you can about the field you’re interested in. But I am saying that 9 times out of 10, there are better- yes, better- and much more financially logical ways to go about it.
Thanks for sharing, Kristin 🙂
Im a pencil and tattoo artist and I've met people that have taken classes, courses..apprenticeships... and have spent a good amount of money in trying to learn or improve. You can definitely learn things and improve but what I've noticed is if you don't have it...you just don't have it...no amount of courses can teach something that comes from the soul. Everyone has a form of art and we should definitely strive to find what that is and Excell in it. Don't rely on schools or courses..it can also hinder your form. Find the art within yourself and express it.
For every person who falls into that category there are another 50 artists who's skills and technique were improved through schooling. Many people who attend art school do "have it" and are usually much better for the education and the experience. I think you would be hard pressed to find many working artists who would agree that schools and courses can "hinder your form". Again... most of the people who hold this opinion have never actually gone to school for art, which is fine but that opinion is not based in any real knowledge of the experience.
You are so helpful and also amazing guy and your art is also unbelievable 😍
You don't go to art school to become a good artist, or learn how to be successful as an artist. You go to gain exposure, learn new ways of thinking, make connections, etc. But as everyone has already stated, it is completely separate from gaining skill or success as an artist. Art school does not have a strong value proposition financially for most people, it is a luxury for those seeking personal development.
when you started uploading video on TH-cam I also started doing artworks
Thnx bro
We all just need a clear path
In the first-ever class of my art college, my teacher told us that this is not school, we won't teach anything, and if we want to learn something, we have to find our own way. The first thought it gave me was that Wow online courses are a much better investment.
What your teacher described was not a school. So, what was the purpose of that art school (other than taking your money) if it wasn't teaching?
Students go to active masters and work alongside them or as their understudy. University is a money making posturing institution IMO
I really more inspired by your work 👍
I think, how to draw is always self learn, but Art School, "knowledge is power" and Teachers are experienced, it wont go waste, u ve someone to point out the mistakes and u get to introduce about different topics with in a time period, self learn could take more time..either way, it depends on Artist..Art School or no Art School, if the Artist is not ready to step up, draw, experiment, its always a waste of time, money, energy..
I like your work and your videos, your passion inspire people, I saw change in your face with your hat, are you fine? I hope you are, keep safe.
Hi guys I learnt everything I know about art on youtube cause in Nigeria it's real head to find a art school that is affordable and good
I totally Agree with Lorraine Loots 3:08 ...
School is really just what you make of it. Ideally it's a place and time to fool around with your passions and see where it takes you. Obviously, the cripling debt of school fees stifles that real quick. Students in the US should just all turn to YT-academy until universities reform themselves and their ridiculous fees ... what can I say, I'm German and lucked out. Couldn't say whether I'd have studied Japanese Studies if I'd have had the prospect of several thousands in debt...
hey ,i love you art ,i am 23 yrs old can you give me a general path and guide and the steps from what should i learnand how should i learn, to learn sketching from scratch to realism
This video is so valuable🥺 thank you
Thank you, Naledi 🙂🙏
Very informative video jono ❤️
Thanks for watching!
So amazing topic thank you
Glad you enjoyed it, Aryan 🙂
Great vid!
Thanks for watching!
Love from Nepal 🇳🇵
I have not learned art from anyone.. I had fun in drawing since my childhood.. I am just 13.. And i made potrait 3-4 times till now.. One was of PM of New Zealand (NZ) "Jacinda Ardern" and I got her reply too😀😀
very insightful video
Thank you, Cecil 🙂
Artist that I follow always say ateliers over university.
مازلت أشاهد 👍🏻
Forgot about art ... You voice is very deep and very loooooow wooow
Big fan from India
فيديو جميل جدا
شكرا جزيلا لك للمشاركه
Thanks for watching 🙏🙂
Question, if I want to become a art teacher should I go to art school?(I'm in grade 12 and I'm confused)
I would suggest talking to a teacher or guidance counsellor 🙂
Not in these days… that concept already is old fashion, thanks to YT and people like you….
Gorgeous sketches 👌 😍
Thank you 🙂
Can you make a video of the best kind of paper that you actaully use
Hey, Ahmed! I use Arches Aquarelle 300 gsm hot pressed satin grain paper 🙂
My brother said art school needs to go to you🤣
I'm definitely my worst critic. I love drawing but I don't think I can make money doing it
Actually NO-ONE should go to art school. That’s my conclusion after going to art school. With the exception of classical ateliers like the Florence Academy or New York academy of art. They can teach you skills. All other art schools only take your money, leave you without skills and if you’re already skilled, they will deliberately try to destroy you and your future. I wish to god I had not gone to art school but instead finished my course in Florence, and then proceeded to study either design, illustration or scenic art at university. Or science, or child education, biology or midwifery, but NOT ART. Art school really made it extremely difficult for me to have anything left in life to live for, as it took an astronomical amount of money and gave nothing back. Nothing. Art school is destructive and depraved. I chose art because it’s my passion and I’ve always made art and I’ve got talent. But the art world is a joke.
Absolute truth! I think the same. Great comment