Art School, like any higher education, can seem prohibitive and impractical. Where will you get the time to get to classes, and do well in them? How much will they cost, and how can you pay for them? And in the case of art school, what is this investment of time and energy going to lead to? Are you going to be a professional artist? Our culture romances people who follow their artistic passions from afar, then scoffs at the impracticality of actually doing it instead of choosing a career path that “makes sense.” What makes sense for you may be going to Art School, no matter what hangups you have about it, or what external perceptions may come of it. People in all industries are struggling to find work, so the idea that there’s some safe choice or sensible hack to supporting yourself by doing something you’d rather do less than pursue a career in the arts is ludicrous. If the problems are truly logistical, we’re here to help. You can take art classes online. You can find a program that allows you to attend at your own pace, and costs significantly less than some of its peers. If you’re looking to expand your abilities and knowledge and are committed to being a better artist, the right art school for you is absolutely worth it.
Some people might argue that if you’re truly an artist, you don’t need to go to school, and that with disciplined practice you can hone your craft and succeed. There’s some truth to this, but when it comes to any school, attending it is only a vehicle to enhance a natural passion, discipline and practice. Could you become an artist without formal training? You could, but is a good program that you can attend on your time going to help? You’re still going to have to do that work to become an artist, but the right art school can help you define, enhance and form your work in ways you wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. Through history, technique, critique and being exposed to peers who are trying to create their own visions, a good art program can absolutely evolve and encourage your artistic goals. And for anyone telling themselves or hearing from others that an art education isn’t worth the investment, remember, there will always be careers for talented artists and design is within every aspect of our society. From working in design, education, curation, advertising, digital media and so much more, artists are employed all around you, many of them owing their success to the education and network they received through formal art programs.
Going to Art School Online
It’s not hard to see that taking art classes online has its pros and cons. On the one hand, taking classes online is rapidly replacing traditional education, with its stringent demands on physical classes, your money, more time than you’re able to commit and much more. By taking art classes online you’ll cut out potential hours of shuttling yourself back and forth to classes when you could be working on your art. You’ll also likely be able to set a schedule where you pay the amount you can to take the amount of classes that fit into your existing schedule and life responsibilities. Traditional art schools are among the most expensive programs in the country, so being able to access an art education at a pace and payment plan that fits your life is extremely valuable. For the cons, the intimacy and in-person feel of an art education is unlikely to be fully replicated online. But if you’re looking to apply art to business, IT or communications, you may have found a nice overlap in which an online art education tailored towards these pursuits gives you a leg up (considering you’d likely be working in those fields online). All in all, taking an arts education is something to seriously consider, and research. To help you consider different delivery methods, offerings, programs, subsequent employment and more, take a look at this guide, ”Where to get an art degree online”. It takes into serious consideration the competitive advantage and expected value of taking an art education online. Some schools it cites for an online art education include:
- Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), a universally renowned art school which offers 25 online tracks, including bachelors in Sequential Art, Graphic Design, Interactive Design and MA and MFAs in Painting, Illustration, Animation, and Preservation, and much more.
- Liberty University’s MFA in Studio and Digital Arts
- Berkely’s online BFA in Graphic Design
- The School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s low-residency MFA which combines online classes with some on-campus requirements, giving you the best of both delivery formats.
Going to art school is a difficult decision, and one you should prepare for thoroughly. By perusing the rankings, features, schools and degrees on Web Design Degree Center, you can start figuring out what’s best for you.
