[travis travis]

Hello, I'm going to have to ramble off some of my background here to get to the point, so bear with me. I've been out of high school for a year and a half, pursuing a career on my own as a fiction writer. Well, I don't know how well that will pan out, since I'm in a terrible environment for the concentration and focus writing requires, but anyway... One thing I've always been able to do under any circumstances, and that I love, is sketching, character design, symbolism, etc... in fact all my artistic strengths tie in a lot with my writing. But since I'm getting bored, unsure of my progression, and generally tearing myself apart here in the sticks for little gain... well I think it's time to consider school. (Not to mention, you certainly feel insecure, trying to make it on your own.) But getting real information on schools is a serious pain in the ass. It's like they figure the less you know the less you can turn them down on or something...

So I'll explain a bit what I'm looking for in a school, and if any of you guys have ever heard of such a thing existing. Firstly, I'd really like to do something with any higher education that actually reflects my strengths. And my strength without a doubt is conceptualizng, coming up with characterization, meaning, pulling things together into one intuitive representation... I'm not the kind of guy who likes to build the details, which I only admit guiltily. I like dealing with emotion, the immediate, thought. As a kid, before getting so damn serious and deciding that writing is the only way to go, I wanted to be a game designer, and built up a portfolio of awesome ideas, characters, etc... So game design might still be where I belong, but I'm curious about other avenues as well, and of course, whether college really fits with a person like me, whether I'll actually be able to get anything out of it. (Although the socializing, at the least, would be great.)

What do you guys think? Need any more info I'm happy to provide it.


thanks!

[travis travis]

bump!

anything?

[quaternius]

First, try a search in the archives of this forum. There's lots of stuff in there. Try different keywords you're looking for. Also, take a look at the forum member's occupations list above right - write down some of the names of the concept artists and concept designers and do a search under their names in the archives and in in the newer sections also. This topic has been discussed quite a bit. There's many recommendations on schools for different purposes. It will take some time, but you will find amazing stuff in there.

Most, including myself, will tell you you need to be able to draw well -- enough to communicate your ideas quickly and clearly. Even if you have better ideas than some of the people that draw well - people will naturally pay attention to the "better" drawings.

To learn to draw well and fast, there's nothing better than classical training. Unfortunately, not a whole lot of art schools do this training anymore - most are into into touchy-feely self-expression rather than solid foundational training and practice. Of course, you could set up your own curriculum and self-study. If you're dedicated to self study and getting good as fast as you can it is more than possible to do it yourself. There's all kinds of tutorials, tips and lessons around; many by members of this forum and many in the archives.

Good luck

Q

[Duckman2]

Yeah I'd have to agree with quat most art school now only care about the concepts that the students come up with not building a strong skill base. no offence to RISD students but RISD and most of the other schools on the east coast are just big playgrounds for rich kids. Trust me I visited last month and I thought I was going to puke.