Students of art?
 

I'm curious...... there is a lot of really good work on this board, and I wanted to see who had been formally trained. Sometimes formal training can hobble an artist, and sometimes it can bloom one.

Me? well, ask if you want to know.

I took a few drawing classes at the Univ. of Michigan but I wouldn't go so far to say that I am formally trained.

What about you?

I have an MFA and so does Art but training is always what you do with it yourself. There is no training unless you are doing it to yourself.

Right, like sus said. The MFA is good for critical judgement, but the amount of work one does is the measure.

The amount of work required is beyond all reasonable conception. The artists who count are obsessed to the Nth degree with making artwork. That's how it works...

Even though I've changed my major 5 times Ive finished into an area I should have been all along. I'll finish my BA in mulimedia next semester. I was raised by two artists so Ive been into a wide array of artistic development, vivid imagination expansion, abstact thinking, multi-cultured pahthways to produce the weird person I am, disappointing every conservative family member I have ha! (my great grandparents had 25 children. . .ouch!!)

BFA here, went on to study Business, Language and eventually get my PHD in (of all the bloody things) religious studies and philosophy (be very afraid!) I think that artistic training always helps. I am not much of a believer in talent, so much as passion. The passion fuels the desire to PRACTICE and the training helps you focus and learn some of the technical aspects that are vital to producing a good piece. Let's face it, if you can draw or paint beautifully, but have no idea how to lay out a good piece, it hobbles you commercially. Being an "artist" is a wonderful thing overall, but the reality is if it's not something that can be sold, you'll find yourself as an obscenely talented burger flipper in the long run. I know it stinks to "sell out" but producing commercially viable artwork does not mean you must stop producing the emotional release work that you want to do and show. Thanks to the whole bleedin' world for the net, where we all get to share our hearts in any way we want to and stay hidden behing the glass wall of the screen!

BA, myself. Studied painting , mostly.

I wanted to be an artist but I liked eating too much.

i'm a graphic design major, which has a lot of art in it. Going into my fifth semester in the fall, not counting summer courses.

Yeah, I'm graphic designer as well... my degree is in art as I said, but I've been using photoshop and the like since around version 3. :) BermuDa, where are you going to school?

CSUS: California State University Sacramento

BS Multimedia Design

BFA photography.

OMFUG - Photoshop's come a long way since version 3, eh? (I started with v. 3 also.)

About to finish my first year as a general art major at Ohio University. My portfolio review will probably be Sculpture, but I'd like to get the additional "focus" in drawing, since I'd like to be able to do some tattooing.

Hopefully I can post some of my sketches/pics of sculptures sometime soon!

Yeah, I'd be interested in seeing them!

I'vew never taken a class but i'll be starting in autumn

Did 27 out of 30 lessons from the Art Instruction Schools' through-the-mail thing. And years and years of doodling.

School of Advertising Art

Took a few classes in college, but I was an English major and I always sucked at rendering things with any kind of realistic qualities.

Hey, Ohio U.! I started my art career there under John Chakares (printmaking/computer art). I love that town and that college. Its beautiful and an incredible art environment.

I've since transferred to Bowling Green State U. and am about to recieve my BFA in digital arts, with a (wierdly enough) minor specialization in glassblowing...

I like this forum, I hope to post some of my art here soon.

I was born with the natural ability to draw and paint well but I've taken several art classes throughout elementary and high school to enhance my skills. I've taken still life, painting, sculpting, and cartooning classes.

I would like to post some of my artwork one day on a forum like this too.

yakimushi, I have always wanted to do glassblowing... do you know of any good places in the Philadelphia area that would be a starting point?

A quick search on google turned this up: www.hotsoupstudio.com

I took a quick look at the webpage and it looks like these dudes know their stuff, a lot of impressive glass on the site.

They also offer classes, but I forewarn you, glassblowing is not cheap! An hour of studio time could cost upwards of $60 (but that usually includes any clear tank glass you use. Colored glass is a whole other story).

However, despite its cost, its an incredibly rewarding art. Its very different from other mediums that you can put down and come back to later. Glass is immediate!

Oh, and drink lots of water :p A glass furnace is 2150F and you stand 3-4 feet from it.