From Medieval Studies to art...it's close...right?

[Fyriel]

Hey everyone! I've been lurking on here for about 6 months (since I graduated from the University of California Santa Barbara with a degree in Medieval Studies). I'm sort of having a dilemma about art school. I know I graduated with a history degree, and I know that I want to do concept art as a career. I've had a plethora of inspiration, but I have absolutely no formal training. I've won art awards before, but nothing too serious, and my grandfather was a special effects artist for Disney since Sleeping Beauty (he's retired now).

So right now, I'm trying to get a job as a PA at Disney studios (since I have a few contacts, haha) , if that pans out. But I want to learn more about the basics of art, I want to work as a concept artist/digital artist and I'm really afraid that my non-art degree makes me useless. I've looked in to many schools, but I don't want to start over as an undergraduate, I've already been through that. I've looked into and a few others that aren't normal grad school for art, and they're still insanely expensive. I don't mind taking out another loan, because it would be more-or-less like grad-school which I had planned on going to anyway, I just wondered if you guys on the forum had any advice on what to do if you already have a non-art degree and absolutely HAVE to work if you go back to school.

Or you know, you could throw cookies at me or something....wooo! Thanks everyone...

~Holly

[Elwell]

But I want to learn more about the basics of art, I want to work as a concept artist/digital artist and I'm really afraid that my non-art degree makes me useless.
Fist of all, in this industry no one cares about degrees. Because of the concentration of the entertainment industry, southern California has a bunch of good non-degree art schools where you can take individual classes as well as doing a full-time program. Check out the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art (http://www.laafa.org/), Watts Atelier (http://www.wattsatelier.com/org/WattsAtelier/cms.aspx), Concept Design Academy (http://www.conceptdesignacad.com/), and Studio 2nd Street (http://www.studio2ndstreet.com/).

[sfa]

My situation is pretty similar.

Years ago, I graduated from UCLA with a bachelor's degree in biology, but ended up taking an unrelated government job after college. I realized later that what I should have been doing all along was pursuing my first love, so now I work hard at my day job in order to have the funds to attend art classes and workshops at night and on the weekends. Hopefully in a few years I can transition into a career as an illustrator or a concept artist. I've been to three of the four schools Elwell mentioned above (LAAFA, Watts, and CDA) and also haunt several of the pay-as-you-go life drawing workshops in the area.

I have zero interest in getting another degree. I have one already; what's the point in getting another?

From the chats I've had with all manner of folks from different schools, ages, careers, and walks of life, it's become apparent to me that a degree in art isn't terribly important in the grand scheme of things, at least, compared to other, far more important endeavors, like getting solid training in the foundations, networking your ass off, and putting together a knockout portfolio. A degree won't help you get a job if you can't draw, your portfolio is lackluster, and you don't have friends to help you get your foot in the door.

As far as location goes, you're right in the eye of a perfect storm. In addition to the four schools linked in Elwell's post, you also have:

American Animation Institute (http://www.animationguild.org/_Classes/Classes_h/AAICATLG.HTM) (Vilppu & Gnass)
California Art Institute (http://www.calartinst.com/) (Orbik)
G.N.O.M.O.N.

This list doesn't even include the Cal States and the UCs and a good dozen other schools I'm probably forgetting about at the moment. We're spoiled rotten here. It's a freaking buffet. Take full advantage of it. Hone your drawing and painting skills, build your portfolio, and make lots of friends.

Please don't take out another loan unless you need to. With the way our economy is unraveling, one of the worst things you can do is saddle yourself with unneeded debt.

PM me if you have any specific questions about schools in the area; I'd be glad to answer them.