I attended Buffalo State college and the Art Institute of Pitt., PA. I find that I have been painting more on my own than I had ever before in school. Many artists have degrees, but that is no guarantee of success. I have found though that having a degree is a pedigree. You are no more an artist with or without that piece of paper. More importantly that piece of paper will not make you a great!
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SF Bay Area
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Re: Diploma.... what is it good for?
Mon, January 2, 2006 - 8:27 AMWord! Degrees in art seem to be most important to the achedemics and elitists, and, well, who cares what THEY think?? I went to the Cleveland Institute of Art for two years working toward a degree in DRAWING that I don't need. I've got LOTS of pieces of paper that can prove to whoever's askin that I can draw.
However, I will say that if money, due dates, and grades weren't an issue, I'd consider popping back into school every now and then. It's great to have the access to the facilities and resources that way. It also gives you a good fresh whiff of the culture of the moment and exposure to other artists, many totally different from you. I think that's important to stay in touch and well oiled. BUT since school is so unreasonably expensive, which means I would need financial aid, which means I'd have to perform to someone elses standards, which means I would have to care more about curricular technicalities than the art, I'll pass. Too much structure for me, man! -
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Re: Diploma.... what is it good for?
Fri, December 1, 2006 - 9:32 AM
"Yeah. (sniff sniff) That's right!"
I don't know about that one. I think you damn well do the work. If you paint you paint. If your paying a clown to teach you to Paint and that person is wasting your time -than you can do it on your own. The thing is a diploma will make the road easier -it will open some doors (and this world seems to need certification all over the place!) and get you a roof. I personally thing if you do a diploma you might as well go all the way and do the degree. Your screwed by the banks anyways. I imagine when you graduate you can "go to Bogata -ride the Siberian express..etc".
The thing is I think some people give it all up. They go in to art school with amazing confidence and come out a shambling mess -you'd think it would be the opposite. The thing is they stop painting or whatever they did and become TV executives, or Pool boys, canvassers for GP wtvr.
"What happened? Where did the Artist go?"
You don't go to school to be something you already are. You go there to get some more tricks. The you show off and attract some attention. The paper is only good for lighting a fire.
Without oxygen there is no fire.
(takes deep breath)
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