Yes, I went to art school (Art Center in Pasadena CA) but I never felt comfortable there and I was completely burned out on making art once I got out of there. That's why I have that several years gap from 1997-2005 where I wasn't making art anymore. I just didn't have it in me.
The fortunate thing is that the entire collectible statue industry sprang up in that off time for me and now I have a really cool job in an field that didn't really exist while I was in school.
Art schools in general are a mixed bag and they suit some people's temperaments more than others. They are also definitely places where you get out what you put in. So you can absolutely be as good as you want to be, but you're just going to have to push and motivate yourself to get there.
The fortunate thing is that the entire collectible statue industry sprang up in that off time for me and now I have a really cool job in an field that didn't really exist while I was in school.
Art schools in general are a mixed bag and they suit some people's temperaments more than others. They are also definitely places where you get out what you put in. So you can absolutely be as good as you want to be, but you're just going to have to push and motivate yourself to get there.
That's awesome! I was looking at the Art Center which is kinda funny. But found the Kubert School which I think will be a better approach for what I want to get out of school. If you don't mind me asking, do you work from home now or do you go to a corporate building and work with other artists for the statue work?
As of last Monday I report to the Sideshow Offices for work each day. I was working as a freelance sculptor and concept artists for them for about 1.5 years prior to being hired full-time, and I was doing that out of my home in Washington state. I relocated to CA so I could take the full-time gig at their home base in Thousand Oaks.
I've heard good things about the Kubert school so you should be in good hands there if that's where you decide to attend. But the best piece of advice I can give you is to set your sights really high and remember that you're not only competing with your classmates, but more importantly you're competing with all of the professional artists who are working in the field that you eventually want to enter. Your work needs to be as good as, if not better, than those working professionals for companies to want to take a chance on hiring a new guy fresh out of school with no proven track record.
Best of luck to you man! Work hard and kick some ass!
I've heard good things about the Kubert school so you should be in good hands there if that's where you decide to attend. But the best piece of advice I can give you is to set your sights really high and remember that you're not only competing with your classmates, but more importantly you're competing with all of the professional artists who are working in the field that you eventually want to enter. Your work needs to be as good as, if not better, than those working professionals for companies to want to take a chance on hiring a new guy fresh out of school with no proven track record.
Best of luck to you man! Work hard and kick some ass!
I really appreciate the advice, and I wish you good luck with your work also! I leave in about 2 weeks to go to New Jersey for the Kubert School so I'm pretty syched lol!
Awesome. Best of luck to you!
Thanks!