Art schools. Don't know where I'm going..

[sylviagrace]

Hi, everyone. I'm trying to figure out where to go. Last year I graduated with a interdisciplinary BA in fine arts and psychology. It was sort of last minute - I kept switching majors, trying to figure out what I liked. Since then I've been drifting, while living with my parents, doing temp jobs and some art commissions and random projects while helping to homeschool my sister who got her GED and just started going to college. So now after failing to get a steady job or even know what I'm looking for, I've decided to go back to school and get a master's degree in some kind of art. I've only begun to start looking at degree programs, but I think it would be more practical to study graphic design, even though I'm more interested in studio art, because graphic design would get me a job and then I'd be able to pay off the student loans I'd need to go back to school. Anyhow, I'd like to stay in the general Philadelphia area if possible, and I was wondering if anyone had ideas about good art schools to look at, or just advice for me. Thanks.

[RunningAway]

well i go to University of the Arts, which is right in the center of Philadelphia. here's their site so you can look into it.

www.uarts.edu

[adhara]

What kind of fine art are you interested in making? Painting? Where do you want to be in 10 years? Making a decent living in New York with your artwork sold in the Chelsea galleries? Or more commercial, local art? I dunno if this is going to be helpful.. but I'll just put it out there.

I've taken several painting classes at school taught by pretty successful artists, and I've gotten a sense that making a living as an artist is really tough and competitive. I think this is going to sound like a ramble, but this is what I've been told... So one of my former professors is a New York based artist who's up there in the New York art world. I guess her advice is relevant if you're interested in "high art". She told me that these days, you need a MFA in order to exhibit in a good New York gallery. Going to art school is not about learning skills and stuff. It's all about making connections, networking-- basically, you go to art school to make connections with big name artists and meet peers who may help your career in the future (assuming that at least some of them will be successful). Because of the whole making good connections thing, it's important to go to a good art school. I know it sounds pretty shallow, but from her stories, rising up the ranks in the art world is all about who you know and how well you can socialize.

Another professor of mine (she is another painter), who also has a "high art" perspective, thinks that going to art school is necessary because you gotta learn the tradition of the art and the theory. Painting is continually revolving, and in order to find a unique place for yourself in the evolution of the art, you can't just jump right in. You gotta study art history, learn how to critique, etc. Especially since art these days has kinda evolved away from painting and has become more conceptual...

I also know two artists (husband and wife) who do landscapes, more living room type stuff, and exhibit at local Boston galleries. But even they think that these days, a MFA is necessary, since there's so much competition out there to get picked up by galleries.

This stuff is mostly from the perspective of painting and avant-garde art and I dunno if that's even what you're into. How this figures into what you study at art school... I'm really not sure. I don't know if I'm making any sense, so ignore all this if it doesn't make any sense to you

Oh yeah, I should tell you that a lot of the above kinda turned me away from going into art.. but you're definitely very talented, so don't let any of that scare you .