You need an art education. (First in a series.)
I frequent a lot of drawing/painting forums on the internet in a questionable effort to better my art skills. One of the most frequently asked frequently asked questions seems to be:
"Do I need to go to art school?"
This question is nearly always answered in a long and rambling fashion by a pro artist who is likely less than a decade older than the teenager who's asking, and said answer invariably ending with a fence post firmly up the latter's butt.
If you are in high school, and think that you want to be artist, but aren't sure if you need to continue your education or not, let me help you as quickly as I can.
You need to go to an in-state University and get an art degree. Art school after that, for the purpose of continuing study, is optional.
Yes, I know. I know that your favorite comic book artist worked at Kroger's and/or Best Buy right out of high school and struggled with college until his big, super-popular creation and mastery-level skills landed him on top of the world, so he dropped out his sophomore year and now he's buying a yacht and fending off movie and television deals while choosing which color BMW he wants this year.
You aren't that guy. You need a well-rounded education.
Art schools are good at teaching art fundamentals and techniques. However, a state university with a reputable art department will expose you to a wide range of people, disciplines, ideas and experiences that will make you a true artist. And much of the time, it will be cheaper than an art school.
Some universities here in Kentucky that are known for their art departments: Western Kentucky University, Morehead, Murray. Ask your guidance counselor or your high school art teachers for their opinion.
If you want to create comics or art for film and video games, do not look upon your art history and contemporary art courses with contempt. These industries are hideously inbred as it is, and they all need those worldly, outside influences like you need air and water. If you want to write comics as well as draw them, consider minoring in History.
Despite what you see on the internet, art is not about celebrating yourself. Don't think that your professors, who are trying to impart the importance of Chagall, Seurat, Diebenkorn and Rothko are full of shit and out of touch. They know better than you. They want nothing more than to help you. Outside of your parents, no one will take more interest in you and your chosen path than your art professors.
So go to college and learn to be an artist.
