Formal vs Informal art education

RaRa · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 2

Hi all. I'm new and am wondering what people's opinions are on art education. I live in regional Australia and none of the local uni's offer arts. My husband works and there's not much chance of us moving to a capital city any time soon for me to attend art school.

The local TAFE has a supposedly well regarded Fine Art course so I enrolled and was hugely disappointed. I lasted about 3 weeks. We were gluing sand to cardboard and sticking bits of string to the wall. Each to their own but it's not the kind of art I want to make. I really thought I'd be safe in a subject titled 'Drawing' and another titled 'Painting'.

But I have been taking a weekly oil painting class for about 18 months down at the local arts society with a woman who paints very much in the Meldrum style with a kind of tonal impressionism. I really enjoy it and am getting quite good.

So I am wondering how important is formal training if one wants to become an accomplished artist. If you have passion and drive and talent, (not big noting myself, just theoretically) then do you need qualifications? I would expect that completing a Bachelor of Fine Art or something similar would teach you a lot about the business of being an artist, but I feel pretty confident that I can learn to make the kind of art I want to make on my own through tuition and books and mixing with other more experienced artists. And I'm thinking of that saying "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear" and hoping that the universe will fill in any fundamental gaps that I may miss. Maybe that's wishful thinking.

I have completed a Bachelor in an unrelated area and from my own experiences and those of friends, you get a basic understanding in uni but the real learning begins once you enter the workforce. What have been others experiences?

AndyE · Joined: 09 Jul 2006 Posts: 616

Hi RaRa,
welcome to the forum

This was a topic that ran for a while last year. Heres a link...
http://www.artforum.com.au/vtopic13070.html

Generally studying is a good start and a big help, but it isn't everything, a career is still possible without a degree, although it might involve a bit more motivation and work.
Certainly the career side of things was not even covered in the TAFE course I did (dropped out after a year and a bit) although it was 15years ago, so that may have changed?

hope that helps.

RaRa · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 2

Thanks for the link Andy. Looks like some pretty heated discussions went on over there. Will have to have a good read.

thecatsgrin · Joined: 18 Apr 2009 Posts: 2181 Location: Gippsland

After starting the other thread a while ago, I have come to some conclusions on my own, as it really bothered me for a long time.

I have realised that one day , as it stands now, like to study art at uni... but only for the experience it offers.
I no longer believe it is needed to acheive in the arts industry, but ibn certain areas,it might help ( I wouldnt personally know!! Laughing

)

I have also realised that hard HARD work certainly pays off, and perseverance isnt something taught anywhere... it comes from within.

The teacher does appear and come along when needed, but only if you are active and open to learning.
You cant learn anything unless you are aware there is something to learn, and also that taking risks (artistically) and getting out of your comfort zone, allows for growth and experience.

Even in some crappy situations there is something to learn if you stick it out ...even for a little while.
Get out and mingle with other artists when ever you can , and look at art every chance you get, seeing art allows you to realise what you like and what you dont, then you can go further and learn why...

There are blogs, and so many articles on the forum, as well as the opportunity to ask anything you might be struggling with or wondering about that Uni sort of slips down the list of importance.

By the way... Welcome to the forum, and have fun!! Laughing

aprillove20 · Joined: 16 Feb 2010 Posts: 34 Location: other

Hi,
Welcome to the site. I'm also new here, so welcome to myself.. Smile

The Pook · Joined: 01 Feb 2007 Posts: 2904 Location: Tasmania

I can see Amanda biting her tongue out there somewhere... heh heh

Thanks for finding that link to our earlier discussion on this Andy. There was an earlier one somewhere too, about a year before that one.