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Learning readiness
Any of the listed methods can be THE best, depending on one's readiness for the level of instruction being offered and one's need to know that stuff. Too advanced is confusing, too elementary is boring. I like a seminar best, IF it's a good fit. A magazine, computer or book article that tells you how to do something you currently want to do, but are clueless, is gold! Same with chats with peers. The best learning comes from need to complete a REAL project.
A long history
Art Instruction Schools has been around for years helping artists get instruction and feedback from other artists.
I have a soft spot for the program because Charles M. Schulz got his training through this organization before going on to create Peanuts, and was an instructor there for a time as well.
As a cartoonist, that is the ultimate person to have on your alumni and faculty list.
Never too old to learn!
Get out and learn! Art Institute of Seattle Alumni of 15 years, I chose to enroll as a full-time student at my local technical college. I have worked in many places and to be quite frank, you don't have "time" to self teach new software and techniques.
I suppose I shouldn't judge what I haven't tried for myself, but
Years ago I replied to one of those ads and received the admission test for the Art Instruction School. It not only included drawing Tippy or the pirate (a bambi-like deer comes to mind) but other exercises such as perspective and fashion design. Well, I passed with flying colors based on the feedback I received but when they found out I was 13, they weren't interested in my pursuing further education with them. Guess they figured they couldn't get any money out of a kid.
Some internet resources...
I'm always looking for new ways to do things and new things to do. I'm also more of a learn by doing kind of person. I find the web to be a great resource.
I've found some great photoshop tutorials on good-tutorials.com. If you're looking for that really cool special effect or wondering "how'd they do that?", chances are that someone on good-tutorials has found a way.
Also, if you're just getting into Flash, I recommend cartoonsmart.com. There are some free tutorials to try out and several pay tutorials that are worth it...especially if you are lost like I was in the beginning.
DVDs are the way to go!
I go to seminars, conferences and do the tutorials online. I find that buying training DVD is the most cost effective and the most efficient way of learning for me. I say that because at a seminar or conference you can miss something (written or vocally). By having the DVD you will miss nothing and can view it repeatedly at no extra cost. I've gotten DVDs from NAPP, Software Cinema and some from Photographers I'm interested in. This way I can have a seminar anytime I want at no extra charge.
Sometimes a correspondence course is all that is available to fi
Just a short rant, if it wasn't for FAS - Famous Artist School and it's home study course, a 12 year old wouldn't have had the opportunity to recieve the invaluable instruction and encouragement needed to eventually become a successful illustrator/graphic designer. Now days I prefer to get out of the office, out of town, away from email, cell phones and customers. My best experience was 5-days at the Scottsdale Artist School in Scottsdale, Arizona. A great school, fantastic instructor, talented fellow students, and no interruptions. By the way, FAS is on-line also at http://www.famous-artists-school.com/index.php
Art Instruction Schools is a scam
I've always been excellent at drawing. I responded as have thousands to the stupid 'Draw Me' ads when I was 13 years old. At that time I was living in poverty, but teaching myself cartooning, artistic anatomy and virtually every other aspect of commercial illustration. At that time I drew constantly; even designing my own superhero. Even I wasn't up to their 'standards' of worthiness for the 'free' art training, but they were willing to sign me up for their paid courses. It might have really helped me at that time.
Unfortunately, less than a year later I had a nervous breakdown because I was being sent to a foster home. I drew rarely after that. When I was 16, still in poverty, I entered a large drawing contest (for adults), entering a No.2 pencil sketch on cheap paper of a girl from a magazine cover. It won 'Honorable Mention'. That has always given me some solace. Now I work exclusively in the digital domain where my emotional turmoil associated with drawing is less inhibiting.
I think it would be a good idea to have an in-depth overview of the extent educational tutorials, both print and video (multimedia) that have become popular in recent years. Obviously a multi-part series, it would cover the general aspects of the advantages of print vs. e-books vs. multimedia formats as this relates to the various subject matter being explored (intro vs. essential training vs. advanced concepts). The video tutorials, for example, are becoming very expensive. And some, like the Total Training series for Photoshop CS2, are filled with fancy fluff and witty quips that offer no tutorial value at the expense of the software. In fact, many of these new tutorials cover the same material that the older tutorials of previous versions of Photoshop cover, so that it might be better to recommend that the marginally expensive route is to buy the older multimedia tutorials for their superior clarity and the textual tutorials for their overview of the major new features.
Keep up the good work!
Sincerely,
Rambrandt
A place for everyone ...
I too must confess that as a 15 year-old I drew "The Pirate". To my amazement an Art Instruction Schools representative contacted my parents. That was all it took to get them to finally realize that I was serious about pursuing a career in art. They gladly sent me to a "traditional brick-and-mortar" art school.
I do know one graduate of AIS. He drew Tippy back in the 50s and was an AIS graduate. He then went on to get a BA in Fine Arts and ran a successful sign shop for decades.
in person is best for art school
I too at 18 did the drawing and even bought the course even though I couldn't afford it as a young teenage parent in Ohio. It made me realize that I valued the face to face time you get in "real art school." I went on to get my BFA from a "bricks and mortar" and loved every minute of it. It wasn't so much the drawing (that you have to do on your own anyway), but the feedback and seeing other artists' techniques, weaknesses and strengths.
I am self taught on the computer programs that I use in my graphic design business and have had video training.
Recently my daughter tried an online degree course and she ran into technical problems as well as felt the lack of human contact. As she said, even having other students around her looking at the work and just making a small suggestion made her work better.