Point and Counterpoint: April 2001

Use our Discussion Forum to discuss the issues further.

Battle It Out About: "Art Degrees"

Question: Does one need an art degree to be a successful artist?

Many successful artists have never gone to art school or college to receive a formal degree. But if you anticipate teaching art in a public or private school, college or university, you will need at least a Bachelor's degree with a major in art or better yet a Bachelor of Fine Arts. And most universities prefer at least a Master's degree.

On the other hand, many fine art instructors who teach at private art schools or community colleges get their jobs because they are great artists who love to teach and do it well.

Geoffrey:
When I was a gallery dealer, Sue, I would stay away from artists who had art degrees! There was too much you had to teach the artists NOT to do, like be spontaneous or original or fresh.

I found that artists just out of art school usually took at least a year (or more) to stop creating art just like their teachers or professors. Academia is not conducive to creating original art. It is conducive to talking and intellectualizing about it and learning technique. That's what school is about. But I was in the business of selling art and I wanted artists who were creating lively art.

Sue:
Right. When I was in art school all I ever heard about was how to create and master all the different techniques. If one strayed off the professor's path, a poor grade was sure to follow.

Geoffrey:
Of course, artists have to master the basics of drawing, and mastering various techniques can usually be accomplished by completing several years of art classes. However, I see many artists come out of art schools and all they can do is create art just like their professors. These teachers dominate their students and then the students end up imitating their teachers. The work is tight, or controlled, and the artist is not willing to go and experiment.

Sue:
Yes. Unfortunately, most university art classes want you to master the techniques. But I must add that more and more these frustrated art professors, who can't or won't participate in the "real" world of art, encourage their students to be creative in their approach. However, one has to be careful because experimental art, which exhibits well in the college museums, usually does not fit comfortably in the real-world marketplace.

Geoffrey:
Sue, as a gallery dealer, I couldn't wait around to see if the artists were going to eventually find their own artistic voices unfettered from their instructor's ideology. There are plenty of artists creating excellent work without degrees from any art school.

I run into un-degreed artists every day whose works excite me. But often these artists are very insecure about their art because they do not have any formal training.

Use our Discussion Forum to discuss the issues further.

Question: So…should I go to school and get a degree?

But I don't think you need to go to school to find your artistic vision or hone your skills. You can do that on your own and in your own studio. That is what many other artists have done. There are also a jillion art workshops that are held all over the country where an artist can learn new techniques or bone up on forgotten skills.

Sue:
After I received my degree, a BFA in painting, I also found that I could not make a living only creating art. Fortunately I planned ahead and minored in education so I could teach.

Most schools and especially universities will not accept teachers without some type of formal degree. However, teaching is not for everyone. It takes a great deal of patience and a depth of knowledge about the subject you teach.

Closing thoughts:

One of the advantages of a school is learning discipline and setting deadlines and having shows…but one of the disadvantages of going to art school is the lack of guidance on how to make a living after you graduate.

In today's competitive society, it really depends on what you want to do with your creative talent in order to decide whether or not an art degree is the path you want to follow. For learning technique and (if in a good school) being pushed to develop your individual creative muses, then an art school is great.

If, on the other hand, you simply want to create, you can do this yourself. Join artists' groups, take various classes, meet other professional artists, work in a gallery or museum, and read everything you can on the subjects that interest you. Identify your goals for your art career. Use our Discussion Forum to discuss the issues further.

About the authors:

Sue Viders: viders@worldnet.att.net and www.sueviders.com

An international art marketing consultant for over 35 years, Viders has authored numerous marketing books, audio tapes and charts and has written articles and columns for all the major art magazines. Viders has a BFA and is a professional artist. Visit her web site to review her books on marketing.

Geoffrey Gorman: Ggarts@aol.com and www.gormanart.com

Gorman went to art school himself, has been a practicing artist, gallery dealer, and now writes about the business of art for several national publications. He coaches, advises and gives workshops around the Unites States on artist's career development. Visit his web site to find out his current schedule of events.

Together: Check out their school that offers basic art marketing classes on-line. www.artmarketingworkshops.com If you might be interested, send them an e-mail to get on their mailing list and receive their free e-mail newsletter.