I've been considering going to university, there's one near(ish.....30miles away) that seems to do a cracking illustration course, its a BA and it's full time for 3 years.the only problems are:
1) I'm 38 so I'd be the oldest there by a loooong way..
2) The cost, the course is 3k a year and I also need to live and provide for my family for the next 3 years....
I've longed to get into illustration for years but can't seem to find the time or inspiration to get a decent porfolio done. My thinking is that by taking the illustration course it will lead me in new directions and show me the best working practises..
What do we all think, is it worth all the hassle(financialy) that it would cause going back to uni for 3 years, or would I just be better off plodding along as I am now in my half assed fashion???
1) I'm 38 so I'd be the oldest there by a loooong way..
2) The cost, the course is 3k a year and I also need to live and provide for my family for the next 3 years....
1)
Age isn't a barrier for you and you certainly won't be the first mature student.
2)
This is your main concern. Are you well established in your current job? Do you have a partner willing to support you and your kids? Can you do the course and keep the household solvent? Are you prepared to work part time?
These are the sort of issues that your second question throws up. I say whatever you decide, make sure your family's okay.
hey you only live once, if you think you have a real chance of making money in the industry then i say you'll regret it when you're old if you don't do it. As bob says though, you do have to be able to keep yourself and your family fed, dry & watered!
Our Chris (fightclub creator) is on honeymoon at the minute, but when he's back i'm sure he'll give you some pointers as he's doing the very same thing as you, he's slightly younger but not by that much & he's been working for years and has decided to give it all up to go to uni, which involves him and his new wife leaving Ireland to start uni in September!
Thats living life on the edge for you!!
i would just say, be realistic about how much money you can make in the industry, but it would be awful in 30 years or so if you look back & still wished you'd done it.
Thanks for the support guys, I'm still thinking about it at the moment. If I can find alternative sources of funding and if the course isn't five days a week(allowing me to work the odd day) then it may be doable. I don't earn a fortune as it is but I would need to make enough to keep the bills(mortgage etc) covered while I study. I've looked into every other avenue, I've tried lots of jobs(mostly dead ends) and it still always comes back to my art. I'm going to ring the L.E.A in the morning to see if there are any funding options open to me, wish me luck..
http://www.airbrushartists.org/Gal728_Tomcat_s_Gallery.asp
This fall I'm starting at a high school that has this study program with
all the normal subjects + art as my selected subject. Many of my teachers have
said they wish they had the chance to go to a school with art in the schedule
when they were young.
What I mean is (as many of the others have said) that you might regret
when you're older that you never tried gave it a shot, just like my teachers.
What you must keep in mind is that not everyone gets a "Cinderella
story" with a happy ending (Wrong expression, but you get what I mean).
Trying to get a career inside the art industry is hard and risky as well. Even
I'm afraid of giving it a shot. I'm thinking; perhaps I should get a REAL job?
But then I think: You live once and this is what you really enjoy doing. I
might get a “real education”, so that I’ll have something to fall back to if
the art industry rejects me. In your case you’ve got work experience, so that’s
something you can put on the plus side.
Since you've got children and a wife to support, you'll meet even more
challenges. But, if you really want this, I think you should give it a try. But
give the idea some time so you can think about it.
You've got quite a lot of factors to take into consideration, so you're
in a position that I don't envy.
The university course i was on wasnt so much hand holding, they gave
you suggestions sure but it was mainly the fact that you were given
work to do and that you were in a class of mostly like minded people,
that inspired me alot and helped push my art.If i hadnt gone to
university i dont think my art would have developed as well as it did.
Id recommend going, if you can sort somehting out with your partner and work then definately give it a go. After all if it doesnt work out you can always leave.
I think the commitement to start university with this gentlemans background, is not so straightforward that he can leave at any venture. To put it bluntly, he has to decide to go in with both feet or not at all. After all 3 years is a VERY long time and when you ahve mouths to feed and a roof to put over the head, reality check and making ends meet are harsh but true realities. It doesnt mean the dreams cannto be realised but perhaps unconventional routes need to be explored.
from a skill point of view.
There is a already a basic rudimentary grasp of colour and form in the illustrations via airbrush.
A variety of subjects - just needs more integration for a wider range of subject matter/composition/bg
It would be good exposure to try some various styles and methods, and also try on the digital media. If relating to the latter, this is not well taught any most universities, and is realyl down to self perseverance. Nevertheless a illo course allows time to explore the more formal aspects of art. So if you have the money, and partner willing. might be worth a try.
Thanks all for the comments, I feel and have done for a long time, that I have gaps in my artistic knowledge that experience and practising in my own time will not fill. Time itself is a problem as I just don't get enough time after work to practise enough, it's bearing these factors in mind that I think the course would help me progress. I've added some more pictures to my gallery if anyone cares for a look, it's not digital but it does give you an idea of where my skills are at, or where they were at when I painted them, comments welcome.
http://www.airbrushartists.org/Gal728_Tomcat_s_Gallery.asp
honestly, after looking at your work, which i hadn't done earlier, i don't know what you think you are lacking, apart from what koshime said, practice, your work looks great and apart from things like learning anatomy, i'm not sure what uni will give you, apart from painting time.
Pretty much everyone here, you will find, works for a living and has to fit art around their life, it can be done, i know before you said that you had a 'half assed' way of working, why don't you try to make it a big focus and dedicate some time to it?
things like joining in with the challenges has a huge impact on your work, having to get the best possible work out of yourself in a short time is great for improving your work!
i'm just thinking you could probably do what you want yourself, without making uni the 'fix all pill' that you possibly are doing. have a look round the galleries, probably 50 - 60% of people have no art training whatsoever, just the dedication and drive, and of course talent, which you have, to make it.
im 34 now, been working fulltime (but not in design) for about 8 years and wanted to get back into it.. knew my skills wernt what was required so i decided to take the leap. few other things fell into place that made me think the timing was right too.. i live in belfast but am moving to liverpool to do my course. massive step, but sometimes you just gotta do these things!
i hate to say, but you may have missed the boat on this years intake for 08/09. from what i gather, most illustration courses interview around march/april to fill the places, and take second choice students around may/june. although i could be wrong on that. you would be best trying to get in touch with the uni that you are looking at - especially if there is only one course you are intersted in. phone their admissions line and try to speak to somebody in the department.. if you email, then the people how you may need to talk to could be on holiday for the summer and you wont hear anything until its too late.
its probably best if you pm me, or email me.. i'll pm you with my email address. ive been through the whole ucas application process and been through funding too - got mine sorted already :)
but like i say, contact the uni asap, to see if they have places available.. chances are they will know, because you get into art courses based on your portfolio - not grades.
email me, any questions i might be able to help with? or just for a chat.. will help if i can. i'll let u know a bit more about my experience of it too.
Tomcat:
