Art has been a love of mine my whole life, so, for me, it makes perfect sense to make a career out of it. I'll be starting at a very well regarded animation program in the Fall, and I am BEYOND excited.
To answer your question, though, I don't think a formal education is really a necessity for being a good professional artist. (Unless you want to go into something really specific, I guess.) I WILL say that school (ESPECIALLY programs with internships) is a good way to get in touch with people, make contacts for collaborations in the future, and all.
As for art school? Avoid it like the PLAGUE. Unless you're just going for a one-year certificate or something, it's just not worth the hassle. A lot of them don't have enough funding to properly maintain their facilities or pay for good professors, so you're left paying a premium to work in a shoddy environment with bad materials and a teacher who doesn't give you the skills to actually stay afloat in the industry. (Big chain schools like Full Sail and Art Institute are the WORST in this regard.) On the other end of the spectrum, you have schools like CalArts which HAVE funding, but aren't exactly known for fostering creativity. Let's face it, CalArts is the Disney school, so if you don't have the Disney look to some degree, you're screwed.
Honestly, if you're looking for an art education, you're better off looking at a standard two or four year university. Not only do these programs tend to be better funded, but a good school will help you learn just as much (if not more) for a better price, while fostering creativity in a way that art schools, in my experience, just... don't.
To answer your question, though, I don't think a formal education is really a necessity for being a good professional artist. (Unless you want to go into something really specific, I guess.) I WILL say that school (ESPECIALLY programs with internships) is a good way to get in touch with people, make contacts for collaborations in the future, and all.
As for art school? Avoid it like the PLAGUE. Unless you're just going for a one-year certificate or something, it's just not worth the hassle. A lot of them don't have enough funding to properly maintain their facilities or pay for good professors, so you're left paying a premium to work in a shoddy environment with bad materials and a teacher who doesn't give you the skills to actually stay afloat in the industry. (Big chain schools like Full Sail and Art Institute are the WORST in this regard.) On the other end of the spectrum, you have schools like CalArts which HAVE funding, but aren't exactly known for fostering creativity. Let's face it, CalArts is the Disney school, so if you don't have the Disney look to some degree, you're screwed.
Honestly, if you're looking for an art education, you're better off looking at a standard two or four year university. Not only do these programs tend to be better funded, but a good school will help you learn just as much (if not more) for a better price, while fostering creativity in a way that art schools, in my experience, just... don't.
