Repost! I posted too late last time, I wanted more American responses bc I feel like European art schools might be bettter in general

I’m an 18 yr old taking a gap year and currently building my art portfolio. I’m still not entirely set on going to an art school, I have the option to go to a closer college like IU or Purdue for graphic design or, like my family recommended, get a biology degree since it’s more stable and as we know.. compared with the whole AI art thing and unfair treatment of artists in the industry that’s starting to sound not so bad. I’ve heard going to an art college can be really helpful for getting into the industry & I have the means, and can really help w connections to the industry (currently looking @ SCAD). I can get really socially anxious reaching out to people on the internet, so I feel like that’s my only chance of having industry connections. BUT, I’ve also heard from some other artists who have gone that it’s a total waste of money and time, quite a few had dropped out as well. However, all the artists I know went for illustration and the field of my interest is within the industry (concept art, character design, & comic artist) so I thought it would be beneficial to ask people who have or had gone for around the similar area I’m interested in.

My other concern is that I’m a very slow artist, it takes me hours at a time to get things done because I’m such a perfectionist — I struggled enough w normal school so I fear art school would totally eat me alive with the deadlines. Especially as someone with adhd, a lot of school systems are not built for how I work— so would art school still be fit for me?

I don’t mind going into graphic design because it’s something I find surprisingly fun and could be a good backup plan since I could make a lot of money off it, and comfortably work on my art or getting into the industry as a side hustle. But I’d also be lacking all those connections artists usually have, and some of that industry-adjacent experience and learning.

TL;DR : I’m super conflicted, please let me know what you went to art school for (or if you didn’t), & whether or not you found value in it, or if you had any regrets, and based on what I mentioned if you’d recommend it for me?

The Eastern Tents believe iron should only be used to smith swords. They wear beaded mail and lighter gear. They view the Northern Tent’s excessive armor use as disgraceful and the Western Tent’s droids as an insult to the Knights.

Long swordsman of the Western Tents. If their identity were revealed to the other Tents it would be devastating. Wielding that monstrosity. Enough shame it’s not even blessed.

The Western Knights often bring heater droids to the field. Some see it as a disgrace, others see it as heat.

Hey friends, I've been trying to remember this artist that was showcased a while back on Conceptart.org

I think he was permanently showcased on one part of the website, with a link to his own website. Worked with oils I believe. His work was super dark and off-putting, religious symbolism, occult, blood. Color palette was generally red, white, black, and perhaps gold. I think he had some sort of series where each painting was like a religious portrait with a gold frame.

Does anyone know who I'm talking about? I'm having trouble finding anything because the internet is inundated with AI art nowadays!

I can think of the character's standing pose from multiple angles, their facial expressions, what else?

I’m an 18 yr old taking a gap year and currently building my art portfolio. I’m still not entirely set on going to an art school, I have the option to go to a closer college like IU or Purdue for graphic design or, like my family recommended, get a biology degree since it’s more stable and as we know.. compared with the whole AI art thing and unfair treatment of artists in the industry that’s starting to sound not so bad. I’ve heard going to an art college can be really helpful for getting into the industry & I have the means, and can really help w connections to the industry (currently looking @ SCAD). I can get really socially anxious reaching out to people on the internet, so I feel like that’s my only chance of having industry connections. BUT, I’ve also heard from some other artists who have gone that it’s a total waste of money and time, quite a few had dropped out as well. However, all the artists I know went for illustration and the field of my interest is within the industry (concept art, character design, & comic artist) so I thought it would be beneficial to ask people who have or had gone for around the similar area I’m interested in.

My other concern is that I’m a very slow artist, it takes me hours at a time to get things done because I’m such a perfectionist — I struggled enough w normal school enough so I fear art school would totally eat me alive with the deadlines. Especially as someone with adhd, a lot of school systems are not built for how I work— so would art school still be fit for me?

I don’t mind going into graphic design because it’s something I find surprisingly fun and could be a good backup plan since I could make a lot of money off it, and comfortably work on my art or getting into the industry as a side hustle. But I’d also be lacking all those connections artists usually have, and some of that industry-adjacent experience and learning.

**TL;DR :** I’m super conflicted, please let me know what you went to art school for (or if you didn’t), & whether or not you found value in it, or if you had any regrets, and based on what I mentioned if you’d recommend it for me?

Thoughts or any criticism are welcome 🙏

And I finally got around to recording the process as well