Hi everyone!
I'm relatively new to this type of artwork and have become quite addicted to it! (I know I'm not the only one..;) There are some fantastic artists out there!
My question can be answered by anyone who wishes to reply.
I'm 35 and working retail at the moment and would REALLY like to get out of it and do something with computer artwork. I was just wondering if anyone here has gone to any kind of school for computer graphics, is working in the industry, and/or could give me some pointers to what potential types of education I might look into. I've contacted an online college for starters, but I don't know if that's the only option. I've taught myself quite a bit, but that's just scratching the surface!
Thanks so much! :)
(This may be a repeat message to some, as I've posted elsewhere, too! I'm too tired to think of something new! ;) ) -A

We have some great tutorials right here on our site that should help you. Also by visiting the forums and asking questions will help a lot too. I am self taught and I have found that experimenting is one of the best ways to learn. Welcome to the community. SndCastie Community Admin.

Thanks so much! I have been poking around the site a bit for a while, but I guess I'm having that "mid-life crisis" with respect to a career and want to do something I enjoy. I figured this would be a good place to find out what other people do! :)

I guess my answer to that would be study...by yourself. Of course school wouldn't hurt but schools focus on one thing (at a time) and for me I've found that it doesn't cut it. I don't want to be a maniac at only one thing. I'd rather be close to maniac to alot of things. I'm 100% self taught, I don't live in a mansion but I'm doing what I love to do. I've been shifting back and forth between genres as long as I've been doing art (I started with Adobe Photoshop 3 I believe) If you want to make it into the industry my best advise would be, don't get locked up in only one genre, cause then you have only ONE thing to offer and alot of others offer the same thing. Now, if you have a few different things to offer you find your self with alot of doors which all will help you to get to where you want to go. Learn, learn, learn and learn. I've had a few different jobs cause I have a wide spectrum to show of. I'm 24 and still evolving, and I will evolve till my days are up. Read tutorials, get books, videos (really good stuff) post images to get feedback, and practice whenever you can. If you do get the chance to go to school for this, jumt on the wagon, cause it will aid in alot of aspects of your future development as an artist. But don't get locked up in only one thing. That's my advise :)

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Message edited on: 07/28/2005 10:28

Get together a show reel or portfolio of your work. Start sending it around to advertising agencies, local printers etc who may be able to recommend you to customers. Do you really want to turn an enjoyable hobby, where you decide when, where and what you do to a full time job where somebody else decides what you are going to do and how good it is ?

Practice, practice, practice.....and some formal education certainly could help put the pieces together for you. I have been doing digital art in one form or another for over ten years. A few years ago I got my degree in computer art and animation, with the greatest benefit for me coming from the design classes. I've since been working as an illustrator and art director. If you don't necessarily want to go for an entire degree program, you could always check with local community colleges to just take a class or two. Having said all that....the bottom line is get your skills as sharp as possible. All the education in the world is no substitute for talent.

Great advice from all of you! Thank you! :)=) Mark, that's exactly what I am afraid of- turning the hobby into a job! (No offense meant to anyone ...) I know I would like it better than my current "career" (ha ha!) My own business would be nice...hmmm... Logo, I'm one of those people that likes to do lots of different things and gets itchy to do something else as soon as I feel that I've "been there, done that". I seem to have stuck with the computer artwork since I got my first computer 7 years ago, and haven't tired of it yet. (I got a new machine last year with as many bells and whistles as I could afford- so I could run Poser and Photoshop at the same time! :)) I'm always amazed at the things you can do and feel, too, that you can never stop learning- there's so much out there! And one thing seems to lead to something else. I just can't decide where to focus first! Started with Photoshop, found Poser, then the 3D modeling programs, and it goes on... My bookcase is running out of room! :) Seven, I agree about the talent. I've seen some amazing artists on these sites and go "WOW". I've taken art lessons in one form or another since I was a kid. I'm not bad, but I know that I need improvement in quite a few areas. Once out of high school, and having all those adult responsibilities (boo-hiss!), the classroom opportunities certainly lessen. I have learned quite a bit from the artists on these sites. That's why I'm debating going the big route toward a degree, or taking individual courses somewhere. My work schedule doesn't leave much time- that's my biggest issue- therefore I was looking for decent online programs. The one online college that I received info from has the graphic design degrees, and also the game art and design degree. I'd like to learn both, but don't happen to have over $100K just laying around! The one thing I'd hope to learn at a school would be the more technical stuff that sometimes books and online tutorials may leave out. Sometimes I want to know "why?" as well as "how". OK, I'm writing a novel here...I do appreciate you all replying! - Amy

"My own business would be nice...hmmm..." Yes, but you can never get away from the boss. At least if you have a day job you can put it all behind you when you leave. Self-employment's OK, but you do need to make yourself take time off, or you end up doing it 24/7. m ;)

Pearce right...it all seems so nice to be able to enjoy work because it's a hobby as well...well I can tell you that it ain't paradise. I look at my graphics as a hobby, which does bring me some income but still I do it to evolve myself so that I some day might combine it with something else. Pretty much like I do now, only in a smaller scale. I've been doing graphics and music for alot of years, they've been running side by side since I was a kid. I work as a music instructor / manager for 8 guys trying to make it in music, I freelance as a composer for videos and such, I'm a member of a band/group and I try to sell music to those in need AND I got my own projects(which rarely happens)...basically I haven't had a day off since I got one foot inside of the door. If I'm not instructing, I'm hired to do some music...If that's not the case I'm working with my band/group...and if I'm not doing that I have to come up with something to sell (got to have food :) ) and should there be any time left I rarely have the energy to do my own stuff. I haven managed to get a foot inside doing graphics as well so there are times when 24 hours simply isn't enough for me. It does offer some variety of my days though, I guess that's the positive angel of it hehe Be carefull what you wish for, it might come true and become your worst nightmare...do freelancing instead. I used to think that honing my skills in several areas could only do me good, well I'm starting to doubt that now cause life is simply to short to not be able to do what you want cause someone else "demands" something else from you...all the time. We can all survive hating our job for 8 hours a day for a few years, but not when it eats up your entire timetable.

Logo, you're lucky to have the variety that you do! I'm sure it gets overwhelming, but at least you have the knowledge and ability to be able to pick what you enjoy the most and say no to doing things that you aren't so keen on.
And I hear what you're saying about time. There needs to be more hours in a day and days in a week. I work in a small retail store in a popular vacation area and have done so for the last 12 years (did hairdressing previously, but moved out of the state). I now work three 13 to 14 hour days and two 7 hour days. I work those hours because I'm supporting myself and that's what it takes to be able to survive here with no other "professional" training- not because I want to! On the off time of the 7 hour days, I try to work on the website that I'm doing for the store- I do get paid, so it's still working (but fun work!). So on my two days off, it's the housework, etc. and sitting on my butt on the computer playing (and usually getting alot of nothing accomplished!) And there STILL isn't enough time for everything I want to do! And I don't do half the things that you do!
I appreciate the time by myself on my computer, as I'm around the general public the rest of the time (if you've ever worked retail, I'm sure you can catch my drift!)Needless to say, that's why I need a change. My brain is atrophying at this point and when business is slow at work, I go crazy! We don't have a computer there, so I can't even work on the site.
Like anything else, it's all relative, I guess. "The grass is greener..." I just want to properly learn something that I enjoy, where I could advance or change to something else, and make a living off of it. I don't care if I'm not a gazillionaire! I want to be comfortable and at least like what I'm being paid to do. And do the other stuff for fun!
Best of luck to you! :) -A