What is (or was) your college major? Does it help you with web comics?

[WednesdayAsh]

What is/was your college major?

Medicine.

Does it help you in creating your web comics? Or getting noticed?

No, lol.

What advice would you give an artist going into college?

I'm gonna go asian dad and say, if possible get a medical, law or engineering degree (as a fallback for your art). It is a TOUGH go if you want to make webcomics your main gig, or any art based career as shown in this brilliant comic:

http://spikedrewthis.tumblr.com/post/64136324548/this-is-everything-i-know-a-24-hour-comic-about

The great thing about art is that, as some one says above:

rather than a diploma, it's the portfolio that matters.

You get on youtube, or udemy, or lynda and you study the shit out of whatever you like in your sparetime, and start your webcomic immediately, IMMEDIATELY, DO NOT WAIT and engage the community.

You might ask:

"What if im not good enough?"

Yes, there are Mozarts, or Disney, or Da Vinci's in this world, but you don't need to be the top 0.000001% to create with passion and share with the world. Yr not good enough? GET GOOD AND KEEP MAKING STUFF. Alternatively...

Someone who has an art degree isn't an artist, an "art-blind" person who drew something and shared it with the world IS.

[UzukiCheverie]

2D Animation! And yes, it most certainly has helped with my comics Especially when it comes to layouts, storyboards, etc etc.

Right now I'm definitely trying to make a go of it with my comics as my main gig, but I still do a bit of animating on the side. If I do end up in the animation industry, it will be mostly for concept art, hopefully for video games (that was my main goal for a while, before comics kicked in lol

What advice would you give an artist going into college?

I know I should pardon my language here, but it's so important, I'll say it....

Build a fucking portfolio.

If you're aspiring to be a comic artist, freelance illustrator, animator, graphic designer, whatever it is .... employers don't give a shit if you coached the basketball team in high school or if you've got a degree in "fine arts". If your work is garbage, you're not getting hired. I know a handful of art students who figured they'd "make it big" once they had a degree, but their actual art is - and I know this is harsh to say, but it's just to get the point across - mediocre at best (sometimes complete crap) and they never took the time to build a proper portfolio or make connections with people in the industry; they just spent all their time sitting in a desk and answering history questions on Van Gogh.

Draw as often as you can. Try new things. Step out of your comfort zone. Keep everything. Don't wait until your work is "perfect" before you go looking for work because that day will never, ever come. Discipline yourself. Always work on growing, and don't rely on a piece of paper with your name on it and a signature from the dean to get you work anywhere, especially if you have nothing to show for it. That's how people who haven't gone a day of college outperform those who spent years getting their Master's (and it does happen, this is not just a scare tactic.)

/2harshcents

[kazukitakamura126]

I went to college but a year ago I ran out of funds so I had to drop out. Fortunately it gave alot of fundamental skills I would apply to my comics.

[ratique]

I studied Communication Design back in Germany. Although I always wanted to do illustration, I was well aware that there were little to none illustrator jobs there. That's why I only drew in my spare time.

When I came to the US, I started out as a graphic designer. But once people realized that I could draw as well, they would also put me on illustration jobs - years later I am still doing a mix of illustration and graphic design professionally.

So yes, my degree helped, oddly enough. I am lacking certain skills that I need for my comic though - but I am learning slowly.

[blop]

I went to a high school specialized in applied art (more about design than fine arts), and then I studied animation in college.
I'm not from the US so I don't have any dept hopefully. Looking at american college fees always shock me so much, it's like so big it's seems impossible to pay off.
I learn how to animate and it makes me progress a lot at drawing, but more importantly, college get me to meet a lot of wonderful artists (students, teachers and people who would come to the school to talk about their work) and get more knowledge and be more open-minded about art, especially cinema and comics.
For me the relationship part was the most important, cause you can learn how to draw and get more knowledge from books or internet, but meet the right people who maybe will help you in your future career is pretty important, and it's harder to do it without any help, especially if you are, like me, super shy.
It's also a good thing to be around other creative people so you can feed one another's art.

[PixyByte]

@WednesdayAsh The only problem with getting a medical, law, or engineering degree is that my interests are mainly in art and design. I do love psychology, and neuroscience, but enough to go to an expensive college for it? I don't think so. Besides, if I did go those routes, how would I be able to network and learn from fellow artists in college, as many have posted as a benefit to studying in a creative field? I'm actively trying to find work, so having a website and a comic going helps a little when looking in art related fields. Right up until they say I need a degree, not just a portfolio. Not sure where all you guys are hearing that portfolio's are more important than diplomas, because it's been the other way around for me. So frustrating. But I am always going on youtube for tutorials so at least my creative knowledge is expanding lol. I don't need to be the best artist around, I just want to become a good one who tells good stories, and can make a decent living off it. As I think a lot of artists with their heads in the clouds say.

@blop Yeah college debt is no joke here. It varies so much person to person as to how much it actually is worth all those dollars. I can definitely see how being around other artists would be beneficial, but I am shy just like you. So trying to get people interested in my art is quite difficult when it's just you.

[blop]

That's where college helps, cause you meet people and become friends without any effort

[PixyByte]

Yay for instant friends! lol

[Airgita]

Obviously studying something in visual arts will help you with the technical aspects of drawing comics but I feel like, from what I've heard, what's even more valuable from studying art is the network you get to build in school With your peers and/or your professors.

I'm taking economics at school and I think it helps in that deepening or broadening my understanding on certain subjects or fields means I have more interesting things to write about on the matter. You see comics like Saturday Morning Breakfast Cartoons or Hark! A Vagrant that cover all these really interesting but pretty esoteric subjects that makes them so amazing.

My advice, if I'm even in the position to give any, is to keep learning about all sorts of subject matters that you find interesting but to also work really hard to nail the technical visual stuff so you can produce content that has solid stories and beautiful art. No matter what you end up going to school for.

Good luck!

[WednesdayAsh]

Keep in mind you're talking about 2 seperate things:

1. Make it as an independent webcomic artist (which takes creativity, a degree does diddly squat)
2. Make it as an art-based professional (which takes skill, a degree would help)

To make it as a webcomic artist, you just write a good story, draw decently for your story, table conventions, submit to publshers, connect with the RIGHT people, skip college all together if yr super confident (please dont do this). Actual artists that are actually making creative art (instead of pretentious "critics" who populate some art schools).

If you do enter art school, in any discipline, ask your self this.

Would you mind (barely) making a living doing 3d animation, concept arting, matte paining, modeling, whatever WITHOUT creative input?

Not to mention bad clients that are around circling you like vultures for your art scraps offering "exposure".

Also remember even if you make a great work of art as a team, being a grunt:

More Than 400 'Life of Pi' Visual Effects Artists Protested The Oscars

Cause that's what being a professional is, doing things to get paid irrespective of what you like to do.

Only a minority of us make it, give your self the best chance to survive.

[WednesdayAsh]

Sidebar: If you do go to art school, enter something that helps with 3-D Printing. Thats the future, and you are not limited to "creative" jobs. You can help build tools in space!

[PixyByte]

Thanks to everyone who posted! All very good advice, I greatly appreciate it.
I am leaning towards Graphic Design, or Graphic Design and Digital Media (which covers websites and animation, and everything in between). Part of me wants to go into Psychology, but I want to be able to hang out with my fellow artists and network. I definitely plan on doing my research before I make a decision, and whatever path I choose, I will do my best to actively participate and learn from others.

[KSlinger]

Archaeological Science...nope!

[PixyByte]

LOL wouldn't think so

[RioBurton]

I completed my studies in the UK so I just got to focus strictly on illustration. I have a BA degree in Illustration now.

As for my own experiences it did massively help, save for my final year! First of all when I studied it was expensive, but manageable. Now England's tuition costs have increased so much I wouldn't be able to go back, especially with changes made to the student visas. (I am American, so had to have a visa to study there). My first tutor had worked for DC comics and was a hard man to please. He pushed us hard, but all the advise he gave was really gold. His experience and talent gave me a lot of respect for what he had to say even if we butted heads a lot. I think the best thing I took away from him is speed. We had insane deadlines, but still needed to maintain the highest quality we could in each project. I had to learn to balance speed, quality, sleep as well as other aspects of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. In my final year our class was merged with another and we were given new tutors. One of my tutors actually said to me during one project.. "well I don't know what is involved in making or publishing comics so I could be completely wrong." Just to give you an example lol. At the time I was working on a short comic. What I took away from them was to never let anyone steer you away from what you want to do. There is a difference between criticism and ignorance. Only you can make your dreams come true, and it won't happen by talking about it. Less talking and more doing!

I did learn a lot from my education, and it gave me more time to work on my art. If I had stayed in the US I don't think I would have bothered to go to college. The game feels too rigged here to leave students in massive amounts of debt. I think that is strictly your choice though and I do believe it has a lot to do with your tutors and what kind of focus you will be given. One of my friends took illustration at another university and her tutors were so laid back she was never really busy. Yeah that's an easy degree to get, BUT you're not taking anything away from it. At the end of the day I think clients care more about the quality of your portfolio than a degree. I have not had a client ask me about my degrees yet!

[PixyByte]

Wow it sounds like you've had quite an experience with your art education! What made you decide to go to England to study? To avoid massive debt, I was considering a community college over a university. It will be easier to pay for, but the support of an art community isn't there and I am not sure how good the professors are yet.

[RioBurton]

It's a long story, but had gone over there to visit the year before and liked what I saw. Had some problems at home so it seemed like the best way to get away and start over.

The cool thing is, even if you go to community college now it's not like university is going anywhere! If you didn't get what you wanted from college, and feel like uni is the way to go then you can always go back. Of course money is always a factor, but if its something you believe in you can make it work.

[mappypaint]

I took Fine Arts in college. My major is Industrial Design... It did help my webcomic making in many ways. Since industrial design is like a mix of art and engineering, I learned to design stuff that people use. I learned the major rule of "form follows function" in design. In my comics, it helped with the concept car design, perspective views, and many more. A lot of people hate drawing cars, but i'm the opposite and I love drawing them thanks to my design background.

[Shanny8]

Took graphics/design/advertising in college. Never did pursue a career as a graphic desgner(when I got out of college, design was 1st starting to make the transition to digital; I wasnt as proficient at Photoshop & Illustrator, and that lack of skill plus lack of confidence held me back for a LONG time). But in a way, not pursuing that career was also a blessing- my day gig has NOTHING to do with art, so I'm craving to do art most of the time when I get home in the eve and on weekends. My skills in graphics, design, and advertising now serve me well, as I can practically design a whole entire comic book.

[Dingbat1991]

Communication design, which is the marketing side of graphic design. The art developing wasn't really so intensive as the brainstorming and layout planning so I had to self-teach myself some techniques that I can at least get a leg-up make the design more presentable.

The major does help but more-so out of self-motivation.