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

KSlinger 2016-01-08 22:00:54 UTC #61

Archaeological Science...nope!

PixyByte 2016-01-08 22:13:37 UTC #62

LOL wouldn't think so

RioBurton 2016-01-09 21:20:35 UTC #63

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 2016-01-10 17:17:55 UTC #64

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 2016-01-15 16:48:37 UTC #65

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 2016-01-15 17:29:25 UTC #66

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 2016-01-15 20:20:58 UTC #67

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 2016-01-15 22:30:04 UTC #68

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.