There's one that everyone forgets. Community College!! Especially for people who aren't great at studying online and/or are just new to studying art, Community colleges can get people starter for very cheap and in an actual classroom with the useful responsibility of class deadlines. Community Colleges often only need you to have a high school degree and with financial aid is generally free or even at full price at my local community college is less than 200$ for a semester!
Yes community colleges are a great place to start. I got an Associates Degree in Fine Arts (AFA) from the local community college for less that $4000.00.
Yesss! I went to a community college for animation next to one of the top animation schools in the world and i literally had some of the same teachers for 5% of the cost per semester!
That’s still adds up! I went to community college as well as my state college for art and art school and honestly, the biggest take away I got from any of it, was the critiques and making work with other artists. I was required to take classes (and pay for them😖) I didn’t need or even want to take (many were way too easy for me and I couldn’t just pass out of them which is ridiculous because you’re paying for info to be thrown your way that you already know and the rest of the classes had absolutely nothing at all to do with my art degree) and still haven’t used any of the ‘extra’ info I ‘learned’ since I left school nearly 20 yrs ago and I don’t imagine any of that has changed since then either! Since then, I have been a sponge for self learning and have gained FAR MORE doing so on my own and ACTUALLY used that info since then and in many things that I still do when many art today! Being self taught isn’t that hard and you actually get an education that truly serves your needs 100%! Having said that, I’m STILL paying off that student debt from loans and ‘aid’ from going to school that long ago! I don’t recommend college unless you can pay for it upfront OR unless you’re going for something that really requires a degree for your career. Art is NOT one of those career fields! 😂
This information is hugely helpful to have, thank you. I’m at a point in my life where I want to retrain in art, after a career I did not love. In my 40’s, quite frankly the last thing I feel emotionally up for is in person classes, and education debt after taking years to pay off the first round of it. Thanks so much for this video.
@@tcttvradioMy sister fell for that “college” trap and most of the knowledge she got was irrelevant and outdated, the rest was easily accessible to get from online courses, the only reason to keep going is the degree which was clearly useless by the time of graduation.
I've tried NMA, SVS and currently Schoolism, and all of them are great! I've learned a lot from all of them. My favorite teachers from each are Steve Huston's (NMA) and Lee White (SVS.) If you can guys, give it a try!
That is interesting. I found Steve Huston's art to be great, but I learned nothing I could use personally in my art. He was very particular about materials and in one course specified a sketch book that was no longer being manufactured and gave no indication what would be a satisfactory substitute. NMA was no help when I asked them. By the way my experience with NMA was a bconsist lack of support. Steve indicated that any other sketch book would limit what you could expect to get out of the course. When a teacher tells you that if you don't do something you will fail, seems to set the student up for failure. So, I never finished the course. A true waste of time-chasing materials!
@@fredkeebler7820 oh that's interesting. I didn't have that experience because, materials wise, I used what I had. But regarding his teaching... I took his constructive figure drawing class and it helped me to clarify tons of concepts that I didn't understood with other teachers on other courses. And it gave me some useful insights on how approach figure drawing and some anatomy. Gotta say every student is different but, personally, I gained a lot of knowledge from his class. Sad to hear you had a bad experience with it
I would also suggest seeking out your local arts community. It’s amazing the opportunities that are just within a few miles of you. I also suggest following a lot of local artists because some may have amazing UA-cam channels. And lastly, I am a huge advocate of the community college route. I also got my arts degree through community college. However, the beginning drawing courses I took, looking back were pretty low caliber compared to what I learned later at a classical atelier.
It is heartening to see how many more affordable options there are available to artists and for anyone with the discipline, they are wonderful alternatives to paying big $$ for art school. However, art school isn't just about the "learning", it is also about establishing friendships and networks that provide community and opportunities that might not be available with self directed learning. Particularly for young people, I think that is a big plus.
Most of these alternatives offer communities as well! The networking opportunities in online communities are even better than those offered at some schools IMO.
@@KelseyRodriguez To a degree there are nurturing online communities, but as someone who lives very remotely, it's not the same thing. Posting your work on an art forum can get some good critique, however nothing beats getting together with a few artist friends and spending the day creating and talking art and critiquing each other's work. Also, good luck networking with owners of high end galleries online, it just doesn't happen.
I did half my education at community college and the other half at an art school in Paris and I have to say, the community college really inspired by and invigorated me, I think very fondly of that time. I felt like I had so much freedom just to express and they fostered my style. But then when I went to art school, they killed my style to try and teach me how to just be an illustrator and it took a while to get my love for art back. But that could also due to the fact that I felt pigeon holed into illustration because the fine art department didn't like representational art.
Thank you Kelsey I really appreciate your sharing on affordable options here. Being broke is a reality for many of us and all the way along through your educational videos you are encouraging and offer realistic advice for people who have few monetary means. Between sharing your own background story and practical advice to others in similar situations you offer hope and a value can’t be placed on that ❤
Thank you for this, I’m currently in community college and I’m deciding whether to go to art school or use some resources online without going to art school. I want to save money and this is perfect.
Love the alternative education angle but I would add that the 4 year university is still a valid path if you have scholarships. There are a lot of resources out there, especially for low income individuals.
Can you provide a legitimate link to those resources? That way those of us who are in school or thinking about it can access them without drowning in scholarships scams and junk mail. Thanks.
I will say that I have been LOVING New Master's Academy. I bought my subscription last December when they had a sale -it was half off so i only paid $256. I just hope I can afford to renew my subscription this year. I love that they have different paths that you can take with everything already laid out.
I'm so happy I found this channel and video. I've been working through some intense mental health troubles, and I've been wanting to start drawing to help regulate myself. Thank you for these!
Thank you! I should’ve started this awhile ago but I think Imma start making a mass resource list written down about your suggested resources and the sponsors you advertise. I like all of your info and I’ve been watching you long enough that I realize not writing down all your resources means that I’ve forgotten a lot of them too. Terrible memory 😢 But I’m so serious about this and I’m literally even though moving slomo on my plans - SO mUcH CLoSer to being able to progress on my art this year than I was last year and it’s time to make use of all the resources you provide and line up what resources you provide to aspects of my goals where they would help speed up that step of the plan. Fr- as someone SAHMing a toddler w another on the way - I TRULY APPRECIATE the amount of VALUE and INFORMATION you compile into videos for busy overloaded, low energy, and financially struggling people like me to use. It’s really inspirational to see others making it and sharing their path where I thought I was going to have to figure this out alone taking a mass amount of time doing all the research alone. I’m hoping in the next year or two I can start sharing what I do with people.
art schools or university art has always been expensive with loans etc. thanks for this kelsey. it is beneficial to have to listen to and show these ways of doing the art/design skill sources.
Such great info - thanks for this Kelsey! I had heard of all of these except NMA so I'm really glad to be aware. Beautifully delivered and produced as always :) Keep up the great work - cheers!
As someone who went to art school, it's pretty much a waste to go to a 4 year university for traditional art (painting, sculpture, illustration, etc.). The only thing that makes money is design. If you go into some sort of digital design, you'll actually be able to pay your loans. If you really want to be a traditional artist, do not go to a 4 year private school. Go to a public uni or some place where you can go to school for less than 20k.
@ public university should be good enough. Not going to university and just getting an apprenticeship might be better. No one really cares about your degree these days. Your portfolio is a better representation of your skills imo.
Spot on about the Cgma part . Before investing in some long term program at vertex school, cgma , gnomon etc … take one course to see if the school “works” for you . Worst comes to worst and you have the teaching style , the teacher etc… well then you are only out one course as opposed to spending 1000s on a track and finding out you don’t like that track .
I first found out about NMA from one of your videos. I recently signed up for their 4 year program, and its been so wonderful for me. Thank you for your awesome content.
I went to Idea academy Rome, great value for money! It’s a visual development school & they have an animation course as well! I did the fundamentals year online & later I attended master level 1 on site! highly recommend it ❤ ✨x joy
Thank so much for this video. I have been looking for a school to attend to become an illustrator. I was going to sign up for an in-person school near me which costs $2000 per year. It teaches traditional art but it’s not really what I want to learn. After watching your video I realized that I really would like to learn illustration. You broke everything down for me and now I know what school to attend. Thank you again.
Hi Kelsey, thanks for your videos- I really enjoy them and I always learn something new!! I was wondering if you have heard of The Old Masters Academy? They teach you the basics of oil painting like colour theory & materials and then delve into techniques used by Titian and Rembrandt. I think it's mostly figure painting with a bit of landscapes in between. Do you have any insight on value for money? Or on the course's usefulness for a beginner, since it looks to be aimed at people who are more advanced?
i can barely afford rent let alone school, imma just make my own program full of free resources and stuff ive already bought, proko, line of action, and youtubers are a huge help
Thank you so much for this video. I been struggling to find an affordable Art school to go to but my family doesn’t have thousands of dollars to make that happen. Which is something I have accepted however my parents are sad because they can’t which hurts me, I never want them to feel this way. I wouldn’t have found these resources on my own so thank you so much. Side note: Artist don’t need a bachelors degree to feel like they accomplished something it’s the experience, learning tools, and your talent that lands you a job. Not a degree. ❤❤
Love this video! There's also in a lot of major cities community art classes that meet up weekly! I've been going to the UTSA community art program on the weekends and you're actually taught by the professors at the school for a fraction of a fraction of what it would cost. I paid $230 for 8 classes!
I've taken CGMA courses before. Great quality, good teachers, fun classroom vibes. You pay for community, Critique, QA, and class structure. There classes are average 700 which is pretty standard for an 8-10 week course equivalent to a semester. So 10000 dollars is like 14 classes. Id recommend and shout out to the Oatly Academy!!!
I learned how to build so much equipment and so many tools in school, and had the absolute freedom to do it for 4 years. I agree that the foundational stuff is pointless, and there is no reason for much of the first two years of college if you are an artist, but the sheer scale of the information and tools I had access to on a daily basis were completely worth the ticket price. Not only am I a capable studio artist, but I can pivot into many different industries because of my technical knowledge.
It's true. At the risk of sounding boastful, I've been a full-time artist since 2012. No commercial work, no commissions, doing exactly what I want the whole way through. The first years were very difficult financially but it helped having zero student debt. Completely self taught, zero dollars spent on any online courses in the first years. Recently I have purchased a video or two and taken a workshop for fun. There's just so much out there. I think a workshop with an artist you choose is 1,000x better than art school (from what I've heard) because you never know who you're going to get for instructors with a large institution. Go right for the info you want.
i only was able to go to uni was because the Scottish government has set up a student loan system where you only start paying it back once you start earning a certain amount, i really wish they had something like this in north america. would help so many people. nice list of other school options, really going to look at the visual story telling one 😀
Not me watching this after already finishing my masters degree 😭 You're right to some extent but an MA in art helped me contextualise my work and understand where it fits in the world and not only learn how to draw and I think that's really important as well if not more important
If theres one thing that makes art shcool tempting it would be the structured learning environment it provides in a space separate from home. Where your given a clear road to improvement with peers to compare and contrast yourself too with the change in environment encouraging work separate from a space full of distractions with quick feedback from professionals. The resources you provide here are really interesting and i really liked the video, ill be checking these out! 👍
Don't do art school online (that's what I did at Sheridan College in Ontario, Canada). NOT having 1-on-1guidance is frustrating. My student loans are accumulating interest, and I'm not working. Your city, province, or country may have mentorship/art exploration grants. Hire a grant writer to help you stand out. Community colleges are great too , and cheaper. Also, have a system and endgame for your art career.
I agree that the cost of higher education is expensive and it has taken me years to pay back my student loan. However, do not underestimate the benefits of studying at University. I have entered into online courses and in my experience none of them compare with the facilities and academic expertise you’ll find within a reputable university setting. Also, the relationships you make during a 3 year degree course go the distance. You get what you pay for.
I don’t think art school is useless, and everyone’s experiences are different! But some programs costs so much and deliver so little that a combination of online courses & communities and free resources, partnered with diligent self study, could honestly replace them. You could even use these resources in conjunction with a regular degree 💗
@@KelseyRodriguez Yes, I’m speaking from my own experience and art school is not for everyone. The online courses I’ve taken could not replace my experience at art schools. Being in daily contact with a diverse range of artists, tutors and disciplines in a physical setting provides so much inspiration and challenges that help you grow as an artist. Going to an art gallery and standing in front of the work can’t be replicated online, I feel the same about art school.
All great choices. I can absolutely vouch for NMA, CGMA, Schoolism and suggest Art of Aaron Blaise if you are into 2D animation! Sounds weird, but if you don't mind being far away from home, consider also coming to study in Europe! Some schools are overly expensive in US, with that amount of money you can do programs here in very good schools.
My end goal is to paint. I wish I knew how much drawing and how far I need to get into some of these programs to be able to safely transition and know what I need to start painting.
Thank you the very informative video! Being rather broke right now, it's nice to see there are still options to learn how to improve at drawing without putting myself in further debt! Just curious, of these options, which one would be best to teach someone how to learn digital art, as in learns the ins and out of drawing software, from the ground up?
I’d check out NMA for the fundamentals and some digital art courses and then maybe turn to YT for intermediate stuff before considering CGMA or Schoolism for more advanced topics!
I feel like you are more of a business woman than somebody who wants to make very good art. Your content and your advice in this video make me believe that.
@@env1878 I mean that she is very keen to sell products and services and not as excited to transform interested persons into high quality artists. Her advice was heavily biased towards things she can gain from rather than things the viewer may truly gain from.
I had to drop out at the end of my junior year of art school due to personal reasons, and now I’m debating whether I should finish my degree online or start over with a business degree. I don’t want to waste my degree if I only have one more year…so I was wondering if anyone knew any online art university where I can finish my degree that isn’t overly expensive?
Too late for me 😢. I been drowning in college debt for years. Went to get the fancy piece of paper because places weren’t interested. I already had the design and art skills. Now more companies I applied at are outsourcing to other countries to pay less or using ai.
can you pls suggest any graphic design course or website to learn all about graphic design from basics to advance, i don't want to go to any institutions and spend more
Is virtual art school really good because I know I'm a visual learner and watching a video and not being in the actual room could mess with me. I tried doing community college but dropped out cause I could not keep up with math and the other classes when all I wanted to do was learn art. Now I live in South Carolina and I cant find that good of any art schools to go to in person. The only thing I see that is art based and taught in online schools.
so what if you have to get out of your country with school visa because of problems but you're only interested in art ,what would you do ? oh and you're on a budget
I've taken a Udemy course. You get what you pay for-- basically, not a lot. Like SkillShare, the courses I've taken have been very shallow, like dipping your toes in, but not the full plunge. I'd only use those sorts of sites for finding a new path to try with low risk. They aren't further education.
Every art school teaches the fundamentals, even community colleges. And someone going to art school can dedicate themselves to art for those 4 years while the people teaching themselves have to fit in art around their regular lives. People teaching themselves also won't have the connections people going to art school will have. Over and above all of that, you really should tell people that you're an affiliate for some of these programs. Transparency is important. That being said, I definitely don't think everyone needs to go to art school or should go to art school. Art school is expensive as freak. But there's also a big difference between dedicating 4 years of your life to learning and doing art vs working a 9 to 5 and doing art in your free time.
the only platform on this list i’m an affiliate for is NMA, but I’ve been singing their praises long before that, and disclose this relationship in the description. I have a tracked link with SVS but I earn nothing from people using it. I agree that art schools have value and that they’re not for everyone, so it seems like we’re pretty aligned here!
It’s difficult to quit your job and go to school full time so you can focus on just studying. Most people cannot afford to do that. Expecting that you’ll have a career waiting for you at the end of it, in such a volatile, highly competitive market, and also considering that AI is starting to flip the industry on its head, it’s just not worth the risk for a lot of people. You could end up jobless, with tens and thousands in debt. Or you could self study, become part of an online community while also making money at your day job, and achieve the same level of skill albeit at a slower pace but with zero dollars in debt.
Europe is not even better; Western art universities are expensive too, and it's unavailable for someone like me who lives in Poland. In Poland we have art universities but they primarily teach classic subjects not things like concept art, 3D etc.
i just wish there was something that mimics that of a professor standing there expecting something of you, if i self-teach for 10 years before college i get executive dysfunction and standstill
Kelsey have you looked into Visual Arts Passage at all? I'm interested in the illustration mentorship - its 10weeks and they do 3 hour long live classes on saturdays - its 1199 each mentorship which is a lot but I do think a structured, accountable environment serves me, but I'd love to hear feedback from someone about it
Be smart man, if your getting a free ride through college (parents etc) then shift over to something like business/ marketing and keep studying art in your free time by the end you will be able to live comfortably off your art. If its not a free ride then yeah whatever drop out
yeah our art school prof just gives us handouts 2 piece of xeroxed legal size paper on which the instruction what topic we need to draw for the class today, give us instructions for 20 minutes then he will go around watching if we do things right and he'll go away until 5 minutes before our class dismissal. literally just there to take tuition lmao Sure, he tells us there's no spoonfeeding in university, but I'm pretty sure in Drawing131 class meant for freshmen, the direct constant contact of prof is still needed. I am safe because I just went to school to fulfill my other dream, but i can see some 10 dissapointed kids who realized they'd spend more time learning off youtube to review then complete the homework given to them during studio class. We are doing Bargue plates. what i am saying here is literally UA-cam online art tips or full lecture videos will be enough to teach you basics until intermediate levels but can't give you the bachelor of arts or whatever diploma that you will write on your cv or resume in addition to your portfolio you will present. if your art school prof leaves you alone regularly at freshmen year and has rumors that will spend only time more with graduating students, time to shift in degrees that will help your nation economy and just return to art school later.
Mfw I went to art school for a trimester and could barely socialize with the people there ;-: shit was like twitter and Reddit rolled into one irl melting pot of cliques
I already decided not to go to college (partly to prove to family that you can have an art career withought an expensive degree) everything you can learn in college you can learn online for free
It would be better to get and Engineering degree. That’s what I did and it worked out really well. Everyone can call themselves ann artist not true for Engineering.
What are these fundamentals that art schools don't teach? I have heard many definitions of art fundamentals. After 14 years, I think I may know what they are. What do you consider the fundamentals of art?
The point of going to art school or any other type of college or university is not to learn anything. The point is to get the connections needed to get into the industry you would like to go into. You can be very well self educated through youtube and online academy's, but it still may not get you anywhere because it does not connect you to the recruiters and companies you want to hire you. You pay for access.
Yeah, I went to the Art Institute and it wasn't worth it. At the time, years ago I was unaware of the difference between a 'for profit' school and one geared and setup for the students.
May I ask how you got good at speaking? Have you ever struggled addressing audiences or just speaking into a camera? I struggle w initiating conversation as it is but speaking to a camera is worse
Me side eyeing myself - somehow while it’s not possible to side eye yourself without looking at a mirror- when you said “I watch them on 2x” 😅i have to watch majority of videos on 2x otherwise my brain isn’t able to stay hyper fixated and keeps zoning so I have to 2x it to force the focus
None of these are accredited universities, they're online courses or resources! Depending on what you want to do, you may not need a degree. For creative careers, your portfolio and experience are a lot more impactful!
the point of this video is that a lot of art careers don’t require a degree. Degrees don’t equal knowledge, and these resources can give you a comparable skill set at a fraction of the price. None of them give you a degree like a traditional university, but some do have professional certifications
*:starts building time machine to stop 18 yo me from entering into a life-time of student loan debt.:* Also, the prices for CGI-based courses may seem expensive but it is actually pretty standard for that market. When I went to college the software license alone for 3D Studio Max was $4K and they did NOT offer student discounts at the time.
I subscribed to NMA for three years. Always hoping I would get what I was looking for. No such luck for me. So I no longer subscribe and have found an online studio and if your live in San Francisco an in person studio, that answers all my questions and provides me with bi-weekly feedbacks. The cost is $69.00 per month opposed to NMA $59.00 per month with a yearly subscription with no feedback. In just 3 months of the new school, I learn more useful skills than 3 years of NMA. Having the right school makes all the difference. A vast number of unconnected classes didn't work as good as a focused limited number of classes with a definitive goal and with feedback.
@@fredkeebler7820 A shame that NMA didn't work out for you. It seems like we learn really differently. I currently pay 25€ per month and can quit monthly, so it's absolutely worth it for me. I get my feedback by attending weekly drawing classes in different locations. It has helped me a lot and is absolutely necessary, since studying alone works best for me but quickly becomes pretty lonely. It's amazing that you found a more satisfying and efficient way for yourself.
There's one that everyone forgets. Community College!! Especially for people who aren't great at studying online and/or are just new to studying art, Community colleges can get people starter for very cheap and in an actual classroom with the useful responsibility of class deadlines. Community Colleges often only need you to have a high school degree and with financial aid is generally free or even at full price at my local community college is less than 200$ for a semester!
Community colleges are great!! Absolutely a fantastic option.
Yes community colleges are a great place to start. I got an Associates Degree in Fine Arts (AFA) from the local community college for less that $4000.00.
Yesss! I went to a community college for animation next to one of the top animation schools in the world and i literally had some of the same teachers for 5% of the cost per semester!
That’s still adds up! I went to community college as well as my state college for art and art school and honestly, the biggest take away I got from any of it, was the critiques and making work with other artists. I was required to take classes (and pay for them😖) I didn’t need or even want to take (many were way too easy for me and I couldn’t just pass out of them which is ridiculous because you’re paying for info to be thrown your way that you already know and the rest of the classes had absolutely nothing at all to do with my art degree) and still haven’t used any of the ‘extra’ info I ‘learned’ since I left school nearly 20 yrs ago and I don’t imagine any of that has changed since then either! Since then, I have been a sponge for self learning and have gained FAR MORE doing so on my own and ACTUALLY used that info since then and in many things that I still do when many art today! Being self taught isn’t that hard and you actually get an education that truly serves your needs 100%!
Having said that, I’m STILL paying off that student debt from loans and ‘aid’ from going to school that long ago! I don’t recommend college unless you can pay for it upfront OR unless you’re going for something that really requires a degree for your career. Art is NOT one of those career fields! 😂
heh.. i wish it was that here. Here its $3k a semester. Minimal Financial Aide aside from high cost loans.
This information is hugely helpful to have, thank you. I’m at a point in my life where I want to retrain in art, after a career I did not love. In my 40’s, quite frankly the last thing I feel emotionally up for is in person classes, and education debt after taking years to pay off the first round of it. Thanks so much for this video.
Me already in £40k worth of student debt watching this video 👁👄👁
oof, i’m sorry 😭
Run, don’t walk before it’s more! 😂
The video is nonsense, online courses don’t touch the edge of tertiary education.
Rip
@@tcttvradioMy sister fell for that “college” trap and most of the knowledge she got was irrelevant and outdated, the rest was easily accessible to get from online courses, the only reason to keep going is the degree which was clearly useless by the time of graduation.
I've tried NMA, SVS and currently Schoolism, and all of them are great! I've learned a lot from all of them. My favorite teachers from each are Steve Huston's (NMA) and Lee White (SVS.) If you can guys, give it a try!
That is interesting. I found Steve Huston's art to be great, but I learned nothing I could use personally in my art. He was very particular about materials and in one course specified a sketch book that was no longer being manufactured and gave no indication what would be a satisfactory substitute. NMA was no help when I asked them. By the way my experience with NMA was a bconsist lack of support. Steve indicated that any other sketch book would limit what you could expect to get out of the course. When a teacher tells you that if you don't do something you will fail, seems to set the student up for failure. So, I never finished the course. A true waste of time-chasing materials!
@@fredkeebler7820 oh that's interesting. I didn't have that experience because, materials wise, I used what I had. But regarding his teaching... I took his constructive figure drawing class and it helped me to clarify tons of concepts that I didn't understood with other teachers on other courses. And it gave me some useful insights on how approach figure drawing and some anatomy. Gotta say every student is different but, personally, I gained a lot of knowledge from his class. Sad to hear you had a bad experience with it
I would also suggest seeking out your local arts community. It’s amazing the opportunities that are just within a few miles of you. I also suggest following a lot of local artists because some may have amazing UA-cam channels. And lastly, I am a huge advocate of the community college route. I also got my arts degree through community college. However, the beginning drawing courses I took, looking back were pretty low caliber compared to what I learned later at a classical atelier.
It is heartening to see how many more affordable options there are available to artists and for anyone with the discipline, they are wonderful alternatives to paying big $$ for art school. However, art school isn't just about the "learning", it is also about establishing friendships and networks that provide community and opportunities that might not be available with self directed learning. Particularly for young people, I think that is a big plus.
Most of these alternatives offer communities as well! The networking opportunities in online communities are even better than those offered at some schools IMO.
@@KelseyRodriguez To a degree there are nurturing online communities, but as someone who lives very remotely, it's not the same thing. Posting your work on an art forum can get some good critique, however nothing beats getting together with a few artist friends and spending the day creating and talking art and critiquing each other's work. Also, good luck networking with owners of high end galleries online, it just doesn't happen.
@KelseyRodriguez, so why do these schools charge so much
I did half my education at community college and the other half at an art school in Paris and I have to say, the community college really inspired by and invigorated me, I think very fondly of that time. I felt like I had so much freedom just to express and they fostered my style. But then when I went to art school, they killed my style to try and teach me how to just be an illustrator and it took a while to get my love for art back. But that could also due to the fact that I felt pigeon holed into illustration because the fine art department didn't like representational art.
Hi, do you mind sharing which school you attended in Paris? Did you transfer?
Thank you Kelsey I really appreciate your sharing on affordable options here. Being broke is a reality for many of us and all the way along through your educational videos you are encouraging and offer realistic advice for people who have few monetary means. Between sharing your own background story and practical advice to others in similar situations you offer hope and a value can’t be placed on that ❤
Thank you for this, I’m currently in community college and I’m deciding whether to go to art school or use some resources online without going to art school. I want to save money and this is perfect.
Love the alternative education angle but I would add that the 4 year university is still a valid path if you have scholarships. There are a lot of resources out there, especially for low income individuals.
Can you provide a legitimate link to those resources? That way those of us who are in school or thinking about it can access them without drowning in scholarships scams and junk mail. Thanks.
Agreed or going to community and switching your credits to a university can be cheaper. To each it’s own ( I think that how it goes)
Scholarships will hardly put a dent in the 20k/year tuition lmao.
I will say that I have been LOVING New Master's Academy. I bought my subscription last December when they had a sale -it was half off so i only paid $256. I just hope I can afford to renew my subscription this year.
I love that they have different paths that you can take with everything already laid out.
I'm so happy I found this channel and video. I've been working through some intense mental health troubles, and I've been wanting to start drawing to help regulate myself. Thank you for these!
Thank you! I should’ve started this awhile ago but I think Imma start making a mass resource list written down about your suggested resources and the sponsors you advertise. I like all of your info and I’ve been watching you long enough that I realize not writing down all your resources means that I’ve forgotten a lot of them too. Terrible memory 😢
But I’m so serious about this and I’m literally even though moving slomo on my plans - SO mUcH CLoSer to being able to progress on my art this year than I was last year and it’s time to make use of all the resources you provide and line up what resources you provide to aspects of my goals where they would help speed up that step of the plan. Fr- as someone SAHMing a toddler w another on the way - I TRULY APPRECIATE the amount of VALUE and INFORMATION you compile into videos for busy overloaded, low energy, and financially struggling people like me to use. It’s really inspirational to see others making it and sharing their path where I thought I was going to have to figure this out alone taking a mass amount of time doing all the research alone. I’m hoping in the next year or two I can start sharing what I do with people.
art schools or university art has always been expensive with loans etc. thanks for this kelsey. it is beneficial to have to listen to and show these ways of doing the art/design skill sources.
I have been using Watts Atelier online, Domestika, and Line of Action. Thanks for telling me about NMA!
Oh wow, I've been using Watts Atelier too, how has your expirience been so far?
Such great info - thanks for this Kelsey! I had heard of all of these except NMA so I'm really glad to be aware. Beautifully delivered and produced as always :) Keep up the great work - cheers!
As someone who went to art school, it's pretty much a waste to go to a 4 year university for traditional art (painting, sculpture, illustration, etc.). The only thing that makes money is design. If you go into some sort of digital design, you'll actually be able to pay your loans.
If you really want to be a traditional artist, do not go to a 4 year private school. Go to a public uni or some place where you can go to school for less than 20k.
What if I want to be a tatoo artist ?
@ public university should be good enough. Not going to university and just getting an apprenticeship might be better. No one really cares about your degree these days. Your portfolio is a better representation of your skills imo.
Spot on about the Cgma part . Before investing in some long term program at vertex school, cgma , gnomon etc … take one course to see if the school “works” for you . Worst comes to worst and you have the teaching style , the teacher etc… well then you are only out one course as opposed to spending 1000s on a track and finding out you don’t like that track .
I first found out about NMA from one of your videos. I recently signed up for their 4 year program, and its been so wonderful for me. Thank you for your awesome content.
that's amazing!! I hope you enjoy it!
I went to Idea academy Rome, great value for money! It’s a visual development school & they have an animation course as well! I did the fundamentals year online & later I attended master level 1 on site! highly recommend it ❤ ✨x joy
Ooh thanks for mentioning this!! Looks like a great option!
Thank so much for this video. I have been looking for a school to attend to become an illustrator. I was going to sign up for an in-person school near me which costs $2000 per year. It teaches traditional art but it’s not really what I want to learn. After watching your video I realized that I really would like to learn illustration. You broke everything down for me and now I know what school to attend. Thank you again.
Hi Kelsey, thanks for your videos- I really enjoy them and I always learn something new!!
I was wondering if you have heard of The Old Masters Academy? They teach you the basics of oil painting like colour theory & materials and then delve into techniques used by Titian and Rembrandt. I think it's mostly figure painting with a bit of landscapes in between. Do you have any insight on value for money? Or on the course's usefulness for a beginner, since it looks to be aimed at people who are more advanced?
i can barely afford rent let alone school, imma just make my own program full of free resources and stuff ive already bought, proko, line of action, and youtubers are a huge help
Thank you so much for this video. I been struggling to find an affordable Art school to go to but my family doesn’t have thousands of dollars to make that happen. Which is something I have accepted however my parents are sad because they can’t which hurts me, I never want them to feel this way. I wouldn’t have found these resources on my own so thank you so much.
Side note: Artist don’t need a bachelors degree to feel like they accomplished something it’s the experience, learning tools, and your talent that lands you a job. Not a degree. ❤❤
Love this video! There's also in a lot of major cities community art classes that meet up weekly! I've been going to the UTSA community art program on the weekends and you're actually taught by the professors at the school for a fraction of a fraction of what it would cost. I paid $230 for 8 classes!
I've taken CGMA courses before. Great quality, good teachers, fun classroom vibes. You pay for community, Critique, QA, and class structure. There classes are average 700 which is pretty standard for an 8-10 week course equivalent to a semester. So 10000 dollars is like 14 classes.
Id recommend and shout out to the Oatly Academy!!!
Thanks so much for this! Your vids always give me hope I can achieve my art goals.😁
I’m so glad! That’s the goal with all of this 💗
I learned how to build so much equipment and so many tools in school, and had the absolute freedom to do it for 4 years. I agree that the foundational stuff is pointless, and there is no reason for much of the first two years of college if you are an artist, but the sheer scale of the information and tools I had access to on a daily basis were completely worth the ticket price.
Not only am I a capable studio artist, but I can pivot into many different industries because of my technical knowledge.
It's true. At the risk of sounding boastful, I've been a full-time artist since 2012. No commercial work, no commissions, doing exactly what I want the whole way through. The first years were very difficult financially but it helped having zero student debt. Completely self taught, zero dollars spent on any online courses in the first years. Recently I have purchased a video or two and taken a workshop for fun. There's just so much out there. I think a workshop with an artist you choose is 1,000x better than art school (from what I've heard) because you never know who you're going to get for instructors with a large institution. Go right for the info you want.
i only was able to go to uni was because the Scottish government has set up a student loan system where you only start paying it back once you start earning a certain amount, i really wish they had something like this in north america. would help so many people. nice list of other school options, really going to look at the visual story telling one 😀
Not me watching this after already finishing my masters degree 😭 You're right to some extent but an MA in art helped me contextualise my work and understand where it fits in the world and not only learn how to draw and I think that's really important as well if not more important
Don't forget Oatley Academy! (I think it's still running... Painting Drama and Magic Box was great a few years ago)
If theres one thing that makes art shcool tempting it would be the structured learning environment it provides in a space separate from home. Where your given a clear road to improvement with peers to compare and contrast yourself too with the change in environment encouraging work separate from a space full of distractions with quick feedback from professionals. The resources you provide here are really interesting and i really liked the video, ill be checking these out! 👍
Don't do art school online (that's what I did at Sheridan College in Ontario, Canada). NOT having 1-on-1guidance is frustrating. My student loans are accumulating interest, and I'm not working. Your city, province, or country may have mentorship/art exploration grants. Hire a grant writer to help you stand out. Community colleges are great too , and cheaper. Also, have a system and endgame for your art career.
I agree that the cost of higher education is expensive and it has taken me years to pay back my student loan. However, do not underestimate the benefits of studying at University. I have entered into online courses and in my experience none of them compare with the facilities and academic expertise you’ll find within a reputable university setting. Also, the relationships you make during a 3 year degree course go the distance. You get what you pay for.
I don’t think art school is useless, and everyone’s experiences are different! But some programs costs so much and deliver so little that a combination of online courses & communities and free resources, partnered with diligent self study, could honestly replace them. You could even use these resources in conjunction with a regular degree 💗
@@KelseyRodriguez Yes, I’m speaking from my own experience and art school is not for everyone. The online courses I’ve taken could not replace my experience at art schools. Being in daily contact with a diverse range of artists, tutors and disciplines in a physical setting provides so much inspiration and challenges that help you grow as an artist. Going to an art gallery and standing in front of the work can’t be replicated online, I feel the same about art school.
@@debbielear972 you should make your own art videos I’d watch them.
All great choices. I can absolutely vouch for NMA, CGMA, Schoolism and suggest Art of Aaron Blaise if you are into 2D animation!
Sounds weird, but if you don't mind being far away from home, consider also coming to study in Europe! Some schools are overly expensive in US, with that amount of money you can do programs here in very good schools.
My end goal is to paint. I wish I knew how much drawing and how far I need to get into some of these programs to be able to safely transition and know what I need to start painting.
Thank you the very informative video! Being rather broke right now, it's nice to see there are still options to learn how to improve at drawing without putting myself in further debt!
Just curious, of these options, which one would be best to teach someone how to learn digital art, as in learns the ins and out of drawing software, from the ground up?
I’d check out NMA for the fundamentals and some digital art courses and then maybe turn to YT for intermediate stuff before considering CGMA or Schoolism for more advanced topics!
I feel like you are more of a business woman than somebody who wants to make very good art. Your content and your advice in this video make me believe that.
@@bhuuthesecond What do you mean?
@@env1878 I mean that she is very keen to sell products and services and not as excited to transform interested persons into high quality artists. Her advice was heavily biased towards things she can gain from rather than things the viewer may truly gain from.
This is super helpful! Thank you for making this video ❤
I really need to start following your advice!
These last days, i was thinking about going to art school at Snead Cummunity College. Also, I'm thinking about the price if it's really worth it...
I had to drop out at the end of my junior year of art school due to personal reasons, and now I’m debating whether I should finish my degree online or start over with a business degree. I don’t want to waste my degree if I only have one more year…so I was wondering if anyone knew any online art university where I can finish my degree that isn’t overly expensive?
Thank you! Super informative! 😊
Too late for me 😢. I been drowning in college debt for years. Went to get the fancy piece of paper because places weren’t interested. I already had the design and art skills. Now more companies I applied at are outsourcing to other countries to pay less or using ai.
I'd also recommend the Evolve program. I'm one of their students and it's amazing
What do you think about marc brunet art school program?
can you pls suggest any graphic design course or website to learn all about graphic design from basics to advance, i don't want to go to any institutions and spend more
Is virtual art school really good because I know I'm a visual learner and watching a video and not being in the actual room could mess with me. I tried doing community college but dropped out cause I could not keep up with math and the other classes when all I wanted to do was learn art. Now I live in South Carolina and I cant find that good of any art schools to go to in person. The only thing I see that is art based and taught in online schools.
so what if you have to get out of your country with school visa because of problems but you're only interested in art ,what would you do ? oh and you're on a budget
Thank you very much Kelsey. What about Udemy or Coursera? Would they have any courses for aspiring artists. Thank you again. ❤
I've taken a Udemy course. You get what you pay for-- basically, not a lot. Like SkillShare, the courses I've taken have been very shallow, like dipping your toes in, but not the full plunge. I'd only use those sorts of sites for finding a new path to try with low risk. They aren't further education.
Coursera has some great graphic design courses. Not sure for other types of art.
Every art school teaches the fundamentals, even community colleges. And someone going to art school can dedicate themselves to art for those 4 years while the people teaching themselves have to fit in art around their regular lives. People teaching themselves also won't have the connections people going to art school will have. Over and above all of that, you really should tell people that you're an affiliate for some of these programs. Transparency is important.
That being said, I definitely don't think everyone needs to go to art school or should go to art school. Art school is expensive as freak. But there's also a big difference between dedicating 4 years of your life to learning and doing art vs working a 9 to 5 and doing art in your free time.
the only platform on this list i’m an affiliate for is NMA, but I’ve been singing their praises long before that, and disclose this relationship in the description. I have a tracked link with SVS but I earn nothing from people using it. I agree that art schools have value and that they’re not for everyone, so it seems like we’re pretty aligned here!
It’s difficult to quit your job and go to school full time so you can focus on just studying. Most people cannot afford to do that. Expecting that you’ll have a career waiting for you at the end of it, in such a volatile, highly competitive market, and also considering that AI is starting to flip the industry on its head, it’s just not worth the risk for a lot of people. You could end up jobless, with tens and thousands in debt. Or you could self study, become part of an online community while also making money at your day job, and achieve the same level of skill albeit at a slower pace but with zero dollars in debt.
Maybe, maybe not. Like everything, it depends on the person.
Europe is not even better; Western art universities are expensive too, and it's unavailable for someone like me who lives in Poland. In Poland we have art universities but they primarily teach classic subjects not things like concept art, 3D etc.
i just wish there was something that mimics that of a professor standing there expecting something of you, if i self-teach for 10 years before college i get executive dysfunction and standstill
Kelsey have you looked into Visual Arts Passage at all? I'm interested in the illustration mentorship - its 10weeks and they do 3 hour long live classes on saturdays - its 1199 each mentorship which is a lot but I do think a structured, accountable environment serves me, but I'd love to hear feedback from someone about it
I haven’t! I’ll check it out 💗
Where is the CGMA tuition link? Thanks for this information.
www.cgmasteracademy.com/financial_comparison
society of visual storytelling SVS on youtube, Is this a good course to take for when it comes to drawing and painting?
One day I'm gonna drop out and draw in my room all day long
me too
Be smart man, if your getting a free ride through college (parents etc) then shift over to something like business/ marketing and keep studying art in your free time by the end you will be able to live comfortably off your art. If its not a free ride then yeah whatever drop out
How come I got myself in a very good level of drawing and painting and can't get it into a higher one!! Practice makes perfect
Stephen silver drawing academy is another good one for cartooning/character design
Thank you so much for making this video
Wish I would have found this vid 14 years ago before i went to The Art Institute of Seattle. So many red flags that I just kept ignoring.
I'd really love to know your thoughts on Evolve Artist!
A few artists friends of mine have tried it and said good things! Haven’t tried it personally though
yeah our art school prof just gives us handouts 2 piece of xeroxed legal size paper on which the instruction what topic we need to draw for the class today, give us instructions for 20 minutes then he will go around watching if we do things right and he'll go away until 5 minutes before our class dismissal. literally just there to take tuition lmao
Sure, he tells us there's no spoonfeeding in university, but I'm pretty sure in Drawing131 class meant for freshmen, the direct constant contact of prof is still needed. I am safe because I just went to school to fulfill my other dream, but i can see some 10 dissapointed kids who realized they'd spend more time learning off youtube to review then complete the homework given to them during studio class. We are doing Bargue plates.
what i am saying here is literally UA-cam online art tips or full lecture videos will be enough to teach you basics until intermediate levels but can't give you the bachelor of arts or whatever diploma that you will write on your cv or resume in addition to your portfolio you will present.
if your art school prof leaves you alone regularly at freshmen year and has rumors that will spend only time more with graduating students, time to shift in degrees that will help your nation economy and just return to art school later.
Do you think going to an art college is worth it if you want to be a crafter/ arts and crafts type of job?
Depending on the craft, an apprenticeship or trade school kind of environment would probably be better
glad to teach others on art and adobe skills, shes right
I’ll try New masters academy
im in art school, probs will go in a lot of debt but i dont regret it. its pretty fun so far
Mfw I went to art school for a trimester and could barely socialize with the people there ;-: shit was like twitter and Reddit rolled into one irl melting pot of cliques
Hey. So are art school or these kind school necessary if i wanna make a living with art?
nope!
I already decided not to go to college (partly to prove to family that you can have an art career withought an expensive degree) everything you can learn in college you can learn online for free
It would be better to get and Engineering degree. That’s what I did and it worked out really well. Everyone can call themselves ann artist not true for Engineering.
What are these fundamentals that art schools don't teach? I have heard many definitions of art fundamentals. After 14 years, I think I may know what they are. What do you consider the fundamentals of art?
Anatomy, value, perspective, composition, color theory, figure drawing, lighting, form, and I think that’s it.
What do you think about Cube Brush?
Never heard of it! Will check it out
The point of going to art school or any other type of college or university is not to learn anything. The point is to get the connections needed to get into the industry you would like to go into. You can be very well self educated through youtube and online academy's, but it still may not get you anywhere because it does not connect you to the recruiters and companies you want to hire you.
You pay for access.
Yeah, I went to the Art Institute and it wasn't worth it. At the time, years ago I was unaware of the difference between a 'for profit' school and one geared and setup for the students.
May I ask how you got good at speaking? Have you ever struggled addressing audiences or just speaking into a camera? I struggle w initiating conversation as it is but speaking to a camera is worse
i started with womp 3d a online browser streaming 3d graphics program.thats how im learning 3d art
That's funny, I'm working on my own manga 😂
Me side eyeing myself - somehow while it’s not possible to side eye yourself without looking at a mirror- when you said
“I watch them on 2x”
😅i have to watch majority of videos on 2x otherwise my brain isn’t able to stay hyper fixated and keeps zoning so I have to 2x it to force the focus
Yay new video!:D
Do any of these schools allow me to finish my art degree?
None of these are accredited universities, they're online courses or resources! Depending on what you want to do, you may not need a degree. For creative careers, your portfolio and experience are a lot more impactful!
I'm glad I attended art school in Chicago. Best thing I ever did!
My time at Ai, other than a couple of decent instructors and a few okay classes, was a horror story.
Im doing schoolism and its amazing !! Super recomend im learnig soooo much !!
Think of all the materials and even marketing you can buy for 50k. If I had known...
Do I understand this correctly, none of these schools don’t give you an actual degree?
the point of this video is that a lot of art careers don’t require a degree. Degrees don’t equal knowledge, and these resources can give you a comparable skill set at a fraction of the price. None of them give you a degree like a traditional university, but some do have professional certifications
@@KelseyRodriguez thank you!
the video everyone needed
You know who else wasted 50k?
I don't go to art school because there's a serious risk I could get rejected, and I don't want to get rejected from art school 💀
@@PizzaChess69 Yeah, but that"s one guy.
*:starts building time machine to stop 18 yo me from entering into a life-time of student loan debt.:*
Also, the prices for CGI-based courses may seem expensive but it is actually pretty standard for that market. When I went to college the software license alone for 3D Studio Max was $4K and they did NOT offer student discounts at the time.
I really like Domestika!
I’m only 7k in the whole but I know college is a waste of money depending what’s your end goal and I almost went to art school 😂
Milan Art Institute is great online school
I found out about NMA through one of your videos and I have since been subscribed to them. So worth it tbh!
I subscribed to NMA for three years. Always hoping I would get what I was looking for. No such luck for me. So I no longer subscribe and have found an online studio and if your live in San Francisco an in person studio, that answers all my questions and provides me with bi-weekly feedbacks. The cost is $69.00 per month opposed to NMA $59.00 per month with a yearly subscription with no feedback. In just 3 months of the new school, I learn more useful skills than 3 years of NMA. Having the right school makes all the difference. A vast number of unconnected classes didn't work as good as a focused limited number of classes with a definitive goal and with feedback.
@@fredkeebler7820 A shame that NMA didn't work out for you. It seems like we learn really differently. I currently pay 25€ per month and can quit monthly, so it's absolutely worth it for me. I get my feedback by attending weekly drawing classes in different locations. It has helped me a lot and is absolutely necessary, since studying alone works best for me but quickly becomes pretty lonely. It's amazing that you found a more satisfying and efficient way for yourself.
4:11 Oh it's like being in class yea this a deal breaker for me
Dam girl thx for the info ^_^
Too late.
Ai it instead or yt short 2 minute crash courses
i watched a 11 minute ad