What type of Art Degree should I get?

[BuroKun]

I am going to NWACC (http://www.nwacc.edu/index.php) today to enroll there, and I would like to hear what you guys have to say about what type of degree I should shot for. I know that its best to take as much traditional art classes as possible. So....I need advice!

[BiG ToE]

Not sure how they roll over there, but, it all comes down to what you want to do for a job. If you want to do games, then you cam focus on the game art, but if there is a chance you might want to do TV, Film, Games. Then playing around in the animation program would be a great idea. With the animaton program, you should end up knowing, how to animate, model, texture, rigg. Basically everything you need to know for game art plus animating the charater. Also, with the "next gen" limits going threw the roof, you have no limit to what you can't do.

Here are the cons for each when it comes to your portfolio

Animation: if you plan on going into games you will need models that show that, so keep it in mind when your modeling charaters to animate. You will need to "recreate" a walk, run, jump, fall, die movement, but you don't have too. Your portfolio will be missing the little things, like props and the like. Also, the only way for people to get a feel for your work will be threw your demo reel, the portfolio does your animations, no justice.

Games: when it comes to game art and your portfolio, I can't think for any real cons right now. Well, color variations from when you print and the price of each page to get printed. But then, that's a con for everyone who prints pages.

[YdoUwant2know]

From the look of the collage, I'm guessing they do not offer a game specific program. that being the case, a degree in the arts (generic degree) world work.

At the community collage level, degree is not as important as the classes you take. Art classes are a must, but don't over look things like math, physics, and anatomy. these can also help. if you are looking at level design, architecture classes could be useful. if you want to be a programmer, C++, C# and such are musts.

If you are looking to transfer to an other school for a Bachelor's degree, find out what they would want you to take, also what classes would, or would not transfer to there program.

best of luck

[Ged]

depends on the university. I dont know much about that university/college(same thing to some people) but if its like my university then fine arts courses would probably be better for games and concept art than a game related / media related course. Also depends alot on you, are you quite technically proficient or more of a creative dreamer or both? would you have the stamina to study 3D and games while studying fine arts, or would you be able to integrate the two?

One thing Ive definitely learnt at university is that its all about how much you are prepared to put in, dont expect them to actually teach you what you need to know. In this regard it can be quite freeing as you can find your own methods and techniques :)

[moose]

if you're looking for an art position at a game company, i would strongly recommend a traditional art degree, and do digital "game art" alongside it. Focus on the core, drawing, painting, anatomy, shape, color, design, etc, etc, and apply that knowledge to game art.

Most companies if you look at their suggested requirements for artists will include a Bachelors of some art degree, or industry experience. Everyone you run into won't have a degree, however having a solid foundation to build your game art with is always a plus.

Study life drawing, painting, sculpture, and other traditional art things, do not limit yourself to the computer and solely doing "game design" type things, as that will surely limit your growth in other areas, unless you're super hardcore and do all that stuff regardless :)

If you can fit other classes in too (if they're offered) such as Art History, History in general, theology, anatomy, writing, and other analytical type classes, that stuff helps too!

[sage]

Make sure their traditional art degree classes are not crap though, if they are just fluff they are a waste of your money and if the professors hate digital art then it might be a problem as well. Good luck

Alex

[cookepuss]

Either way, you're going to be spending the bulk of your free time beefing up your portfolio. It ALWAYS helps to have a traditional art background, regardless of what degree you get. I'd have to say that, in most cases, the background is almost more important than the class of degree. School's only going to teach you so much anyway. I'm not speaking out against an art degree, but I also realize its limited value (on a personal level).

For me, my personal art background is in sculpture, painting, & print design. (Can't sketch or draw for sh**, but that's another story.) Apart from that, I went to college for CompSci (programming). I still ended up as an artist. Go figure.

Where you start isn't always where you end up. I have a friend who went to SVA in here in NYC. She got her undergrad and post-grad degrees in fine arts. At the time, she was TOTALLY into it. Now, she works as a journalist for a newspaper. :p

Stress over the portfolio. All of the education in the world isn't going to help you one lick if you can't produce. That's just my opinion.