A Degree in Art

Is it Necessary?

Is a degree in art necessary for a career in art? To be honest, I have one. I put in the four years at a university and received a BA for my efforts. But was it necessary? I hate to say it, but this is where the “it depends” answer comes in. But bear with me! It really does depend on several factors, which I will get to straight away.

Some Instances Where It Matters

For some careers in art, the degree is necessary.

There are some careers in art where you do need the degree. If you plan on teaching art, for example, you will need the degree. You will also need the degree if you plan to have a career as an art therapist. Keep in mind that those careers also require teaching credentials or a therapist’s license. I did teach high school art for two years. I got my art degree first and then decided to try to teach art and stayed on to get my teaching credentials. Turns out, teaching wasn’t quite my thing and so I left it to those who love doing it. But in those cases, yes. The degree is necessary.

Instances Where It Depends

In the vast world of art, however, whether you have your sights on becoming a comic book artist, or a storyboard designer, or a graphic novel artist, or a video game artist, etc., it really does depend. I’m sure that some companies are still impressed that you had what it takes to get through a four-year program. And classes in these areas, might teach you some things specifically important to each trade, but my overall experience has shown me that you can have the best education in the world from the top art school in town and still not get the job.

Ultimately what matters is…what your portfolio looks like.

If your portfolio doesn’t reflect what the company is after, then chances are slim that they’ll hire you to do the work. A degree in art won’t matter one bit. Your portfolio will reflect whether or not you can do the work that they’re after. It may be a matter of style or a matter of skill that sets you apart from the rest. If it’s a matter of style, then it is what it is. Keep searching until you find a match for yours.

Your portfolio should be a professional presentation of your best work.

If it’s a skill issue, well then maybe you might consider taking a few classes. Perhaps you’re weak in figure drawing, then take a community college figure drawing class. If you’re weak in animation, search for an online class. Aaron Blaise, a long time animator for Disney has a great series of classes online for a reasonable price! Or maybe…maybe you just have a weak portfolio. There are also classes on how to assemble a top notch portfolio! Portfolios should be presented professionally. The work in it should be your best. It should be neat and clean, possibly even matted or mounted. And the works within the portfolio should be similar and pertinent to the kind of work your potential employer is seeking.

So clearly I’m not saying you need the whole four years to obtain a degree in art, or the debt that comes with it. But perhaps just enough to beef up your drawing skills, to improve your portfolio, and get you the job you’re after. Because really, your portfolio is what it boils down to. You can have the best education, but if your portfolio (even an online one) is less than stellar, it’s unlikely you’ll get that dream job.

The Other Instance Where It’s Not Necessary

For some artists, a degree is not necessary.

A degree in art is also not necessary if you plan to be a fine artist who sells pieces at art fairs or flea markets. It will not be necessary if you do commission work or are what some would call “freelance”. A degree after your name might look impressive if you plan to do gallery shows and such. But again, the work you present weighs more heavily than a piece of paper with a university’s name at the top.

A degree after your name might look nice, but it’s not an absolute necessity.

A Degree in Art is Not an E-Ticket

A degree in art is not an E-ticket to a career in art.

Keep in mind though, that even though the degree in art may not be necessary, it’s up to you to do the hard work and the hustle. I get the distinct impression that many people think the degree is their insider’s pass to the dream jobs. It isn’t. It’s up to you to do the work of putting together the best portfolio possible. Yes, there is a technique. It’s up to you to find companies or galleries who are looking for the kind of work you have to offer. It’s up to you to do the work of putting together the solicitation letter along with samples of your work, and perhaps even a resume of jobs you’ve done for other places. Do you have an online portfolio? It’s really been ages since anyone has asked me to see my actual physical portfolio. All anyone asks for these days is your website. Do you have one? Even an artist’s portfolio on a free site is better than nothing. And some of them are pretty well respected. DeviantArt is one. Etsy or FineArtAmerica are a couple more. The latter also prints and ships for you!

Some Final Things to Consider…

So, while it’s nice to have a degree in art, you can clearly see that it isn’t always necessary. I’m not sure if you were on the fence about going to art school, but don’t get me wrong! The right school can do wonders in pushing you beyond what you ever thought possible. It can teach you certain things that are important to certain trades. For example, quality of line, or number of pixels, or storyboarding may be entirely important to one particular field, but not so much in others. It’s your call whether to learn on your own (which some do), take a few classes, or go in for the long haul and do all four years.

If you do decide that you want the degree in art, make sure the school is worth your time and money. I went to a Cal State University as well as a private art school and I can tell you honestly, there was no comparison. The private school, although far more expensive, taught me far more than the Cal State school could ever hope to. In the private school, each of my teachers were still active in the industries they belonged to…Disney, Pixar, Warner, etc. They were brutal. They called you out for shoddy, half-assed work. Whereas I figured out pretty quickly that even my half-assed work would shine at the Cal State system. Granted, there are dozens of public universities and not all of them are on par with their peers. But again, it’s up to you to do the research. And whatever you decide, do it with all you’ve got!

Questions or comments?

Click below and let me know! And subscribe to get more posts like this. I post twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays. I promise not to bother you more than that or fill up your inbox with spammy stuff!