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Friday, April 10, 2015

Finding art schools online



The internet brought about a revolution of "do it yourself" solutions, fixes where you dispensed with the usual rigamorale and structures of traditional means of getting stuff done, and instead relied upon native talenta and advice from a cadre of anonymous netizens just like yourself. This sort of thinking can apply to everything from fixing your car by relying on the Youtube video you just saw, to unclogging a sink, to honing your artistic talents online.

In the case of finding art schools online, it's a simple net search away. You'll be able to find art schools online that have concentrations in everything from traditional pencil drawings to the latest, state of the art graphic design software packages. It's not quite a "do it yourself" solution, but it's probably the most practical way to hone whatever talent you do have while not having to quit your day job. It's also worth noting that art schools online tend to be much cheaper than traditional art schools like The Pratt Institute in New York City or the Rhode Island School of Design, both of which will run you a pretty penny.

And un like the do it yourself crowd, you do get the benefit of having an accredited degree if you go through with the process of finding art schools online, applying and completing the coursework. And while the degree might not carry the same weight of a Pratt or a RISD degree, the bottom line is that if you're talented enough, then you're talented enough.

If you're unwilling to give a full commitment to going online for your full education, then there is always the option of taking a few onlin courses from a local art school and deciding if the format is for you. As mentioned, there are benefits and drawbacks, and you have to be realistic about what you expect of both the program and yourself when looking for art schools online. It's not a one-size-fits-all proposition, more a "you get out of it what you put into it" kind of thing.

So be smart and sample a little bit first. It's rarely the best idea to jump into a new project - even one as fun and potentially rewarding as pursuing an online arts degree - with both feet before testing the waters. Figure out what your own needs are, and proceed from there.