Posted by Katrin on 2005-02-12 17:23:27
Post Subject: ...Sigh.
I'd been toying with the idea of taking some fashion design classes - not for a degree or anything, but just to get some practical training. I've been sewing and crafting most of my life, but I usually use patterns (often modifying them a bit but never straying too far), and I'd like to learn the techniques for creating my own clothing from scratch.
Several people I know have recently suggested the same thing to me, not even knowing I was thinking about it already (maybe it's my constant talk about my latest knitting project or my current fascination with Project Runway).
So today I went online to see what was available at my local Art Institute, which is conveniently situated just a couple blocks from my house...and dammit! Most of their locations offer fashion design programs, but not the one in my town. Failing that, I looked at all the other colleges, art schools and trade schools in Denver - and not one of them offers even a single class in fashion design.
I guess I'll go to the library and look for some books to try to teach myself a few things. Sigh.
Posted by Miss Rachel on 2005-04-24 18:11:35
Post Subject:
I wouldn't suggest that you try to study illustration by taking courses online. I think you need to be face-to-face with a good instructor. It's problematic that your parents refuse to sign financial aid forms, but don't let that stop you. Maybe you can fill them out yourself if you're not a dependent of your parents at all. And maybe you could apply for special scholarships. All schools give huge scholarships to at least a handfull of deserving students, but you can't get one if you don't try...
Art school is awesome. Continuing ed classes at art schools are also awesome, and that might be a good way to ease yourself into it, in terms of cost and workload. You might find that you just need to take a few classes a year in order to learn what you need to learn and get where you need to get, or you might find that you really want to go through four years of intense training. Either way, all that matters is that you're driven. You can start your own graphic novel and submit samples of it to publishers that you like, and you can make postcards of some of your work and send it to magazines you like. Call yourself an illustrator and fake it till you make it!
Try to figure out what you can do within the next six months or one year, and put it into action.
Posted by NekoNoir on 2005-04-24 20:53:36
Post Subject:
I would LOVE to go to art school. It just isn't something I can do at this point and time. So I am thinking continuing education classes for right now. Or a class or 2 at a time. I will be living on my own for 12 months this september {which is how long student aid forms say it is before I can claim my statud as "independent"} so we'll see how that goes...I have ben trying to get my work out in the meantime. I've been entering a few art contests, doing a few commissions, and I'm trying to get booths at local craft festivals for the summer...
thanks for your advice!
I wouldn't suggest that you try to study illustration by taking courses online. I think you need to be face-to-face with a good instructor. It's problematic that your parents refuse to sign financial aid forms, but don't let that stop you. Maybe you can fill them out yourself if you're not a dependent of your parents at all. And maybe you could apply for special scholarships. All schools give huge scholarships to at least a handfull of deserving students, but you can't get one if you don't try...
Art school is awesome. Continuing ed classes at art schools are also awesome, and that might be a good way to ease yourself into it, in terms of cost and workload. You might find that you just need to take a few classes a year in order to learn what you need to learn and get where you need to get, or you might find that you really want to go through four years of intense training. Either way, all that matters is that you're driven. You can start your own graphic novel and submit samples of it to publishers that you like, and you can make postcards of some of your work and send it to magazines you like. Call yourself an illustrator and fake it till you make it!
Try to figure out what you can do within the next six months or one year, and put it into action.