Is an art degree necessary for you to be or become an "artist"?

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Ed Cantarella
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Is an art degree necessary for you to be or become an "artist"?

Post by Ed Cantarella »

I was inspired (provoked?) by the the post regarding the James Renwick Alliance's Chrysalis Award. "The artist must have completed a four-year academic program or equivalent training within the past 5 years." Darn, got that computer science degree back in '92! Seemed unduly stuffy to me. IMO a degree doesn't make you an artist any more than going to McDonalds makes you a hamburger. :lol:
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Don Burt
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Re: Is an art degree necessary for you to be or become an "artist"?

Post by Don Burt »

They're looking for a specific type of artist at a certain point in what is supposed to be an art career (heh). There are other prereq's for this exhibition besides the one you mentioned. I don't think anyone, including the Renwick Alliance would declare that their prereqs are necessary for one to be labeled an artist. However it is widely known that a beret and eyepatch go a long way to cementing the label firmly, allowing you to use pompous French adjectives to describe your technique and aesthetic.
Ed Cantarella
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Re: Is an art degree necessary for you to be or become an "artist"?

Post by Ed Cantarella »

Don Burt wrote:They're looking for a specific type of artist at a certain point in what is supposed to be an art career (heh). There are other prereq's for this exhibition besides the one you mentioned. I don't think anyone, including the Renwick Alliance would declare that their prereqs are necessary for one to be labeled an artist. However it is widely known that a beret and eyepatch go a long way to cementing the label firmly, allowing you to use pompous French adjectives to describe your technique and aesthetic.
:lol:

Thank you Don. You know, I wouldn't qualify for other reasons but the (imo) stuffiness of it kind of struck me. I guess they want to breed another generation of this mind set.
*I helped my oldest daughter(27) get a fine arts degree from Columbia in Chicago. She fully supports herself off her art, I see why she has avoided this entire clustering of 'artists'. Thanks to Al Gore's Internet it can be done. :)
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JestersBaubles
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Re: Is an art degree necessary for you to be or become an "artist"?

Post by JestersBaubles »

Ed Cantarella wrote: "The artist must have completed a four-year academic program or equivalent training within the past 5 years."
"Or equivalent training." Interpret how you wish and give it your best shot. All they can do is say No.

And regarding your question... someday I may go back and get an art degree (once I am untethered from the day job). We all have gaps in knowledge -- I have big holes when it comes to a lot of the basics like design principle. Not that it will automatically make me a better artist, but it couldn't hurt.

:mrgreen: Dana W.
Judd
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Re: Is an art degree necessary for you to be or become an "artist"?

Post by Judd »

Art degrees aren't necessary for anything unless you plan to do education.
If you can make Cool, you can be successful at selling art.
Ed Cantarella
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Re: Is an art degree necessary for you to be or become an "artist"?

Post by Ed Cantarella »

Judd wrote:Art degrees aren't necessary for anything unless you plan to do education.
If you can make Cool, you can be successful at selling art.
Yeha, I worked for an sculptor and artist guy that probably has made several million over his lifetime, no art degree, not famous. www.richardmiller.com
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Barry Kaiser
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Re: Is an art degree necessary for you to be or become an "artist"?

Post by Barry Kaiser »

Unfortunately, in this day and age, a marketing degree is far more important than an art degree in determining the financial success of an artist.
Ed Cantarella
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Re: Is an art degree necessary for you to be or become an "artist"?

Post by Ed Cantarella »

Barry Kaiser wrote:Unfortunately, in this day and age, a marketing degree is far more important than an art degree in determining the financial success of an artist.
Absolutely. A Blog, a Patreon* and a store are pretty much bare requirements today.

*I think Patreon is a great concept but so many don't understand they have to give something to get something.
HER last words were, "I'm melting, melting . . . " Dissenting opinions generally welcome for comic relief or personal edification. Sometimes both.
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