I was only about 12 years old when I decided that I would eventually go to art school. An art degree seemed like the way for me to follow my sole passion in life: drawing and painting. At the time, I did not know that there were many different kinds of art universities. I figured that all art programs were the same. I pictured the classical art schools of the past where young, talented students would study techniques of painting, composition, and theories of proportion in order to refine their craft. At that point, I didn't realize how much art school had changed in the last hundred years.

Nowadays, There is no such thing as a typical art school. Some of them focus on technique almost exclusively, while others seem to neglect it in favor of conceptual art and theory. The one that I picked was somewhere in the middle. We did study painting techniques, but we also talked about the meaning and significance of art and how it has changed over the years. It is kind of fascinating to see a university discussing its own role in the production and manipulation of tastes in the art world. Up until that point, it had always been about self-expression for me. It was strange for me to find out that there are so many other ways of looking at it.

To be honest, I had wanted to go to art school to learn a trade. I wanted to learn art and graphic design principles so that I would be able to make sound, elegant compositions. What I ended up learning at art school, however, was so much more. I really came out with a deep understanding of art history, its cultural significance, and it's evolving meaning in the modern age. Although I didn't get quite as much training in art techniques as I would have wanted, I did get enough to get started. After that, I was able to continue to explore on my own, using my enhanced understanding of the meaning of art as a guideline.

If you have been thinking about a degree in art, or looking at art schools, I think you should visit before you make any decision. It may or may not be what you are looking for, and it is possible that you will be disappointed by what you find. Then again, you might be pleasantly surprised by the best and breadth of opportunity that awaits you in an art program. The only way for you to really find out is to talk to people and see what they say. Art students are usually pretty open about stuff like that, so you should be able to get some good tips on your visit.

Art School