Need advice about career and degree

[Tom Edgerton]

Matthew--

My two cents:

Given that you want to do either medical illustration or teach, I'd finish the degree. Otherwise, if you want to be a fine artist without the special disciplines attached, leave and study more specifically in the academies, ateliers, and workshops, with those who teach what you want.

Medical illustration will require the ancillary stuff in the sciences. You may need to get a partial medical degree...some later grad work will definitely be in order (I investigated it at one time). Johns Hopkins and Medical College of Georgia used to have grad programs in it, but I don't know if they still do. Also, while you're there at the university, I'd take some business or entrepreneurship courses, and related technical courses like photography, media and IT. The advantage of a university is that there's a lot in one place, however watered down a given course might be.

If you expect to teach at the university level, you'll have to have the degrees. Community colleges are another story in some cases, but if they mirror our system, the pay is lousy.

Also, if something in you has to have a college degree to satisfy some psychological need or inner urge, that's a legitimate reason. But don't give this more attention or credence than it demands. For those who visit this forum who feel wistful that you never got a university art degree, don't spend a second looking back and pining. It speaks so little to what I do now, it was hardly worth it. In hindsight, I'd have taken another path if I knew I'd end up here.

While everyone might not agree on its value, though, you ARE halfway to the degree, and you don't have a clear picture yet of your future needs. When undecided, I often revert to "Better to have and not need, than need and not have." It'll be harder to double back and get it later.

Best of luck--TE

[Richard Bingham]

Richard M., Tom, very well said!

[Sharon Knettell]

I think Michele asked you some good questions.

What is a degree good for?
A: Teaching in a public university or college. You would need extra education credits to teach in K-12. You can teach at a private art school without one if your skills are what they need.
Teaching is more time consuming than you would think. For every hour you actually teach, you would have to put in another hour grading, doing course outlines and most tedious, syllabuses then there are those interminable faculty meetings.

The pay to start in most public colleges and universities is not great. RISD is pretty good as well as some of the other major colleges.

That is it as far as I can think.

B: Richard Bingham is right-don't waste your money on a degree in illustration it is a deader than dead duck as a career.

C: If you are interested in figurative work, do NOT go to RISD. I taught there I know. It is outrageously expensive and geared toward the abstract and theoretical artist. There is relatively little figure drawing after the first year. They have one long day of figurative work in the freshman year and the rest of the school years it is optional and relatively little is offered. There is a student group that organizes figurative work after hours but you have to pay for that. They feel the same way about figurative work as the school you are presently attending.

D: Art is a calling, not a business.You have to take a vow of poverty. Van Gogh only sold two paintings in his life; Molinard, a French Baroque court favorite, and total mediocrity became one of the wealthiest artists ever. Most of the the major forces in art history were interested in exploring concepts, color, paint manipulation, mediums etc. They were a curious lot. The were of course unhappy during the difficult years, some never overcame them.

E: It really depends on how talented you are. Talent is the single most important ingredient. It helps to have a keen intellect, courage and the ability to survive, perhaps, constant rejection.

You have to decide if you want a regular middle class American life and how important it is to you. The safest route is best here, but there is no quarantee of success that way either.

Personally I would rather spend my time and money studying with someone I respect and feel can learn from. I do not have a degree.