Does Art Education Matter?

Being a recent graduate in fine arts, after spending 4 years in an art school, I wonder, Is it really important for someone to get formally trained from an art institute in order to become an artist? There’s something of a controversy surrounding this topic. On one hand, self-taught artists wear the label like a badge of honor, while the ones with formal art education may call their work Naïve art. Well you can learn ANY subject you want, either online or through an institute. Here are some pros & cons related to it

Pros: You may learn best in a traditional way, in an artistic environment & through a proper system to understand the dynamics of the art world. You’ll have an organized, focused curriculum & direct access to professionals, opportunity to explore other media, styles, and techniques. Academic recognition shows that you are serious about art. Your Fellows & teachers will become mentors and artistic peers. You develop communication skills and a thick skin. Jealous & vindictive fellows will push you to get better and have a hidden curriculum to weed out artists who can't cope with criticism. You may also get mates who inspire you and your passion. Most people who offer opportunities usually don’t seek out independent artists.

Cons: Institutes often restrict pupils to explore new avenues freely which suppresses originality and creativity. It may force you to fit into a predetermined mold or train your mind for a particular trend. Their environment may not suit you. Instructors may lack experience in creating and marketing their art. There’s a great temptation to create pieces in the style, unintentionally, inspired by works of your fellows. Institutes can cost-prohibitive. You learn at your own pace & have the benefit to take as much time as you need to perfect a skill; plan and learn only what’s necessary for the art YOU want to create or resist the existing trends & traditions, your approach becomes unique. Spending four years in an art institute and being dictated is, honestly, not an ideal situation for you.

There are certainly many other benefits to both sides of the equation, art school & being self-taught are viable ways to achieve a successful art career, they each have their own pros & cons to consider. Whichever way you choose to go, it will take a substantial amount of work & dedication to develop both your ideas & skill. While there’s no BEST WAY to receive an education on, or learn how to create, ART.

Here are some art feature for this month.

Raahima Salaar (Printmaker)

“Children are not things to be moulded but are people to be folded”

– Jess Lair, author

This body of work revolves around a story of a childhood memory that persists to date. The purpose of illustrating what scares me to the core of my heart is to let go of all the negative impact it has on me. These illustrations aim to express the process of being harmed followed by silence. Choosing brush strokes rather than words to speak about a distressing memory from my early days was the only way I found the confidence to put it out there. Children are mentally innocent. They are so vulnerable to being easily trapped into an adult’s intimidating persona that they are unable to point out that what happening to them is not right. These paintings ought to depict the struggle of an innocent girl who failed to perceive what happened to her was wrong.

‘Calm Before Storm’

Size: 12x7 inches

Medium: Mixed Media on Montwall

Emaan Pirzada (Miniature Painter)

Moving from place to place, being displaced several times, and not being settled anywhere physically or mentally compelled Eman to preserve those places. As each time she had to begin a new modus operandi making her contemplate what she could have been. She dealt with this ever-changing/evolving statuesque by expressing myself in the form of art as she finds her work to be a platform where her mental and emotional attributes meet her cognitive ties whereas, the visuals show those spaces as she affiliates to them, not particularly as they were, forming a mind palace.

‘Chaos'

Size: 10.5x11 Inches

Medium: Watercolor, Gouache, Graphite, Pen, Photo Transfer, Tea Wash and Collage on Wasli.