JeremyMon, Sep 8, 2008 I tried to go back to school a few of years ago, at the age of 33. I've been an artist all along and thought as you do that I'd like some hands-on sort of experience, particularly pertaining to materials science. I really wanted to mess around with rapid prototyping and stereolithography equipment and hone my skills with 3D software. It was really hard for me- not impossible- just hard. I think if you are really driven and excited about what you are doing and about what you are interested in, you'll create what it is you want to make manifest no matter what.
I personally found that I couldn't stand to take a break from making art (my own art, anyway) for 4 to 6 years, which is what you almost have to do to go to school, depending on the program.
I do envy the Sci-Arc group and the University of Applied Arts group in Vienna, though. Nothing like a review by Zaha Hadid, Greg Lynn, and Wolf Prix to get you inspired and ready for the new paradigm in aesthetics. If I had to do it again, I would have finished school the first time around. Right now, though, it seems that one has to be light on their feet and ready for anything.
I think there are very few boundaries to pursuing an art career as an autodidact. You needn't worry about losing track of what you've learned if you apply it immediately, and if you're excited about it. There's an awful lot out there to be excited about right now.
Good luck, Eli!
I tried to go back to school a few of years ago, at the age of 33. I've been an artist all along and thought as you do that I'd like some hands-on sort of experience, particularly pertaining to materials science. I really wanted to mess around with rapid prototyping and stereolithography equipment and hone my skills with 3D software. It was really hard for me- not impossible- just hard. I think if you are really driven and excited about what you are doing and about what you are interested in, you'll create what it is you want to make manifest no matter what.
I personally found that I couldn't stand to take a break from making art (my own art, anyway) for 4 to 6 years, which is what you almost have to do to go to school, depending on the program.
I do envy the Sci-Arc group and the University of Applied Arts group in Vienna, though. Nothing like a review by Zaha Hadid, Greg Lynn, and Wolf Prix to get you inspired and ready for the new paradigm in aesthetics. If I had to do it again, I would have finished school the first time around. Right now, though, it seems that one has to be light on their feet and ready for anything.
I think there are very few boundaries to pursuing an art career as an autodidact. You needn't worry about losing track of what you've learned if you apply it immediately, and if you're excited about it. There's an awful lot out there to be excited about right now.
Good luck, Eli!