<p>I'm looking at colleges and I want to be either a concept or a comic book artist. So I was looking for Illustration majors in NY and I was advised to look for Fine arts or Graphic design instead because there is very few colleges around my region that offers Illustration. I was wondering if that choice would effect the skills needed for becoming either of the goals I have. How different is a Fine arts major from Illustration?</p>
<p>Hi Francrann, FIT has a very good Illustration program and it is a huge bargain if you live in NYS! If you are interested in FIT, it is important that you register for and attend their open house. I believe it is held in October but you can get the date on their website. As for the difference between FA and Ill, at my daughter’s college it’s apples and oranges, in other words, very different. You can check online course catalogs and see what classes are required in each major. Good luck to you!</p>
<p>FIT, really? I’ve heard mostly bad opinions with FIT. Obviously their fashion courses are strong but I heard that courses like Illustration or Fine Arts was really weak.</p>
<p>I think you need to visit and research FIT or any college in which you might be interested so you can come to your own conclusions. FIT has a close affiliation with the prestigious
Society of Illustrators, and in addition to undergrad, offers one of the few MFA Illustration degrees in the country. You will get a feel for what school is the right fit for you when you start college tours, if you haven’t done so already. There are many good choices for illustration and comics, including Ringling, SVA, MCAD, MICA, etc. as well as the very affordable FIT.</p>
<p>I would highly recommend illustration, especially with your future goals in mind. You should also take plenty of computer classes - Illustrator, Photoshop, etc. You want to go to a place that has a great Mac lab. Look up “storyboard artists” - most have backgrounds in illustration, and need to be thoughtful of composition and framing, much like a comic book illustrator needs to be. I don’t think you will get what you need from majoring in fine arts or graphics. </p>
<p>Who advised you of that? Someone telling you that is like telling someone who wants to go into geology to major in Marine Biology because colleges nearby do not offer geology majors. They are both sciences, but very different. </p>
<p>I recommend looking farther afield, and at an art school that offers more majors. Or, even look abroad. I know that you did not say that you were interested in animation, however the following is a good example of how to start - DreamWorks has a list of “partner schools” which teach animation as well as other art related majors - [DreamWorks</a> Animation](<a href=“DreamWorks Animation | DreamWorks”>DreamWorks Animation | DreamWorks)
maybe you could look at some of those schools to start, to see what they offer. I had never heard of the Animation Workshop in Denmark, but it seems reasonable, is very well regarded and they do offer scholarships that you can apply for. They teach in English. </p>
<p>Best!</p>
<p>Thanks MazeArtCrew, and now that you mention it, I am interested in animation just not as much with illustration.</p>
<p>OP- When D first started exploring colleges, she thought she might like either illustration or animation. She decided that the repetitive drawing in animation was not for her and is very happy with her choice to pursue illustration at MICA. Make sure you know which suits your temperament.</p>