Thanks to everyone who participated in my education poll! I’ve been giving a lot of consideration and re-consideration to whether or not I really do want to go back to finish my degree in a few years. There are many reasons not to and only a couple valid ones that support returning to school full-time. So its kind of a no brainer.

Really, it comes down to the fact that returning to school to complete my degree won’t necessarily make me a better artist. I can take courses here and there and still grow as an artist, expand my craft and be completely (or mostly) satisfied with my creativity and my skills. I don’t need a piece of paper to prove that. I know, I know, this is something that my peers have been telling me for years. I’m just a little slow on the uptake sometimes.

From a pragmatic point of view, given my current aversion to selling my artwork, the time and financial commitment that I would need to invest in completing my degree could never, ever be recouped so it doesn’t make a whole lotta sense to do it. Especially since I could be perfectly content in taking evening and weekend courses/workshops and having the same type of satisfaction.

Plus, I won’t lie, the idea of returning to art school at the age of - what - 37 or 38 does not appeal to me. I remember how arrogant and annoying art school students can be when I was 18, I can’t imagine how much I would loathe it at almost 40 (gah, did I just type almost 40?! Christ.) No, thanks.

There are other ways to experience creative and artistic community. WetCanvas, for example. And I might even try to join a local group or something.

Unless something outrageous happens, I believe I’m just gonna keep truckin’ and leave the degrees to lawyers, doctors, archaelogists, and all those fancy smart folks.

In other news, I have posted a shiny new poll to the right. It’s directed mostly to those artists who work digitally (or have worked digitally). My pal, Esch, suggested that I give digitally colouring a try for my circus freaks series, which might be kind of appealing to me. But I’d like some suggestions about software packages from those who are more knowledgeable.