I am a self-taught artist. When I started painting, the choice of whether to choose art education as a career path or not kept me up at night. I didn’t know what was best—to practice art freely or to go to school for it. As a much older woman, I can say that my vision differs from the past, as I know better what both options could offer. If you are making this choice for yourself and wonder what art education is supposed to teach you, keep on reading.

What you should be expecting from art education

Before I get right into the details, here’s a little overall take on what is art education supposed to teach you.

  • Academic excellence in the subjects you choose to study
  • Creativity in the wide range of explored mediums
  • Confidence in your work
  • Cultural awareness and empathy
  • Collaboration, cooperation, and communication within the art world and in life in general
  • Problem-solving and critical thinking

If your primary choice is to be a self-taught artist and you wish to have a guide on learning more about art as a self-taught artist, I have also previously shared some realistic tips that I would love self-taught artists to take into consideration.

What is art education supposed to teach you?

Academic excellence in the subjects you choose to study