10-28-2013, 05:55 AM
I think it's the same for traveling as for art schools and courses and such things: you can basically learn the same stuff by yourself with free online resources, but the experience of going somewhere might affect you in a positive way, i.e. increase your inspiration and motivation.
As for your example, of course visiting these places will give you a richer experience, just because you're not simply confronted with written or depicted material behind a screen but also get a better feeling for the athmosphere of a place and you're experiencing what might still be alive of the ancient cultures in today's lives there. Visiting a lot of places surely enriches your visual library more than studying at home, because your brain makes connections between the food you eat, the air you smell and the people you meet, so you'll have a much more lifely vision of everything. But still, you can absolutely learn to correctly illustrate a historical culture's circumstances only by knowledge you find in books or the internet.
As for the spare time you have as an artist in the industry: That's very different from person to person. I'd never want to live my life only for work and if I ever find myself in a job that doesn't leave time for things like traveling or any social life, I'd sure as hell get outta there.
As for your example, of course visiting these places will give you a richer experience, just because you're not simply confronted with written or depicted material behind a screen but also get a better feeling for the athmosphere of a place and you're experiencing what might still be alive of the ancient cultures in today's lives there. Visiting a lot of places surely enriches your visual library more than studying at home, because your brain makes connections between the food you eat, the air you smell and the people you meet, so you'll have a much more lifely vision of everything. But still, you can absolutely learn to correctly illustrate a historical culture's circumstances only by knowledge you find in books or the internet.
As for the spare time you have as an artist in the industry: That's very different from person to person. I'd never want to live my life only for work and if I ever find myself in a job that doesn't leave time for things like traveling or any social life, I'd sure as hell get outta there.