[Murder king]

Hey Kanga, I saw that you made few mistaked writing the post, lemme help you fix it.

This sticky will stay open. I am compiling this thread as an alternative and an aid to formal education and invite members to participate with suggestions and links (updates, dead link reports etc.) in the posts below so I can add to,and edit the info. I could provide a price list but we are interested in free and open source resources. There are some less expensive suggestions at the end.

"too, and"

Regardless of the path you choose below is advice for general computer graphics 'self education'.

"self-education"

Free specialst apps (added ThomasTheToolman)

"specialist"

Nothing is for Free.

Is what they say, and this area of Computer Graphics is no exception. While software and lessons can cost nothing, time and effort on your part will be expensive. You will have a much easier time if you love CG instead of like it. If you are inventive and enjoy solving problems there is no reason why you can't produce a professional standard port folio

"portfolio"

One good anti virus application and one good antispyware application are enough. Update them and scan on a regular basis.

"antivirus"

If you are following tutorials or extensively using reference material two monitors are a godsend. If your graphics card supports this you can have your application on one screen and the lesson material on another. Many lessons are very intensive and have to be followed step by step, a second monitor will save you the headache of continuously flipping between application. If you are strapped for cash ensure you have at least one good monitor that represents colours well and if you can't afford it an el cheapo second monitor will do for reference material.

"colors"

Mods

Mods are modified games. Many game makers issue SDKs (Software Development Kit) which are the guts of the game. Using these tools you can modify an excising game by altering and importing new elements. There are whole groups on the web that dedicate their free time to making games based on current ones. Some mod crews are excellent. A good modding crew will have everything prepared for you to get you started on making assets for the mod. If your work is good enough it will be included in the final product. Good mods have extensive tutorials, tools, examples and experts to answer your questions. Mods can offer you nothing apart from the opportunity to learn and make material for your port folio, they almost always don't pay.

"exciting"( well, I'm not sure about this one, but i think you meant exciting)
"portfolio"

Don't agree with people who are trying to help you with direction, just do it. Getting better is gratifying and it isn't too hard to amaze yourself because you are creating work that is better than your last project. Where this all goes wrong is when you compare your own work with what others are making. There is so much incredible art available that to equal that level you need to accept that others can see things that you are unable to. What we are busy with is a quest to create the greatest effect we possibly can. Every artist assumes that is your aim, these people see things you cant

"can't"

If you feel the work you have already done is monumental then just save out a version with a different name and test out the advice you have been given,... nothing lost at all then.

"given... Nothing"

Workshops
Workshops are by far the most expensive form of self education

"self-education"