[atoav]

OP I read your text. As an teacher of VFX in an (european) art university let me give you a few tips:

You are only 20. You should not worry about your age at all.

Art school is ¼ about the skills and tricks you learn there, ¼ about being forced to put something in front of others who won't be wooed by fancy eye candy, ¼ about creating and finding a network of people and ¼ being exposed to other styles of art. Some of those things are influenced by the size and location of the art school, some of those are influenced by how much time you can spend with your collegues and at exhibitions or similar. Make sure to go to a school, where people are better than you. Going there just to learn the handywork is a waste of time. You should go there to learn the skills AND to create a network that can help you get jobs after. Feel free to take on work during your studies.

Also: The things that matter when doing great art are mostly about the brain. And the ability to see the right way takes time to develope. Make sure to do something daily. Maybe a daily comic strip, a daily drawing or whatever. Put it online so you are forced to never skip a day.

[6stringmerc]

Super great advice and I agree a lot as a guitarist. Very same principles about diversity, challenge, and practice. In my teenage years I averaged probably 2 hours a day reaching for shred like Yngwie Malmsteen - because of that push and reach, 80% of normal playing is a walk in the park.

Once you get the technical aptitude it’s great to explore other cultures and methods and then your brain gets to express itself even more. Quite a lovely journey but also delayed gratification is built in and challenges a lot of people. Myself included…