Game art education?

[Tenly]

UGH! if I wanted to learn how to create art, such as character modeling, digital content for games, NOT programming or designing games...where could I get that education? I tried googling but it keeps bringing me game design and engineering and that is NOT what I am interested in.

Online school is what I want..go at my own pace but a very thorough education in how to do 3d modeling to create characters and maybe how to animate. less interested in that at the moment.

I find a lot of tutorials online but they are either over the top advanced or leave no way to ask questions as you might in a classroom...though I dont want to go to a physical class and as I work fulltime I want to go at my own pace. 

My goal to be somewhere between hobbyist and selling my characters. Not to mention a cheaper way to get the software I want. educational copies affordable, non-educational...too expensive.

would be nice if such expensive programs had some kinda payment options. Mudbox 10 bucks a month is great but 3ds max at 185 and you never own either one...185 is way too high for simply learning how to use the tool.

[anselm Hexicola]

Have you tried any of the inworld classes? In my  experience, the teachers were both helpful and knowledgable.

Also, Blender can do a helluva lot.

[ludo2002]

Hi, as tools you should try blender it's a great software and its free!!!! you have there all you need for creating 3d art.
for training you should take a look at cgcookie.com, it has tons of courses and tutorials for blender.
Also you can try with digital tutors have a few but there are well done and super easy to follow, and once you learned the modeling techniques it´s super easy to switch from one software to another.