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I’m curious… how exactly DO you plan to make money?
…They could charge every time someone wanted to be drawn :-p
Art direction, graphic design, illustration, photography. Art is a very lucrative field. It’s not hard to get a good job with introductory pay of 50,000 dollars a year and up. The trick is to not suck at it, which most people do. Everyone thinks they can be good at art, but this is no more true than that everyone can be good at math. Most people are just have a very poor taste for aesthetics and fine motor control.
I wanted to be a wildlife photographer, now I am thinking more of being an Ecological Sciences major. Still get the same question of “how will you make money” and “so you like animals? you could be a vet” all the time tho. =/ All I want to do is keep national parks and wild areas from collapsing into ruin and chaos… *runs to a corner to cry*
Hehe I met a guy that had an honours theatre arts degree… he was moving boxes at a distribution centre. Oh, and the guy who had a bachelor in visual sciences… he was flipping burgers.
Yeah, there are good jobs for the people who are best at art (as is true with any field), but how many people are actually the best at art?
One?
Someone call the waaaambulance for this person. At least as an artist they already have that whole no-one-understands-me thing down. What’s that blue part anyway? The response from the school/teacher you’re taking classes from?
Malisyn,
You poor thing. To be so insecure that you need to find ways to put others down . . . well, it’s just sad.
Hey Malison: Dont be such a hypocrite – you did the same thing. Sounds like your just a need-to-control-things- idiot who must control their own reality before anyone with any other form of wisdom or common sense can have their say. Folks like you need to ridicule – for the simple – pathetic reason,. you are insecure. Make up for it somewhere else,..but try to keep it internal – you are embarrassingly transparent.,..so say we all.
i hope your happy in your dingy office room only hearing loud telephone rings and people talking about selling something or buying something,,, while us artists are having a happy life, maybe itll be hard to make money, but well get by, but you on the other hand will have money, but no social life no happiness no friends, yeah who wins this fight/
Guy’s proly flippin burgers or moving boxes because he/they chose to be there. It’s all about how you apply yourself.
Lots of artists did menial jobs while getting to the point where they were known. It is often simply a part of the process. It is definitely not a sign that they should not pursue their dreams.
You don’t have to be the best in art to make it. There are plenty of people with a business degree flipping burgers. It has less to do with the degree and more to do with the person.
You have a 1,000,000X better chance of making an impact politically if you are an Ecological Sciences major. I’d say anything in the fisheries field will be blowing up in the next 5-10 years.
How, i would love to work as an artist i just need to get in the door, wheres the door
Unemployment office
Well said!
I can assure you, with 100% certainty, that any human being who does not suffer from mental illness, can “be good” at any math up to and including multi-variable calculus and differential equations.
Most people suck at math because they think it’s something you can memorize like history or psychology. Not only that, but most math teachers in public schools and colleges alike have effectively given up trying to teach mathematics and logic in a way that fosters an understanding of the material.
It’s something you truly have to learn and understand. I’ve tutored mathematics for some time now, and even the most seemingly hopeless people left with a greater appreciation for what they were learning and later thanked me for “showing them the light”.
The same can also be true for art. When I was younger, I was a terrible, terrible artist… Stick figures were my forte. When I started looking at things in the world from a different perspective, thinking about how they could be drawn, noticing the various light interactions (reflections, shadows, hue) and shapes of objects in my everyday life, I became a “good” artist, virtually overnight. (Well, not virtually overnight, literally over the course of one night when I finally sat down with a pencil and a piece of paper, a hint of patience and a dash of perseverance). Applying those skills to the digital realm led me to a contract professional art job for a short period of time. I was required to quit due to time commitments within my studies of engineering, but it was an enjoyable experience and I was making money as an artist… and I didn’t even have an art degree or any formal training of any kind.
I’m sure with much practice, patience, and learning, I could become a great artist, just as many of the other people in the world. Moral of the story, never underestimate the potential of the human mind. With enough thought, time, care, and guidance, almost anyone can succeed at anything… whether they believe it or not.
WOW. I hope by “mental illness” you actually meant “learning disability”/”mental disability”. People who are mentally ill learn just as well as people who aren’t mentally ill. In fact, I have a mental illness. I really hope you’re thinking of mental retardation but said the wrong thing, if not, I’m really offended.
Yes, it’s amazing what people can learn when teachers actually make an effort to make it understandable.
A lot of wise things were said in this post.
I believe that if you do have enough passion and drive for something, then you can carve your life with it. There are many artists today that haven’t gone through a formal art education, but still gain much success and recognition, simply for keeping up with it and not giving up. Check out Chuck Anderson for instance—he’s done designs for Microsoft, Google, many magazines and more huge clients, and he never even graduated college!
However, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t pursue an art education if you want. “Amateur professionals” are a dime a dozen, and a good solid education never hurt. Another word of advice is to never forget that your life isn’t limited to just one thing. If you’re an artist, it’s actually healthy to enhance your mind with other interests! I’m a graphic design student, but I’m constantly dabbling in music, theoretical physics, philosophy, theories on bioengineering and more for inspiration. Do what you love, and don’t regret anything.
Haha.. 50K? Not a chance.. show me a list of employers.
*clears throat*
Disney animaion, Disney Imagineering, Disney consumer products, Disney Internet Group, Disney TV, Disney R&D, Dreamworks Animation, thinkwell, Midway, EA, Bottlerocket, Activition, Wet Designs, Chimera, Gary Goddard, JPL, Neversoft, Blizzard, Cartoon network, Imagi, Jim Henson Studios, Nickelodeon, Blue Sky, Sony Animation, Sony Games, WB, Starz, Pixar, Lucas Arts, ILM (industrial light and magic), Pandemic Studios, Naughty Dog Studios, Rhythm and Hues…
These are a few of the studios that pay their Junior artists over 50k to start. MOST of these studios have multiple projects so their design staffs are large. I work at one of these listed above… the rest of them contain friends I went to art school with. I started a lot higher than 50k.
It’s a highly competitive field but it’s also very small. Everyone knows everyone, or its one degree of removal.
There is your “list”
If you have experience with things like autocad or a specialized degree, it really isnt unhreard of to start out at 50 or 60 grand. Most people steriotype artists because they are to lazy to do thier own research. Just because you have an art degree it doesnt mean you are going to be a painter or somebody who draws portraits. People dont realize how many jobs are available with an art degree, and its annoying.
A quote that I like, from an artist.
“The thing I hate the most about advertising is that it attracts all the bright, creative and ambitious young people, leaving us mainly with the slow and self-obsessed to become our artists.. Modern art is a disaster area. Never in the field of human history has so much been used by so many to say so little. ”
— Banksy
To me, art is not so much a career, but a lifestyle. One that helps people to look at things in a different context.
people working for advertisements combine this lifestyle – this different look – with an application and a profit. They are just like Banksy, the only difference is that the advertisement-people keep the economy going and Banksy wants to bring it down. it is not right to condemn artists just because they are making money.
To me, the interesting stuff is now happening in the advertisement and in music videos, not in those snobby museums
There you go. Problem solved.
My first would be, “Are you gay?”
Haha, my exact thoughts….while there are jobs out there that you can get to do art in, most people who have those jobs…..DO NOT have an art degree….they have TALENT…..
Go be a business major, then you’ll get hired by just about anyone.
That’s the old school way of looking at art and design. A degree didn’t mean much back in the day… and I am talking the 30’s-60’s. However its a different animal now. I have a design/illustration degree. In fact no one that I work with under the age of 45 doesn’t have a degree from some reputable design school or another. Not having a degree will knock you back about 20k in pay along with a lesser job title.
Degrees in art pay off.
exactly, plus its experience, practice and you learn alot from practice and other people, teachers students etc.
I know people in high school that say im not taking art as a subject i already know how to draw i dont need anyone to teach me when the fact is if they took art as a subject by the time they finish school or just the next year, they will be 10 times better and have learnt so much they were to ignorant to realize was to be learnt
A pity, that. So much talent goes to waste. My father worked his way up from being a non-degreed draftsman & radio electronics specialist in the ’30s-’50s. He was finally able to access full engineer status at TRW (before it was a mere credit agency) & work on the Apollo space flights. He was considered a “mustang”-a guy who made it without a BA, BS, MA, MS, PHD, or any other degree. Look what we lose as a civilization when we don’t allow ANY other criteria to determine whether or not a person is worthy of employment!
Do a job search for any of the Jobs listed above. A BS in art is REQUIRED! I’m a graduate with a BS in fine art and I make more money than my former roommate who was a business finance major. He is pissed because he is actually a decent illustrator but was told he would make no money. With the fall of so many banks he is without a job and considered “one of those bank people”. I won’t mention who he worked for but they no longer exist. I’ve had steady employment since 1997. And to top it all off I LOVE MY JOB!
Try and step out your front door without seeing graphic art. It’s everywhere. It’s a HUGE part of our economy and guess what, You can’t outsource good design or art to Indonesia.
So where on earth do you get a B.S. in Art? I thought it was traditionally a B.A. or B.F.A.
I lol’d!
My husband has a BS from Yale in math and physics and a PhD from Princeton in physics and when he lost his job it was months before he found a new one. He came close to being forced out of his field.
He taught C++ to students but was too old by the standards of the people hiring.
Might as well follow your dream because nothing is sure.
Also don’t make your job the center of your universe and keep diverse interests
Some famous artists had other jobs as well. Gauguin was a stock broker for a while. And to read about a more contemporary artist:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Hopper
And Hopper has had an effect upon American culture with his isolated people. His painting, Nighthawks is an American icon and be sure to read the influences Hopper has had on American culture in the wiki article.
Some things are not measured with money.
The problem with being very creative is that others who are less creative will be slow to understand what you have.
art teacher, gallery owner, famous artist, grafix design (magazines, advertising, web design etc) photographer ( famous, galleries, newspapers magazines, for modeling agencies) the list goes on
Who said we have to make money?
I have to applaud you. Just about everyone else on here seems to think an endeavor is only ever worth as much money as it’ll earn him/her, and your comment goes completely ignored or unnoticed. Props for having the gusto to ask the right questions and posit your own terms. Don’t let these cowards terrorize you.
exactly
I agree with this comment 100%. I’m guessing everyone on here is 20+. I’m only 16, and my friends and family are all telling me that I shouldn’t be an artist, because it “doesn’t make a lot of money.” Yet, they all complain about how horrible their jobs are. Instead of telling me to reach for my dreams, they want me to be miserable doing something that’ll make me money, but won’t make me happy. I’d rather be happy, thank you very much.
Well, I’m an illustration major in art school right now. My plan is to graduate, get hired by a design firm via internship networking, work my way up to art director and on the side, do some freelancing or publish my own children’s book. It’s not that hard.
you can be a web designer, architect, painter, sculpter, game designer, clothes, guitar craft. anything in this world requires art, you cant make something without artistic proceses going on in your brain. look around you and youl see everything is art
if someone asks that just say “I charge people who ask that 100 dollars”
To be honest it *is* a fair question.
Not really. Most people don’t know anything about art. I think people have this anachronistic image of some impoverished artist talking in a French accent and selling paintings of fruit at a street corner that someone will buy for pocket change and hang up in their bathroom.
This isn’t the 1800’s. Where do you think all the graphics on the internet comes from? The art on DVD’s, book covers, and comic books? The illustrations and advertisements in magazines? Designs for the clothing you wear, and the costumes on actors in movies? EVERYTHING in computer/console games from characters, to armor, to creatures, and even the world itself? And of course, all the stunning, elaborate animations and special effects for movies and game cinematics?
I swear people have some naive misconception that this art just materializes out of thin air or some amazing computer magically makes it on its own (yeah, that’s why they call it “Digital art” right?). Do they think LucasArts actually uses droids to do all of its CG work? Does Disney cast a magic spell and an army of mops comes to life and does all their animation and CG work for them? Lol…
No, they use artists…and many of them. But those jobs don’t go out to just anyone who can hold a pencil. It takes a lifetime of practice, self-improvement, and dedication to the craft. It’s very underappreciated work, since most just end up taking it for face value in the end.
Most of what you said is done on computers. Most people who do that have either a tech degree or some for of programming experience. Many have artistic ability few went and got a degree in it.
Seriously?! OMG! Computers are a tool… there is an artist on the other end of it I promise you. I do NOT have a tech degree and I AM an artist. I use the computer as a tool. I can paint and draw traditionally as well. I have a bachelors degree from one of the best art schools in the US. Everyone I work with at Disney has a degree from one design school or another. We are highly specialized well paid designers. Computers do not poop out creative works of fantasy on their own.
Being an artist does not mean that you have to starve for it. Neither does it mean that your only medium is canvas and oil paint.
Naive!
Exactly! I’m a college student taking Art as one of my subjects. In my class, there’s some students taking a “Fine Art” course, and some taking “Art: Graphic Design”. The Graphic Designers use the computers a lot, but aren’t any less artists than the Fine Artists who use painting, pencil drawing and other more traditional methods. The aim of both groups is to show emotions, themes and ideas in what they do.
I’ve tried to use graphics packages, and I can’t get anything good out of it, but one of my Graphic Designer friends makes beautiful images with relative ease. However, he can’t use a pencil to draw much beyond simple shapes… It is the person that makes the Art, not the tools!
(I mean tools to refer to paints, pencils, photoshop, etc., not anything else…)
Point in case: IS degree – Graphic and Web Designer……ceramics won’t do that for ya.
Who’s talking about getting a degree in ceramics? I’m talking about art school (eg, Gnomon, Academy of Art, Art Institute, etc.)… not Fine arts general education at the local community college.
They don’t just teach you how to draw anatomy and paint still lifes in art school…
There’s many more job opportunities for artists than just graphic design…
Hold up here!
You are losing the point. Yes there is a reason someone gets a degree in ceramic arts. Where do you think all of the dishes, glassware, bathroom plumbing and countless other items come from? Some artist had to create the masters to copy. Do not treat a artist that works in a different medium. I have degrees in both ceramic arts (not that pre-cast dog you paint) and have done quite well at it. I also have a degree in visual communications (photography and graphic design). Both degrees came from two different art schools and have a real role in my professional life. If a “simple ceramic person” gets $120-150 per hour is that such a bad thing? I work in both areas throughout my career and I am quite happy and well paid.
That is exactly what I just said is the misconception people seem to have. It still takes an artist to imagine it, design it, render it, and implement it. Yes it’s done on computers, but that doesn’t mean the computer magically creates art on its own, no matter how elaborate its programming is.
Anyone can open up Lightwave or 3DS Max just as anyone can pick up a ball of sculpting clay, but not everyone is going to turn out a professional character model with it. Same goes for Photoshop. As I said, it takes a lifetime of self-improvement and dedidation to master the craft, whether you go to art school or not.
While you don’t necessarily need a degree (since most employers value your portfolio more than your degree), it certainly doesn’t hurt, and the industry knowledge and employer connections that art schools have is an invaluable resource.
Point being, there are many reasons to go to art school, especially today more than ever (since there is more technical and industry knowledge needed).
Agreed. Oooh sooo agreed. It drives me nuts when people just think art magically appears. Computers are a TOOL.
We also have to have business savvy too (which is where the degree comes in handy). I dunno about you but I have to sell all of my ideas (with art) to upper management in order for them to be funded and hopefully built. I work for Imagineering. I design Disneylands!
Yes, having a ‘tech degree’ in java and flash from your no-name college means you win at life…
WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! Freaking Morons. Have you ever meat a computer nerd that was a good designer or artist? If I you met an airbrush artist would you assume his degree was in Pneumatics? Is it a chemist that paints with oils? Seriously folks, what hole did you just crawl out of?
I’m a multimedia designer. I work on a computer all day. Take a guess of what me degree is. NOPE! it’s a BS in ART!
You are so right. Except for the “ageism” issue. Despite years of experience/education, my spouse (Chouinard Grad) & I (20+yrs of fab
experience/instruction by a Swiss-trained boss) have been excluded from the field-as of 2000- we worked in since 1978. Arg. We find OTHER pathways these days. One of mine is participating in this complex of websites!
I’m a philosophy student. I only ever get “How are you gonna make money”
If you’re studying analytic philosophy… management consultancy?
Reasonably so. Pretty much the only thing you can do with a philosphy degree, is go for your Masters or Doctorate…and then teach more college kids who don’t know any better.
Unless “you are following your dreams!”
That that I’m a money monger at all, but is ‘Following your dreams’ hiring? Last I heard ‘following your dreams’ was just code for hanging out and delaying reality for as long as possible.
My brother got his BS in following his dreams, then went back to school, because it turns out that following his dreams really required a Masters in English (he works in Corporate Communications)
know what u mean, been there:)…but when you think about it, after getting a degree from most of the possible choices, you can either do a phd or do something completely unrelated…
Not really. A philosophy degree from a top university will be well regarded.
More so than one of the soft sciences or an arts major if you want to move on to law school (for example).
no offence but who would take an arts major if they wanted to move on to arts school
now thats just silly
I meant that Philosophy will look better than an undergraduate degree in a social or biological science, or a degree in history or english.
Truth! *shakes tablet-stylus-clenching fist*
Display your Wacoms with pride!
*displays*
*Displaying*
*Displays as well!*
Actually most common response i get is “Why?”
Good for you! You’re following your dreams!
People always ask if I am going to teach.
my initial question is usually, “ORLY? Do u has a Deviantart account?”-8D-
Most real artists don’t have one.
Pfft! Shows what you know.
Nah. There’s no such thing as ‘real artists’ :]
Its all self-expression.
props :].
real artists don’t express themselves
You forgot “Can I buy some pot from you?”
Or “How much marijuana do you consume daily?”
The one I got most (upon hearing I was a painting major) was: Oh, can you paint my house?
HAR HAR HAR! OMG, and you are the first one to come up with THAT one, how clever of you!
Well, since you’re not the first jag to major in “painting,” I’d say that coming up with an original response would be a sad waste of time. Why reinvent the wheel?
Well, it sure is gratifying to know that appreciation for the arts is alive and well in Wootahland.
And huh, I didn’t know girls could be ‘jags.’ And what does that have to do with anything anyway?
I have no idea what girls being capable of jaghood has to do with anything either, so I can’t imagine why you’re bringing it up.
Answer: “Sure I can! Do you prefer pointillism or abstract expressionism?”
I will, at $80 per square foot.
In all honesty, you could retitle this, “People’s Reaction to My Future Career Choice”. I want to write graphic novels and later just scifi-fantasy. When adults ask me “What do you want to do when you grow up,” this is what I get next.
silly Beat, people don’t read anymore :] Hire an artist to turn it into kickass comics instead
the scifi part i mean:/
This graph is 100% accurate. Good show!
You forgot:
• I can’t draw a straight line. (like we care)
• Can you paint on my van?
• My cousin’s an artist, too. He’s a real good drawer.
• Do you really draw nekkid people?
One I get quite often is acquaintances who tell me “Oh can you do a portrait for me, JUST LIKE THAT ONE YOU DID” (that took 2 months to complete), and expect me to do it for free.
I don’t know whether to be insulted or flattered.
you need to work on your time management skills
nah just joking
your portraits must be really photolike realistic then?
i guess you can only do expressionist stuff fast
I am an art student…
So, you get these same responses or things along those lines?
Our PTA paid $1000 to some guy who can freehand the world map. So that’s what he makes–each day he’s booked. Pretty good for an art living.
LOL! I totally relate. I was an art major and heard this crap all the time. Then I switched majors ;]
so stinkin true! I don’t shell out 30 grand a year to go to art school if I dont think Im going to get a return on my investment!
Other comments I get:
*Im an artist too! I do Scrapbooking/cake decorating/cross stiching……
*so….do you like….*see naked people?*
*wow!….I gotta go.
*So….you’re broke?
*can you draw me a picture of…Winnie the Pooh/mickey mouse/Naruto/Johnny Dep as captain jack sparrow?
“I don’t shell out 30 grand”
I doubt *you’re* shelling out 30 grand.
There’s a reason adults who need a degree they can actually use don’t go back to liberal arts schools.
I shelled out 13k a term… totaling about 40k a year at Art Center College of Design. Well, myself and my scholarships and the government subsidized grants I was able to procure. I have about 24k in debt left. Art is VERY lucrative business indeed.
It’s a degree I use…. from a liberal arts college.
Don’t the cost of supplies. Supplies alone can add up to being almost a grand or more a semester depending on your medium of choice. Also, art school is very tedious with roughly about 20-40 hours of work per project, sometimes more. Another thing is that 30 k is a very common price for art schools, they normally run between 30k-40k a year and quite being so naive. An art degree is a degree that can actually be used. Who do you think designs your tv, video games, clothing, jewelry, ads, movies, tv shows, tools and pretty much every dam thing you use in your life. Artist and engineers design most of that stuff together. The engineers design how they work while the artist designs how it looks and how things feel. We make your stuff look good. Artist are some of the biggest influences you’ll ever meet. Only thing is that we always get crap like, “oh, so you draw? want to draw me?” or sh!t like “pssh…. art school is easy” ” “i can draw too, i draw anime characters and anthropomorphic animals.”
wow yeah i hate how people think that
art is one of the harder subject, just in work load and its so time consuming
its a 24/7 job
Ironically, many art grads really end up doing anime characters and antropomorphic animals
I feel ya. I’m a multimedia/graphic design major.
My degrees are in Comparative Literature. You should see the sneers people give in response to that one.
i like this one.
ever since i was in 1st grade, kids would crowd around me because they thought i drew good.
i always got the same questions.
“Do you go to art classes?”
“are you going to be an artist?”
“can you draw spongebob?”
it’s so annoying now -.-
How do I make money now that I have an art degree? I teach art. Best job I’ve ever had.
So true. Along with the stuff other people have said….
“OMG my (insert random family member/friend/children of some friend’s friend) is really into art too blah blah blah maybe you can teach him/her/them something”
“Oh so you just like draw all day and stuff right? I mean its not like a real school”
“Do you actually have to draw some guy’s junk when you have him model?”
“Really? Oh wow I have the coolest idea for a children’s book/comic/logo etc. I should get you to draw it!”
Not everyone treats college as a trade school where big dollars is the only reward. Many go to become educated in something they love. Really, they do. I, too, was an art major. By the time I graduated, I became aware that there were two types of people in the world. 1: People who have a real grasp of what it takes and what it means to make good work in any field of the arts, and 2: Morons. Okay, it’s not that black and white, but damn, it sure feels that way sometimes… those times when a type-twoer is demanding you explain something that you know they’ll never understand in a billion years. And if you do somehow explain it successfully, you get some short response like, “that’s stupid” or “who cares” and you wonder why they were so curious in the first place.
No most people are curious because they have to work for college and don’t have anything to fall back on if their degree gets them nowhere.
Darn, you beat me to it. I know, right? I get that a lot when I’m playing video games with others. My response is make the video games you’re playing.
I am graduating with a B.A. in a few months, and it just recently hit me – “Cr*p, how AM I going to make money?!”
Wish I’ve thought of that 4 years ago
Ahhh I gotta say I get this all the time.
Whenever people ask how I’m gonna make money I always answer it and I think the people who ask never want to know anyway.
I paint in the street and get some really good responses a lot people really seem to like art and artists, most just don’t want to pay for it and think it should be free.
Yup, get this all the time. Also, “Oh art school, that’s not hard like real college, right?” “Cartoon school? Like you draw things all day?” Uhg.
It amazes me how ignorant people are about art school and artists in general. Most graphic designers make plenty of money to live comfortably, and work freelance. Same goes for photographers, typographers, cartoonists, etc. Yes, there is competition, and yes, you do have to have talent, but if you’re pursuing something you love, that’s what matters.
Also, in this day and age so much digital media goes into everything…the internet, games, movies, commercials, etc., all require different types of artists, both digital and real media. Look at how much crappy Photoshop you see on a daily basis – they hired an artist to do that (a bad one, but still). I go to a digital arts school, and our alumni are snatched into the industry immediately if they’re good, and they do make a starting salary of 50,000+ a year. My field especially (character rigging) is in extremely high demand, as in animation, game design, concept art, etc…Not to mention the hundreds of independent studios that are on the west coast alone…there’s a lot of opportunity here.
Seriously, we don’t just learn how to draw and paint pretty things. Hell, some people that go to art school end up in the medical industry since they have to learn so much anatomy. Concept artists are needed for everything – where do you think text book illustrations come from? Medical illustrations? Art school is not an easy waste of time (or money). I laugh at the few people every year who come here thinking it’s easy and drop out because it’s freaking hard. Storyboarding? 500 drawings a night, easily. And that’s one class.
Sorry for the rant – er, basically, I know exactly where you’re coming from.
U forgot “So… u r a hippie or something like them that use weirdo clothes right?”
Or “Hey, doesn’t that mean you’re gay/bi/lebian?”
That one gets annoying after I dunno… the first time?
I get a sort of secondary reaction like this, since my boyfriend is an art major and I’m a biochem major. “So…how’s he gonna support you once you’re out of college?” “Aren’t you worried he’s just gonna sit at home and eat up your income while you work your ass off?” Frankly I greatly respect him, because he knows the risks and he’s doing it anyways. I certainly wish I had the risk-taking cajones to make art my career, since it’s one of my biggest passions. (I’m pursuing a career in biochemistry out of passion for the craft, not for the paycheck.)
…Oh, and plus…if your artwork ever stops paying as well, you’ve got experience in whatever field it was you were in before, and can use art as a great source of extra income!
My dad is an artist (painter) professionally and does very well. He wakes up every morning, goes into his studio and paints all day. His agent does all the dirty work. It’s possible! Good luck!
I know for a FACT that I’ve seen this on the front page before…
Getting a degree in the art fields on your parents dime is the biggest middle finger you can give them.
What better way to show how much their patronage means to you by getting a degree not worth the paper its printed on.
My parents were pleased as punch, actually. My father’s never been prouder and my mother gets to live vicariously through me now that her career as an art director/web designer at a large corporate architectural firm was cut short when my little brother turned out epileptic and autistic seven years ago. I’m going into animation though. It sort of requires a basic fundamental knowledge of processes and drawing ability, yet has more than enough commercial applications. People will always watch cartoons, so… suck my balls.
Lets see how it goes when your cranking out flash animations for pennies on the dollar.
Flash animators make good money, actually – you’d be surprised :].
Haha, I graduated from CalArts a few years ago, and it was the second art school I went to, I had a huge debt to pay off, but 70k at Disney along with 30k freelance a year pays pretty well. I’ve only got about 5-10 more years to go, depending on if I advance to character animation or not.
I know that you have never done any research on the art industry, nor have ever had to pay an artist, and are completely ignorant. I don’t know why you would speak without knowing anything though. It’s senseless. I can see your non-art degree hadn’t thought you anything about the economy.
I’ve already got a design job lined up for when I graduate this spring. My parents couldn’t stop raving when I got into art school. They were so proud that I was talented enough to get into an art college at a university. There’s nothing middle-finger-y about it. You’ve got a skewed view or parent/child relationships.
My parents were happy for me when I got into art school. They’re quite proud. They’re also happy because I’m going to spend the rest of my life doing what I love, and not a job I hate just to get by.
I’m sorry that you feel like doing what makes someone happy is a big middle finger to their parents. It says a lot about your views on the world.
Yeah, cause everyone has mom and dad’s pocket to pay for their college.
You know some people have to pay for it themselves.
Didja know there’s less professional artists than neurosurgeons in the united states? Just sayin’.
And my parents say it’s fine for me to pursue my dreams and be an artist… as long as I pay for college myself, and don’t move back in with them ^-^
I’ll be honest, my family questioned my choice of coming to an art school and they still kind of question it today but they’ve learned to accept it as well as be proud of my choice. Especially after seeing all of the applications that art has in the real world. I do lots of small commissions and can make anywhere between 500- 1000 dollars for a commission that doesn’t take very long because of the style wanted and the fact that i have honed my craft in that specific style. I normally get anywhere bewteen 5- 8 commission offers a week but im a picky person because im still in school and i wish to focus on it and the thing about kids in art school have parents paying for it. You can suck my balls on that because i pay for art school myself through a combination of loans and commissions. Its not cheap either. I pay 30-34k a year depending on how many classes im taking and that doesnt include the amount i pay for my supplies.
Wow. I had scholarships, grants and loans. My parents didn’t help unfortunately, but they would have if they had known there was more to art than gallery work. My arts degree was worth it. I net quite a comfortable living as a designer. My dad thought I’d be a starving artist and thought I should do something useful. Really the biggest middle finger you can give an unsupportive parent is to dwarf their income your first year out of school… with your BoA degree.
To all my fellow art students, I say f*ck em! Art is a VERY lucrative and respectable career. People only doubt that you can make a living at it, because they have already talked themselves out of art using that very same excuse!
As a matter of fact I’d love to see all the business majors, attorneys etc survive without their precious letterheads and company logos. The naive will find as soon as they graduate just how important an art degree is to corporate America. And yes, you naysayers you, graphic design and the like is done on a computer. However, do you really think that creativity is found on a hard drive? Believe me it isn’t! It is a long, and long and well thought out process.
“I could have done that!”
“yes, but you didn’t…”
And that my friends is what being a designer is all about…
On a side note, I think this graph is missing a reaction…”can yo design my tattoo?”
It is baffling how many people must be so miserable that they have to actively tell you how you should live your life.
Art is everywhere. It will always be everywhere, it is a staple of the human condition to express in many forms. That being said it will also always be misunderstood and shunned by the snobby pretentious “real careers” who think they are endowed more respect than some cook who can draw.
I don’t loose sleep over the enfeebled minds that try to tell me I’m not doing something worth my time. In fact, It’s enduring knowing that I’m in the minority; not crunching numbers, faking smiles, and testing dirt samples. These are perfectly decent jobs for the people who love them, but I personally couldn’t imagine a more vapid reality.
To those who detest the starving artist and fail to appreciate this faculty in society: Don’t read a book, never play a video game, don’t watch a movie, don’t laugh at a television show, turn off the radio, don’t weep to a play, don’t even admire the logo on your beer can.
Go test some dirt.
I’m painting 3 or 4 paint a year, managing my own gallery, my own house, 2 cars and my bank account in black numbers and I DON’T HAVE ANY ART DEGREE. How? I’m painting since my childhood and asking and knocking doors since highschool (10 year ago). I’m living the dream cuz’ I’m working on it since always. You want to be a great artist? Practice and talk whit the people involved in “the art word”. You want to get money whit an art degree? Take your computer and plug your wacom.
I can imagine those reactions! I am not an artist myself, but work together with a group of different types of artists (working for a computer game dev) and then you really get to appreciate the diversity and skill of that field. Not just that, you get to know that it is more then just ‘putting lines on paper’, but it requires quite some knowledge on anatomy, composition, movement, and a lot more, that a lot of people don’t really have.
Good points but you also forgot to mention all of the research an artist will do when working on a project. Artist will research and expand their knowledge to better their understanding of a subject in order to be able to create things that are believable as well as just make things up that are so out of this world that they make scientist, engineers and ect. want to try and make those stuff into reality.
Damn, sounds familiar. I’m unemployed!
Wow, being a graduate from music school, I can totally relate! Just make that red part a little bigger, and replace the green with “oh, so do you play instruments or sing??”
Unbelievably true!
People’s reaction to you being an art student behind your back
“Twat” – 98%
That’s exactly what i ask art students when i meet them
truth.
I’m an artist and went to art school and oddly enough, NOBODY has ever asked me “How are you going to make money?” thankfully I don’t know people that ignorant
I get the same sort of thing, except I am a musician. Originally I was majoring in Music Education, and people were always like “Why do you want to be a teacher? They don’t make very much money you know!” Unfortunately, the major didn’t work out. So now I am majoring in Elementary Education, and it is one of the best decisions that I have ever made. I am still minoring in music however. So now I get, “What do you expect to do with a minor in music?”
Also, I have friends that are art majors. I have seen how much work they put into one drawing or into a single pot for pottery class. The work is hard, but the outcomes are usually amazing and make me jealous of said friends. I wish I could draw somewhat decently.
Q: How do you get an Arts major off of your porch?
A: Pay him for the pizza.
I started off as a music major, and then I switched to philosophy, and then history. Wound up (and finished up) as an English major, so I’m pretty well acquainted with the skepticism, the raised eye-brows, especially from relatives.
I think that it’s a pretty grievous misconception, though, that everybody on earth should be making lots of money. There are already enough Donald Trumps in the world.
Do your thing, get your bills taken care of, mind the people who depend on you, and as long as you can go to bed with a clean conscience, you should be perfectly happy. What on earth could possibly be more important?
If you happen to rack up some cash along the way, more power to you–I’m certainly no opponent of capitalism–but ultimately it’s a question of whether you are happy, whether you are a good person, and whether you’ve committed yourself to something you won’t regret at the end of your life.
here here!
2 thumbs up! If you enjoy what you do, and you can support yourself, why shouldn’t you do it? Do things because you want to, not because somebody else tells you to do them. It will never be as satisfying.
I’ve got my B.A in art with a concentration in painting, I have multiple commissions for portraits. People are going back to wanting a painted or drawn portrait instead of just a photo. Money can be made. My father has had a show at the Smithsonian for his sculptures. The thing is, just like teachers, if your an art major, your not in it for the money. Hence starving artist.
also I’ve gotten the rudest question
“don’t you feel like your wasting your life?”
I understand the red part of that chart. I look back at my BA in fine art, and I enjoyed it, but right after college, I was shelving videos at a video store. Shortly after, I was back in school studying computers.
really? cuz for me, it’s
1% “That’s really cool”
25% “Can you draw me/my friend/my grandmother?”
and 74% “Aw man, all I can draw is stick figures.”
Precisely. Thank you for this. Go art students!
I constantly get the “can you draw me” or “can you draw me so and so?” But I did manage to get a good job as an illustrator only 2 months out of college, making $30K a year, just cause I draw well.
People don’t realize almost every ad, every newspaper, every website has some kind of graphic design. Art is more important than people think, as nearly 80% of what we take in every day is from our sense of sight.
good for you you are following your dreams
He forgot “where is your helmet”
Comments ruined this post. You’re all a bunch of idiots.
There is nothing to get defensive about when asked a practical question about your career choice.
Person: “How do you plan to make money?”
Aspiring artist: “Like most, I guess I plan to subsist on somewhat menial stuff if I can’t find work immediately. . .especially in this economy. It’s worth it to me, I love of art! And digital artists are actually doing better than you’d think these days. Bla bla bla. . .”
A perfectly legitimate question and a perfectly legitimate answer. I’m not sure whether or not you’re still adolescent. . .but you are not above keeping these kinds of real-world, practical priorities in order. The real world teaches that lesson to artists and engineers and business-people alike.
I’m pretty sure that same question is asked of everyone who doesn’t fall under the catch-alls of “business” or “science”. Also, the joke around here is that “Business Major” is just another way of saying “Undecided”.
to be honest if that pie chart is the best you can come up with,
you’re not much of an artist. Give it up and work in walmart or something more suited to your talents
you dont even know the person
so you dont know what your talking about
plus you dont sound like much of an ‘artist’ yourself if your saying that about them your being pretty simple minded yourself
and artists arnt simple minded
All of you have talking about 2 dimensional stuff. There is a whole world of 3 dimensional “things” to design. It takes all sort of “artists” to design. It requires imagination. If you’re good/excellent at anything you are an artist. Even the car salesman. But that goes off course…
I was an art major. People laughed at me in college. Now Im a web designer. I live in a designer loft, most of them still live with their parents.
I’ve been dreaming of becoming an artist my whole life. I am already actually.. and the more I think about post-secondary.. the harder it is for me to voice it. My whole life my family never took it seriously, I lost the joy it gave me for a whole year almost once. Now I keep thinking about how I’d love to be an art student, and its the only thing that seems to stay in my mind.. but i cant tell me family. They would never approve.
I have other talents, but this is my dream. This is what i love.
same here
Don’t give up – my family was extremely against it, but if you love it, fight for it, no matter what it takes. If you’re talented, you’ll make your way and do well, but you do need to learn the fundamentals, which you just can’t get at a “regular” school.
same goes for ALL if the arts. music, theatre, etc.
My apical ancestors were artists and i follow in their footsteps
I am an indigenous man from australia and I have inherited the gene and spiritual connections through my heritage and have works all over the place and have been told that I am one of those artist that when the die their art is or becomes worthy of a good price thats good for my childrens children Artists should not worry about the money factor cuase if you true then money will come naturally
I can completely relate, as I too am an art student
lol, you forgot, “Hey, so then, like, you’re a good drawer, then?” to which I respond, “No, I’m not underwear.”
You forgot “Oh, yeah, I draw sometimes, wanna see?”
I can totally relate. Oh, art college. It’s even better when the people asking questions, such as “How are you going to ever make money?” are your parents.
But you know what? Do what you love and f*** the rest.
Unfortunate but true.
yeah, they also say, “good thing you’re in advertising”
I tried to be an artist for 15 years. I finally burned out and gave up and switched to poetry. Duh! Do you think that was a good idea? Poets are probably lowest on the income ladder. But not to worry — I now sell a very artistically designed poetry program
after “can you draw me?” it’s usually, “where can i get the best weed?” or “so you must be high all the time”
yes… yes i am
To be fair, people have no idea how to make conversation, and usually these are the first things they think of.
You could always get a 2nd degree at the same time as your art degree. Unfortunately you’ll continue to get similar questions, because no matter what your other degree is, people will latch onto the art one.
Hi,
I think it’s quite typical that the majority of people ask you about you’re financial prospects as an artist. It shows how a lot of people think nowadays. Of course money is important; but then again I would rather do something I like and make less then do something just for money. Money is no end but a means (incorrect english I guess, but I hope you know what I mean) Taking a risk to do what you want is so much better than to conform for security, no matter what anyone tells you.
Besides, as an (dutch) artist I’m quite capable of making enough money, I just don’t limit myself by doing one thing. I paint, teach, design and give workshops animate etc.
O yeah, I do occasionaly smoke a joint, but then again, it’s legal over here
Don’t let the (lack of) money get you down, keep at it and you will find a way to make a living working in art.
Cheers!
I actually feel relieved to know that I’m not the only person who has to put up with this crap. Art is about sentimental value, not monetary value. Once you start making money off of it, it isn’t art anymore, it’s just another commercial product.
In response to the person who suggested getting a second degree, you may be surprised to know that many students, myself included, have declared double majors; Art and Biology in my case. Artists often find inspiration in nature and life, and thus studying multiples subjects can maximize the knowledge and experience with which the artist can work. Suppose you want to design a fictional creature. The best place to start is at your local zoo. Observe the animals, the way they look, the way they move, the way they behave, the environments in which they live, what they eat, how their bodies are built, etc. Then, apply that knowledge to your design. in order to fully grasp how the creature should look, you have to look at your references inside and out. Dissecting a lab specimen is really no different from reverse engineering a machine; both are merely a series of components that work together in a system to accomplish a particular function. Once you understand how those components work together and why, there’s no limit to the potential applications. I read an article a few years back about a group of college students that were using Lego Technic pieces to design a prosthetic hand. Usually when someone thinks “Lego”, they think “children’s toys”, but the fact is, the pieces are easily obtainable, user friendly, adjustments and replacements are simple, and perfectly designed for the task.
The point is, people are too quick to generalize everything.
I think what a lot of people are thinking when they say “Good for you. You are following your dreams.” is “So you have rich parents huh?”
I think this gram needs to be updated to reflect the percentage of graph jam readers that aren’t art students, but think they have something to share.
-Another broke art student
You forgot “I can’t even draw stick figures! *insipid giggle*”
Honestly, the reason I majored in art is because I wanted to finish college and I knew it was the only thing I could stick with. A lot of employers don’t care what you majored in, they only care that you have a bachelor’s. Of course, art school completely destroyed my passion for creating, but at least I graduated!
We would not have Van Gogh if he listened to most of these posts. Do what you love, it will make you happy. Money does not buy happiness. No matter how cliche it sounds, it is true.
People are so ignorant.
Money is a side effect of being good at what you do.
Hook up with someone who has a job that can pay for you both. For example, I was her first boyfriend who owned a car, the first to take her on real holidays, not dossing down on someone’s floor. And she was 39 when we started. I met a lot of her fellow artists. Only two did I consider good, and that’s allowing for differences in taste, ie, I may not like an artist’s work but it’s clever, imaginative etc.
That started 1991, finished ages ago now. Good at the time but she couldn’t get to grips with a real world. A great pity.
You should have made your pie chart more artistic.
I can completely empathise with this chart because i’m heading for a Film/Literature degree. However I feel that the danger with any ‘arty’ degree is that at the end you get so disillusioned with people asking you ’stupid’ questions that some people will get kind of snobby. If I meet an art major I ask them how they’re going to make money because I am genuinely interested. Very often the question is asked innocently and it’s usually the first question that people can think of anyway. And as for people asking you to have a look at their work and telling you that they draw/paint/embroider, I feel that people have to realise that art is a universal thing. Ok, these people could never hope to make a living out of their art but at least humour them. Art is not for the elite. No community is best served when only the elite have control.
If you have a passion and can make that passion in to a living, then I have nothing but respect for you. But please, don’t view the passion of others as lesser.
A.its not about how the pie chart looks. B.you make money either by making commissions or working for a company (lets get educated some more) C.and no the good for you thing is what they say to not sound like a complete and entire asshat while faking being nice.
Sports Science too hard?
it’s only for the money these days…no one really cares that you have a passion and decided to make a career out of it, people are only blinded by greed and money which makes people ask stupid questions like that.
Take a look around you; everything you see involves an artist/designer before it enters your life. Your clothes, furniture, auto, dishes, wall paint, etc. It would be a grim world without artists. Go for your dream!
What is “good” art? Art cannot be defined. Simple as that.
You make money by following orders and limiting your artistic dream.
Another point to this argument is that, if you have an art degree, you don’t need a job in the arts.
I’m also an art student, and while I’ve been here, I’ve been thinking a lot about my decisions. Getting a job is entirely based on how good you are at what you do, your major, what jobs you look for, and right now, the economy.
There are people from my school (RISD) graduating, and being completely unable to find jobs. One alumni needs to go back to school to get a degree in nursing.
But I was thinking about it.
Office jobs take artists nowadays, because they’re more creative than mass-bred business degrees.
Another point is, we can get our BFAs, BIDs, and whatever else, but that doesn’t mean we need to continue our education in art. I planning to get my BFA in four years, and my BID the fifth. If I feel I can’t get a job in Industrial design or likewise, I want to go for my master’s in engineering or medicine. Which is entirely doable. All you need is a Bachelor’s degree, and the required courses.
There are so many options open, even if someone with an art degree just wants to make art for a living. But artists are useful in other fields when they apply themselves.
For medicine, I forgot to mention MCATS and such, but that is just a test. Just because I’m getting a degree in art doesn’t mean I’m not going to study math and science, and prepare for that test like any pre-med student would if I make the decision to pursue that path.
And yes, I love both art and medicine.
You people are insipid and missing the entire point. Who the hell cares what money you make from it? Maybe their life goals go a little beyond that? Maybe they’d rather do something they enjoy. Not everyone chief dream is making money and buying a house and living the typical life. Your responses make this completely and utterly true. YOU are the ones I feel sorry for. Have fun at your job that you utterly loathe, tomorrow.
And it is possible to make money in art, by the way. If you knew anything.
glad to hear that you are entering a vocation that you have a passion for. Don’t listen to people who say “how do you plan to make money.” Those who say such a thing are probably working in jobs they HATE, and are not sophistacated enough to understand that you CAN make a living in the arts. The arts is respectable and honorable. Don’t be discouraged. Go with your instincts and focus on the project right in front of you.
this is so true, except i have never gotten a “good for you”.
people are so cynical.
I will always be an artist. I used to be an art student.
That question came up a lot, usually from me. How will “I” make money.
Now I’m a finance major, working in accounting and marketing. I love it. Artists have natural creativity that can be applied in numerous fields. I use this every day.
I have found that a lot of artists have no interest in business and find it revolting, what a tragedy. If you are going to pursue a profession as an artist, you need the same professional and business skills required in other professions.
Whatever makes you happy,
G.
yeah yeah yeah….if it makes you feel any better, Hedge Fund Investors, Bank Administrators and all kinds of people who majored in Economics and Business Administration can’t find jobs now either. And to further twist your mind, think of this: both Winston Churchill and Adolf Hitler were artists……a whole World War driven by two artists; Bad Artist/Good Artist.
CREATIVE ART THERAPY!!!! after my BA in psychology and fine art I started grad school for creative art therapy. So far, I love it!!!! It’s not for everyone but its something and its a job you want to get out of bed for
I often wonder how I’m going to make money, only I’m an opera student. It seems this whole “follow your dreams thing” is less financially lucrative than people who just want to make money and thus become doctors and lawyers. But darn it we have fun.
At least I don’t have to take math ever again.
I get that question a lot, and it’s funny how I get that from people who are always stressed out and poker-faced. I get stressed too with my work in art school, but it’s so worth it and I enjoy it because it is what I love the most.
If you live to do what you love, life will reward you with happiness… That’s common sense. And about the money thing, that’s just ignorance cause Art has tons of branches inside the world of design, and not to mention all the money that photographers, curators, painters, designers, animators, etc. do.
i love this chart. i am a chef. mine would be peoples reaction to me being a chef. whats your favorite thing to cook. 100%
I’m going into Game Art Design. Probably make like £40k a year, maybe more.
This cracks me up. I married an artist. Guess what he makes money doing? Making art. That’s right. Galleries sell art to people and that makes money. Hey, betcha didn’t know that still happened, eh?
Good luck, it takes a lot of work to get and keep people interested.
I will sell my soul through paint and stuff.
I totally feel this.
I’m a Jazz Studies Major.
We are screwed together brother!!!
Follow your dreams!
Whatever you do, never, ever ever just limit yourself to traditional art or you may have better chance of facing starvation living in a tent like the pioneers to survive. In the 1980s my traditional art sold like hotcakes faster than I could paint, since then my skills have massively improved and the sales have drastically declined…since the 80s..digital art, Walmart, etc etc, what I am saying is dont limit yourself. I am lucky to have a day job and have art as a hobby.
HI! What a great series of comments! My spouse & I fell into careers in animation back in the late ’70s after being told “You think yr gonna mk money?” Well, we bought a home, paid it off, paid off our present home, put our daughter thru college at RISD…and were most likely “aged out” in our 50s. At least we had a good run, & now I’m a freelance illustrator & my husband had the freedom to turn to writing. Going out for any art is a
“crapshoot” & if one gets a break it’s usually while one is packing & shipping diagnostic chemicals, making TV antennas, being a receptionist at CBS, filing at a collection agency….
SOMEONE has to take these chances or our world will be much the poorer for it!
I’m an art student too – Animation major. I feel that pain and it’s so true!
Maybe you could include English in your studies and you could learn that it should read “People’s reaction to *my* being and Art student”
Well they obviously have never seen the works of Molly Schmidt you will be a millionaire one day
This is so true…
I believe fine arts is very difficult to find work in though. Thats why I’m in graphic design and advertising art. They make way more money.
YEP! i’m about to graduate with a BFA in photography and that graph is exactly the same as what i got!
I have made some money with art, working as an Animator. Although its not required I do think it is a good idea to become good in one area of art and then to use it together with something else if you can. Great life drawers who understand physics make great animators. I think I am average at both and I managed to find work. Good luck with your art.
I’m an artist. I never graduated college, and i work in a nice little restaurant flipping burgers, but i make around 20 dollars an hour working alongside people with all types of degrees, plus a few thousand a year through selling art independently. I’m 22, i have no debt, 3 day weekends, and i make more money than both of my parents.
I can so sympathize with you, i’m a social work major. So I always get the question how are you going to make money or i get the joke that i will be on the streets begging for change
man i hate that… im an art student too… and i hate the reaction that i get from people…. “so how are you going to become a teacher or something… how are you going to make any money… blah blah blah” have a little faith yeah?
How will anyone make money and who cares? There is what is left of a wilderness out there which is plenty to live off of and besides with our education crisis since the mid-nineties, only those who are smart and strong enough to not be taken in to the governments “educational mind control” making it so that only those who succeed are those who are military-oriented and robotic, are those who will be able to bring our society forward into a more realistic place. I know it seems contradictory, but do the research. Who was ever told it was ok to do art past the age of 10. It’s nice as a hobby right? But as a serious career? No. No one will care what an artist does until it is past their time. Then they were a great artist. Just like after anyone dies, it is then that person was kind and funny and so forth. But did anyone ever really think that when the person was alive? They were probably just an annoyance. Just like art. No one realizes how important it is to a society and culture until years past. Realize it now and spread it, then maybe art won’t be such a joke. The chart is pretty funny though.
Here in England we often get ‘”Oh, do you paint landscapes or portraits?”
As if painting is the only artistic medium. They are usually more interested if you say you are an illustrator.
FAKE! That pie graph was totally photoshopped.
A science major asks “How does is work?”
An engineering major asks “How can I make it work better”
An art major asks “Would you like fries with that?”
Most common response I get from people when I tell them I’m an art major is to draw them or to design them a tattoo… Ugh
I am a theatre major. I completely understand.
XD I actually find more people telling me to draw them things like tattoo designs and portraits. Surprisingly enough, I rarely have people asking me how I’m going to find a job. I think there’s a fair amount of art related careers out there that are very lucrative. ^^
oh… there are also the people who have to rant about how bad they are at drawing.
“You go to an art school? I can’t even draw stick figures… but let me show you a piece I did anyway! 8D”
Following your dreams does not necessarily mean having an art degree or having a piece of paper on the wall or making big bucks. To me, it was having a passion and living that passion. Yes, I did make $$$ with my passion and one that kept me very busy for 12 years until I came up against an illness that forced me to stop my drawing. Fibromyalgia forced me to stop drawing to the point that my hands tremored so much I could not draw or even hold a cup of tea without spilling it. God taught me that everything is for a space and time, not always for a lifetime. Now for its time for me to do something else. Maybe I can do art for a hobby, but not as extensive as I did.
What did I do? Not major as some of you wish to do. I custom designed teachers classrooms from top to bottom. Bulletin boards, file folder games, murals, classroom designs, everything, one of a kind, unique, not from a book, not copied, but directly from my mind…no drawing classes, no college classes…whatsoever. I’ve been drawing since a child. A God-given talent, you should say. Even my family did everything they could to prevent me from drawing, but when a fire burns that passionately inside you, it either burns you up inside to get out or it dies inside unused. I drew for 12 years, practically 15+ hours a day, 6 days a week, even with 2 small children and a home to care and a husband gone all the time. I even got the children involved and I drew most of the night when the children slept. I know this is why I only sleep about 3-4 hours of sleep a night.
How did I begin? I went to a random school and asked for a teacher that was beginning her first there at the school and talked to he/she and asked her if I could custom design her classroom free of charge if they would only recommend my name to other teachers. I eventually went from $5 to $75 and hour and had a waiting list for the consecutive 3 years already booked. If you really want to be an artist….you will find a way. Your heart will start out small and in time….just getting that toe in the door….it will open…and you will be in. In all those years that I drew, I only had to ban 2 teachers and I did have teachers all the way from Texas to Georgia.
I miss them a lot but when it was time to bow out it was hard. If there is anyone out there who wants to do what I did, email me….and I will give you all my ideas, with nothing expected in return. Its been 10 years now since I closed Inspired Ideas down,so I do know the others teachers have moved forward, but last year, when I retired from subsitute teaching, I saw one of the octopus that I had drawn ‘all those years ago’ and I was dumbfounded to see that it was as bright blue as I had made it over 21 years ago. The color is still holding up as beautiful as it was then. Follow your heart. Your dreamwill come true.
People who knew me before I took Art are usually surprised, and didn’t know that I was any more creative than a grapefruit, and try not to show it. Either that, or they ask me what you have to do in the course, and eventually ask me “So, what is Art anyway?”. I find it easier to start with Physics first, because not many people feel the need to voice their opinion on that.
I would add one more and that is “Can you draw me some porn?” It’s ridiculous how many times people asked me that. Especially after taking my life drawing class.
“Can you draw me/my dnd character/my kid/my dog/my house/my garden/porn/my girlfriend/my boyfriend/some stupid anime character/spongebob…”
“Can you paint me/some fruit/something like that really pretty Thomas Kinkade painting/this one landscape like bob ross/a family portrait/my kid’s bedroom/my house/Jesus/something like that one guy that did Marilyn Monroe in squares and colors…..”
-_-
That said, people have very little appreciation for artists today.
“Can the painter in the grand manner be ignorant of sacred, profane, or fabulous history? Does he not need geography, geometry, and perspective? He cannot cultivate architecture too much, and in order to understand nature he must be a physicist. Can he be sure of correctly representing things whose cause and effect he does not know? Unless he has some knowledge of that part of moral law which teaches us of the passions, how can he draw the visible images of these movements of the soul?. . . .
“Through the study of proportions and anatomy he must know the external man; and with the help of philosophy he must delve into his soul. How can he paint his characters unless he has some knowledge of the rules of physiognomy? . . .Were we to list all the knowledge needed by the painter we should never finish.” -Antoine Coypel
You have to add another one, Well you gonna starve to death.. Everyone I know has told me that..
how dare you people.
We live SURROUNDED by art.
creativity enriches our daily monotone lifes.
from buildings to sculptures to paintings to objects. design and marketeeing.
with our underestimated, teased and low rated so called “creativity” we made all u silly non creative “box minded” people love your new car because of its cool smooth look ( dont tell me its about the engine. would u still love it if it looked like a shoebox? ), love your new phone design and ur new dress.
artists are the one to blame for that “ooohhhhh” you do when u see a painting.
for that “oohhhh” u do when u see a cool designer house or object.
that “ohhh” u do when u go to italy and see those beautiful decorated villas.
for that “hahah” at funny commercials.
artists live in a world of art and immagination . a world that is really rich of new ideas and interests.
artists have the capability and the fantasy to make a dull room into something exquisite.
now honestly, some people really have no idea what “artist” means.
Not many people ask me to draw pictures OF them, since middle school. But many people ask me to draw pictures FOR them. It’s frustrating because every old woman in my family wants a detailed drawing of some different kind of flower for christmas, ever since i drew a hyper-detailed 36-hour rose for my Drawing III class.
I used to be a photo major before i became an illustration major and people still ask me to be the “official photographer”. Gag…
The prevailing trend is to call everyone an artist – musicians, actors, hair stylists, home decorators, food stylists, photo-shop operators…
What is your definition of an artist? My belief is that everyone is creative. Creativity is an innate human trait. Everyone is, to some degree, involved in modifying their environment to make it more visually pleasing. But not everyone calls themselves an artist, and the proof of being an artist is not in how one is labelled. Persons with degrees in art are always faced with the question of how they will support themselves as an ‘artist’. They ask themselves the same question, unless they are missing an ability to project to the future and are only living in the moment. I find the graph a little amusing but not particularly creative.
Personally, I separate how artists makes money from the intrinsic value of artists in our society. Art in the service of money-making is merely a product or visual propaganda, no matter how it is generated and no matter how the maker portrays himself/herself. Art, as an expression of what it is to be human, is priceless. Who you are and how you make money – not the same thing.
Funny.
I get these pretty often. What I get the MOST often though is something along the lines of “Oh really? I can’t draw at all. I really suck at it. Do you want to see? It sucks, but I can show you. See, it sucks right?”
Maybe it’s something about my personality that has people fishing for comments constantly.
Oh, and of course, there’s people asking for free art who clearly have no idea it takes huge amounts of time and effort to do well.
I have been a practicing artist for over 40 years with no college / university training . I am well represented in collections and galleries around the world…all you need is REAL talent, an eye for incredible detail, and produce works that nobody has ever seen before. That is my only advice. If you think you have what it takes…experiment, experiment and experiment…eventually you will have an epiphany and something will stick. Then you just have to be in the right place at the right time and present yourself to the right people, and it will all fall into place. The only major requirement is a god-given GIFT. Talent is not something that can be learned through many degrees…you either have it or you don’t.
It’s roughly the same for being a music performance major. Although usually I get “Oh…well, at least you can teach if it doesnt work out.” that’s a favorite.
If we artists have teh chops we need to put it out there! We all have something unique to bring to the Human Stew. Maybe it won’t be noticed in our lifetimes, but just having the chance at putting out our special take on reality is an opportunity to cherish. I’ve actually been chronically unemployed since 1999. The few gigs I’ve had seem to have affected some folks very deeply. For that I am grateful!
AMEN! I love this.
Those who r not artist, i say only one thing. F***** off
ALLL ARTISTS ROCK….YO
so ridiculously true.
This is actually very accurate. :p