Art School Lessons that Turned out to be True
It’s been quite a few years since I went to college. While there I had the chance to work under some incredible artists. They passed on some valuable nuggets of wisdom in four years. Some of them stuck and withstood time, some not so much. I can still hear Joo Chung (the Mr. Miyagi of Illustration at SVA) telling the class not to get tattooed. That one I obviously didn’t listen to but I still remember him using his energy to not only teach us his craft but also share his life experience.
Taking on any creative endeavor into adulthood is never a straight path. There’s no linear plan to follow and because of that studying under working artists can help clear up that foggy journey. Their experiences and how they approach the turbulence of a creative career can be that lantern when you need it.
These are some art school lessons that I have found to be true after all these years.
You’ll need to be passionate and become obsessed with something OUTSIDE of your creative pursuit. Baking bread, rock climbing, yoga, whatever. The more obscure the hobby the better. You will have monsoons of creativity at times but you will also have droughts. These hobbies will keep you grounded and keep your brain active when you don't feel like making art.
You will need a part time gig. You’ll need some kind of trade or skill to fall back on so that you can sustainably pursue your art AND make sure your bills are paid. That starving artist stereotype is for the birds.
Marry Well. This one seemed really far away when I was 18 years old and thought I knew what life had in store for me. Your partner’s support and belief in you will drive you to succeed. That doesn't mean you need to get married, it means find your support. Find some unselfish love and hold onto it.
