I want a fresh start! Advice please!

[DimSumSoGood]

I'm not exactly sure how to put all this because a lot is going on in my mind right now, but here goes. If you don't feel like reading filler, just skip down to the asterisks.

I want to be a concept artist/2D animator/modeler or better yet I'm not certain about what I want to be. In high school I was so adamant on becoming a modeler, but now that I'm in university I want to be more.

Before I go on I want to give a little bit of background info on myself. Because of my indecisiveness and poor counseling in high school, I went into the "wrong" program in my first year. I hated computer sciences not because it was boring, but it was just too much for me. By then I wanted to drop out and go to an art school, but having typical Asian parents, graduating from a university is not an option but A REQUIREMENT. So I transferred into arts now hoping to declare my major in Fine Arts. As a result, I'm delayed a year so now I have 3 more ahead of me. Now, Fine Arts emphasizes on critical thinking and zero on technical skills. They don't offer what I want so I'm only carrying on to satisfy my parents. They gave me permission to go after whatever I want after graduation and that got me excited. Not wanting to waste any more time, I plan to enroll in a school with gaming art programs. Now this is where I ask for advice.

From now till graduation, I want to improve my drawing/painting skills and ultimately build my portfolio. I used to be a decent artist, but haven't had any formal art training for 5 years now and I've become stagnant when it comes to anything creative. I want a fresh start and I don't know how to go about doing it. I'm tight on money because I'm saving money for continuing school, so I can't afford to pay for art classes. I don't know why I bought myself an intuos 3 when I haven't even deemed myself worthy of translating my drawings onto the computer.

Putting myself as an absolute beginner again, I want to teach myself drawing through books, online tutorials, and critiques without a formal teacher. Is that a wise approach?

Bah let me just throw out all my questions right now.

***
-What books can you guys recommend for perspective, figure drawing, references, colour theory, etc?
-Where should I start and where should I go after that?
-When will I know I'm ready to draw from my head?
-Should I look for an art teacher?
-With regards to concept art/2D animation/modeling, which career path has the most flexibility, meaning which path has the most potential to branch off to other paths?
-Which job has the most security?
-Highest in demand?

It's about damn time that I start thinking about my future. I've always procrastinated thinking everything will work themselves out, but I know they won't. To be honest, I'm actually quite worried right now. I turn 20 in a few days and looking back I've done ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Seeing all these talented 15 year old artists utilizing the gifts given to them, they truly put me to shame. I've always depended on my parents and their money, but they can only do so much for me.

I live in Vancouver, BC by the way so if anyone has experience here, please do give a bit of advice! ANY ADVICE WILL DEFINITELY HELP!!! Thanks!

-DimSum out

[Maxine Schacker]

Kimon Nicolaides, "The Natural Way to Draw."
Robert Beverly Hale, "Drawing Lessons From The Great Masters."
George Bridgman, "Bridgman's Complete Guide to Drawing from Life."
Charles Hawthorne, "Hawthorne on Painting."
"Albinus on Anatomy"
Richer's Anatomy (intro by Hale- can't remember the exact title)
There's also a book by Berry on life drawing that has lots of good things in it.

Work on being able to draw basic forms (box, cylinder) in many different positions and throwing lines over these forms.

There is a one month intensive at Max the Mutt (Toronto) in July that would give you a good start.

[Mary Mary]

First off, being nearly 20 isn't so bad. Believe it or not, you're really still quite young.

Are your parents expecting that you'll graduate with a degree in three more years? Would they totally freak out if you took another four years to finish university? (Heck, I know people who KNOW what they want and they still take at least five years to get a degree.)

Would your parents be okay with you transferring to another university...if they won't go for art school, perhaps they'd let you transfer to a 'regular' college with a more involved art department?

And I'm going to recommend a book...but it's not an art book.

The title is:

"I Could Do Anything....If Only I Knew What It Was." Author is Barbara Sher.

It is a great book for someone in your position. Unsure about WHAT they want and not sure how to get there to boot.

Good luck.

Also remember that any education is good. I mean let's face it, you feel that you've done ABSOLUTELY NOTHING...but in reality your first year of university has taught you at least one thing that's very important. You now know at least one thing that you DON'T want to do...computer programming.

Another thing to remember is that comparing yourself to others is a dead end road. There are plenty of people out there with talent. It's what a person DOES with that talent that matters.

I'm going to use writing as an example because it's something I know a little more about, but you can extend the example to art as well.

Becoming a published writer probably has less to do with talent...there are plenty of talented writers...and more to do with finishing things and sending them off to publishers for consideration. After all, a person could be an extremely talented writer, but if their writings never go further than their desk drawer then they'll never be a published writer.

So what you need to do is simply persevere. Start honing your skills again. It'll come back. (For example, my sister took art in high school and didn't do much after that. Now, 25 years later, she's begun doing watercolors and has won several prizes at a very local level...but still, her work is getting better and better all the time. It's NEVER too late!)

[J Wilson]

Doing the wrong thing is almost as bad as doing nothing.

If you are serious about wanting to get into games as some frm of artist, you more than likely won't get there with a fine art education (especially one from a regular university that doesn't focus on art). If you are serious you need to convince your parents of it. They may have your best interests at heart, but it's your life. Are you going to let them make that decision FOR you?

If you are serious, and realistic about your skills and how much work will be involved, then you just need to do what you need to do to get there.

[DimSumSoGood]

@Maxine: Thanks for the list! Yeah I'm going straight back to the basics.

@Mary: I guess you're right, but I regret not doing all that I could prior to post secondary. The lack of commitment and research is what essentially f**ed me over. There's no use in crying over spilled milk so I'm making sure I do everything right, from this point on. Not only do I have to improve my skills, I need to know more people get more connections. Being active has never been my forte.

@J Wilson: Unfortunately, I have to bear with it and finish what I've started. My mom made it very clear to me that if I don't, she won't support me in the future. Whether that is true or not I don't want to test her because I'm in no position right now to oppose her. I haven't yet done anything to prove that I am capable and independent so it's best for me to make the most out of my time till graduation. Until then, I have to do everything I can.

Thanks for the help guys! I'm still figuring things out at the moment, but I'm sure if I don't ever give up things will get better. :sungod:

-DimSum out

EDIT: If anyone can still give me more advice, please do!

[fluxist8070]

Hey DumSum,

I remember when it was time for me to go off to college. I wanted to be an artist soooo bad. I drew all the time and it knew it was the direction for me.

I went to community college for 2 years and I took art classes there. It was great because my teacher, who I still keep in contact with, taught me alot. I took the work I made there and got into a swank museum school. It was really expensive, but it had a great rep. I went for a year, I worked 50 hours a week to afford it and I was driving my parents into debt. ultimately, I decided that it wasn't for me and I went to a state university for art. It was a good decision for me. I landed consecutive tuition scholarships based on a student juried exhibit. after I had won scholarships to pay for school my parents realized that I was in the right place and had more confidence in my decision. After that, I went to grad school...it was tough, but probably the most 2 creative and revealing 2 years of my life. Now, I am an art professor at a 4 year college and a freelance artist. I also show my fine art all over the country and occasionally in Europe. I am not a big shot by any means, but I have found a place in art land.

Here is my point. Art school is fine, but it is not the only way to have a successful career. I liked going to a university because I had really good english and philosophy classes that augmented my creative impulses.
If the university you attend has an art program, check it out. they may have a juried show where you could enter work, especially if you are taking art classes there. you could try to land a scholarship from the art department to gain the confidence of your parents. Also, THINK about how what you are learning in computer science can affect the art you make. You should check out an artist name Mark Napier. He is not a character illustrator, he is more of an experimental media artist. Concept art and entertainment art is only one way to make a living as an artist. Art in general is a versatile field with varied opportunities.
One last thing, contemporary work is important. I know most people on this forum will probably disagree, but that is the stuff that influences culture, not just entertainment. When a work influences culture, it influences entertainment. Conversely, entertainment, or pop culture influences contemporary art. There is a whole movement going on right now about how to use video games and game related art into contemporary art. Don't be so quick to judge the program where you are, have an open mind and use the fine arts program to your advantage. that is what it is there for!
best of luck,
flux

[Maxine Schacker]

fluxist8070, your experiences are truly inspiring and you have really made a life for yourself. However, DimSum's goals are very different. She wants to be a concept artist and that career demands different skills than your career.

[DimSumSoGood]

@fluxist: You're very right it's important to keep an open mind to contemporary art and its dealings with all that is "pop", video games being one of them. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy some courses like art history but I feel that I don't need to do more than dabble with critical thinking and interpretative art. I've never been too keen on going that path.

@Maxine: Strange, I must figure what I'm saying wrong cause I'm a guy, haha.

-DimSum out

[Maxine Schacker]

Sorry DimSum - art is gender neutral, right?