Hard Beginnings

[ArtisticLeo]

I'd like to hear from some fellow artists, both much further along in their careers, and those on the same level as I, about your beginnings in art. Its easy to look at all these other artists and feel [frustrated] that I can't have the same amount of resources and education at my disposal, but I don't want to be so simple and foolish. So share please, where did you come from, are you coming from, what challenges did you face, or are still facing? How did you overcome them to get where you are? This can prove to be very inspirational, if it doesn't become a novel affair, and a chance to share some good advice and positive thinking.

I'm just beginning myself...

I started out hopeful and positive, having been accepted to one of America's touted top art schools for animation, and was able to enjoy one of the most engaging years in my life as an artist, where I got my hands on a vast array of mediums, but due to lack of foresight on my part, and no financial aid to be had, wound up withdrawing by that years end. I hoped that hard work would get me back in school, and worked retail with dedication. Sure i was told I should go to a cheaper school, that the one I'd chosen is just too expensive, but that infuriated me. My grades were good, and I was seeing so much progress, i wouldn't hear it. Of hundreds of kids enrolled with full parential aid each year who just piddle around and drop out without the slightest awareness of how easy they've got it, I deserved every right to go to my school of choice as a student who did care*. A year later and no progress made, I was only barely making bills and started to find it futile, and soon got laid off.

Scraping by has summed it up quite well till just recently I was able to get into a cheap room with internet included, and a roommate who is a fellow artist who got me turned on to CA. Now I've decided, I'm no wiz with money and its hard to save when all you earn pays rent, but I can't wait on some magical opportunity to present itself, and if I'll get the chance to get back in school, it'll be through art I'm sure. There is only one year left till my friends from freshman year when I was still enrolled graduate and go on to their careers, and I'd like them to see me going some where before they leave, so I'm on here.

I have all the tools, my tool box chock full of pencils and brushes, an assortment of sketchbooks and paint from freshman year, and when I was facing better days, a powerful workstation and mint Intuos 3 and its essential programs. A brand new scanner, and 24 days left on my Adobe CS4 trial...but what I really need to learn is where to apply myself, and how to figure out how to apply my energy purposefully, in art, in a career, and in a world of opportunities.

*Edited wording a bit: 4am typing fail

[HunterKiller_]

Its easy to look at all these other artists and feel spiteful at the world that I can't have the same amount of resources and education at my disposal

I stopped reading here.

Being spiteful isn't gonna get you anywhere.
You're in front of a computer, posting on the internet. There are millions people in worse conditions than you.

The sooner you stop bitterly competing with others and just focus on what you want and what you enjoy, the sooner you'll become a better artist, and better person.

[ArtisticLeo]

Being spiteful isn't gonna get you anywhere.
You're in front of a computer, posting on the internet. There are millions people in worse conditions than you.

The sooner you stop bitterly competing with others and just focus on what you want and what you enjoy, the sooner you'll become a better artist, and better person.

Ah, no, I made that realization very quickly... I apologize, I didn't intend that to sound so mopey. I am very hung up by something, and it might appear in my voice so to speak, lot of regrets about the time I've wasted, but no I'm not giving myself any excuses not to draw, I started this thread to remind myself not to get hung up in thought about any of it and just draw.

(man, wouldn't be up right now if I wasn't stuck away from home waiting for my morning shift to start, lol)

[Farvus]

How about this....I am from Poland where there is very little entertainment industry and there are no animation/illustration/concept art schools. Only something geared towards fine art and graphic design. At the age of about 18 I got serious about art and I started going once a week to life drawing classes. However teachers gave too small bits of information to really learn the basics and also I couldn't find any books that would give straight answers. I tried to get into Painting faculty in the local art school but unfortunately the amount of candidates was extremely big while the amount of places really small (later I realised that it's actually not worth it and I wouldn't learn much there). I didn't have enough points at entry exam and couldn't just wait and try again beacause of mandatory military service so I went for architecture. Years have passed and about 4 years ago I found, gfxartist.com, conceptart.org and many other valuable resources on the web. I was tired of waiting till some teacher give me info on the golden plate and just got into intensive work like many people here in Sketchbook section. Since that moment I learned to be completely self reliable when it comes to learning and I solved most of my problems through deep analytical thinking and drawing every day. This also part where I progressed the most.

But still..there is long way to go...

[Liffey]

I don't know what you make in retail, but maybe you should look for a job with more hours. Only reason I'm able to afford to go to school is my good grades and that I work 60-80 hour work weeks all summer, and even then it's close.

[ArtisticLeo]

How about this....I am from Poland where there is very little entertainment industry and there are no animation/illustration/concept art schools. Only something geared towards fine art and graphic design. At the age of about 18 I got serious about art and I started going once a week to life drawing classes. However teachers gave too small bits of information to really learn the basics and also I couldn't find any books that would give straight answers. I tried to get into Painting faculty in the local art school but unfortunately the amount of candidates was extremely big while the amount of places really small (later I realised that it's actually not worth it and I wouldn't learn much there). I didn't have enough points at entry exam and couldn't just wait and try again beacause of mandatory military service so I went for architecture. Years have passed and about 4 years ago I found, gfxartist.com, conceptart.org and many other valuable resources on the web. I was tired of waiting till some teacher give me info on the golden plate and just got into intensive work like many people here in Sketchbook section. Since that moment I learned to be completely self reliable when it comes to learning and I solved most of my problems through deep analytical thinking and drawing every day. This also part where I progressed the most.

But still..there is long way to go...

Yeah Farvus, that deffinately reminds me how fortunate I am to be where I'm at now, where I at least get to visit with artists on a daily basis, if not school with them, I'll be going through the tutorial sections, and am setting up a still-life here in my room now.

Liffey: I got close to 60 hour work-weeks when I first started out, it was exhausting but rewarding, if they hadn't cut me to a mere 32 2-3 weeks later, I would have been able to pay all my debts for sure! There just isn't work like that around here currently however. Kudos to you though, thats awesome you're putting that much work into paying for your education, I really enjoy hearing that.

[Rogue_A]

*waves-hi Leo! Small world, eh?*

It's nice to have artists round to inspire and motivate. I'm in the Northwest right now for the summer (meh), and one of the first things I noticed was "Where are all the artists my age?? And the art that is actually good?? Where??? Agh!!!!" as I'm used to being constantly surrounded by amazing art+artists in FL. lol.

(I'm currently hoping that problem will be solved by taking an art class at the local university....even if it's not gonna count towards my BFA...to improve my skills , maybe meet people, and keep inspired! *crosses fingers*)

I do know the annoyances about THAT school, eh, I'm sure you're working on weighing your options 'bout that for either this year or the future. Unfortunately the deal round there hasn't changed much in 4 years (well, every thing BUT financial aid has...*sighs*), and most of us that aren't those pesky "rich kids" embrace the suck and sign our souls away on student loans to be able to stay and study. Although some majors do allow one to keep up with their course work AND keep a part time job....thank god for that.

You probably got the right idea by coming around ConceptArt- I love it as it can take my mind off of the daily grind/annoying teachers wearing me down/etc, and inspire me...also, if we're talking about FL....hmm...things that are useful/inspiring there:

- That huge library with tons of art books/magazines to wander through when it's open? ( I miss it- my hometown's library system SUCKS at art books + magazines.... =[ )
- Sandy beaches, hideous looking snow birds, other interesting characters/animals to draw! Finding a place that's interesting, and drawing it....
- All those art students to talk with....you know how we all can be. =)

I hope you're taking time to keep up a sketchbook and draw draw draw draw draw! Just do what you like....dive into one thing, till you get bored of it, then move onto something new...repeat until you go crazy...then repeat some more. =) Maybe you could start a sketchbook thread/blog, or join a sketchbook group? I've got a sketchblog I rant away on on a (somewhat) regular basis, and I've been honestly meaning to start a sketchbook thread round here...oops?

Just my thoughts about things. I lurk round here at least, posting when the topic amuses me, I guess....=)

[ArtisticLeo]

Wow, hey you, back in Washington eh? Strangely I never thought to come here before, thought it was a place only for those already in the industry, already at top gear in their art career, I wasn't aware this place was its on online penney-university. It is really cool to see you on here, and how much your own art has changed since freshman year!

Heh, those rich kids are only pesky when they're bragging about the new car or new computer they got from their parents. Ok ok, its nice, thats flashy, I got it! No sense in being envious though, its all in due time for those less fortunate. The only time I've ever truly been bothered by the social difference is when I see one such individual squandering the financial gifts they've been given. I've had a couple friends however, who have made full use of their financial situation and dedicated themselves to their studies though, and they make me proud of our age group.

Actually about to fill out my "sketchbook" on here now, a little stuff I still have sitting around from school, some more recent stuff, to show where I'm coming from. PM me or send me an IM even if you'd like to chat more some time.

[JJacks]

I actually think it's quite normal for people to feel a little envious when looking at other artists who have had better preparation and access to certain things that we haven't. So I understand what you meant in the first post. But it's those people that make due with what they have that succeed. With art, I don't think there are many excuses for not being able to learn.

I went to a public university, a year after teaching myself the basics. I couldn't afford anything else. I took a crappy job at a video store to get by. Everything was great at first and I was learning a lot until I got a couple of lousy teachers. One in particular really embarrassed me in front of everyone and told me that my concepts were weak and that any 13 year old boy could think up the ideas I did. So I was pushed into being more conceptual because having skill without intellect was an empty and selfish display of ability, or so some of my classmates and that teacher thought. It's not like I didn't have good teachers, but the criticism from that one semester was hard to take.

I eventually graduated and was set on quitting art. My boyfriend convinced me not to.

I joined this site and started posting months later and have been getting good feedback. I'm slowly getting less frustrated at myself for my inability to make intellectual art that only rich money bags can pretend to understand.

[ArtisticLeo]

I'm really glad you were able to work your way through school, and your boyfriend was able to talk you out of quitting., and I can really understand how hard that critique must have been. When I finally got out of my sheltered life and got among other artists, I had a very harsh lesson to learn myself.

I've tried to give up art twice, but its never so much as that, its more of just getting distracted.

[JJacks]

The hard thing about the critique was that it wasn't about my skill and it wasn't constructive, he just told me that my ideas were stupid and the things I liked were invalid. I could not have a career in art unless I changed my interests/the whole reason I wanted to learn to draw anyways. A number of my classmates (from other classes) echoed this. So I tried to go that route and became unhappy and felt "well what's the point of drawing?" I was just starting art; I was so naive. I thought since all of these other people have being doing art their whole lives, they must really know what they're talking about, and I must not know anything. It's a lesson learned and a mistake I won't ever make again.

At the same time, I had really supportive classmates and great teachers. Hardly anyone liked my life drawing teacher because he gave us anatomy quizzes, but I loved him and I learned probably the most out of him than any other instructor. I miss some of the people I bounced ideas around with. I bet they are all going on to be successful artists.

In general, I think every artist has some bad spots in the beginning, no matter what amazing school they go to or how many people are encouraging them. Art is a struggle for everyone that is truly passionate about it. Hopefully we come to realize that it's a rewarding struggle.