Those who try to discourage us

[Heidi Maiers]

Interesting that I saw this article on the MSN headlines this morning:

Quote from story entitled: What is your degree worth?

"Career satisfaction is key. If you like what you spend your day doing, you are more likely to succeed at your job. This could lead to faster advancement in your career even if your starting salary is modest. Conversely, if you pursue a major and a career track solely for the money, you may be headed for trouble.

Evidence shows that today's dynamic job market offers unprecedented flexibility in jumping between career tracks, and it's common not to work in the field you studied. For example, in the computer industry, which includes some of the highest-paying occupations, about two-thirds of workers did not actually major in IT or computer-related fields.

Opportunities for midcareer changes are enhanced by the proliferation of flexible and highly focused adult education programs. Online schools and universities offer alternatives ranging from single, focused courses and short certification programs to bachelor's and postgraduate degree programs.

In a sense, those who chose a major in college simply because they loved the subject, and left career questions for later, may have made a pretty smart choice. Today's job climate not only allows for professional reinvention; in many cases, job security demands flexibility and adaptation. And with higher education no longer limited to a four-year window after high school, workers can discover their interests and strengths in the 'real world,' and gain the knowledge and skills they need accordingly."

[Terri Ficenec]

As a kid, my parents encouraged my interest in art by sending me to painting lessons, etc. ... but when it came to college, they absolutely refused to allow me to major in art (they weren't going to pay for me to become a 'starving artist'). I bought into that outlook, I guess. So I majored in Biology, and took a lot of arts electives. But after college I got married, got my MBA, and worked in business for 17 years, without ever lifting a paint brush except for 2 quick watercolors to put something on the walls back when we bought our first house.

In 2001, a new neighbor in town heard that I was an 'artist' (from a mutual friend, referring to those two watercolors and some drawings)... and on blind faith she commissioned me to do a reproduction of Cezanne's basket of apples. That led to a reproduction of Van Gogh's Irises for someone else. After that I refused to do anymore reproductions, but was back into painting as a hobby. It was those people around me who encouraged what I wanted to do and believed in me that got me started painting again -- and together with this forum, gave me the courage/confidence to turn professional last summer.

The funniest thing is that my parents, (who were the biggest obstacle to my thinking this was something I could do for a living when I was younger), couldn't be prouder and are my biggest cheerleaders now.

[Heidi Maiers]

There seems to be a common theme emerging here.

Since it is graduation time, here are some thoughts we can ponder. Perhaps our insight can help young art students who are at a cross road and struggling with decisions for their futures.

Question: Do you have a formal education in art?


If you answer Yes then,

- did you receive support for this decision from friends, family, etc., or did you pursue it in spite of a lack of support?

- are you making a decent living as an artist?

- do you work a full time job in another field and do your art on the side?

- do you now regret pursuing an art education rather than taking what others deemed the "safe " career path?

- do you think your skills are now more advanced than they would have been had you not pursued a formal education?

- have there been any instances in your career where having a degree in art has directly benefited you (e.g., gotten you a posh commission, gotten you into a high caliber show or gallery, etc.) that you wouldn't have had the opportunity otherwise? Along those same lines, has having a degree directly helped you sell a piece of work?

- do you rely on your spouse for the majority of your financial support? If so, has that diminished your sense of self worth?


If you answered No then,

- did you want to pursue a formal education in art but succumbed to pressured against it?

- do you regret not pursuing a formal art education?

- are you working in the field for which you majored?

- did you not have a desire to pursue art as a career, but developed it later in life?

- did you not have the financial means to go to college at all?

- do you plan on going back to school?

- do you now attend artist workshops to make up for what you feel you missed out on in school?

- do you think a formal art education is somewhat worthless and everything you need to know to succeed can be gained by practical experience, practice, and networking with other artists?

Perhaps someone could set up a poll..

[Julie Deane]

Interesting to see what the survey will show. Here's my contribution:

I went to art school, but limiting myself by my own insecurities, majored in graphic design instead of fine art. The good thing is that Ringling School of Art insisted on many drawing and painting classes, so I got a good foundation in the basics.

I became a graphic artist and worked in that field thirteen years. Taught a few art classes too.

To any people out there considering art school - it's great for learning a lot in a little time. Just make sure the school emphasizes drawing skills.

[Julie Deane]

Oops - didn't answer all the questions.

- did you receive support for this decision from friends, family, etc., or did you pursue it in spite of a lack of support? My parents made sure I had art classes from age 8 on. They were a "mixed" support - very little verbal support, but the finances were there to help me.

- are you making a decent living as an artist? No

- do you work a full time job in another field and do your art on the side? I am a full time speech therapist, and am pursuing portraiture/painting on the side - for now.

- do you now regret pursuing an art education rather than taking what others deemed the "safe " career path? No - I only wish I had dived into fine art.

- do you think your skills are now more advanced than they would have been had you not pursued a formal education? Yes.

- have there been any instances in your career where having a degree in art has directly benefited you (e.g., gotten you a posh commission, gotten you into a high caliber show or gallery, etc.) that you wouldn't have had the opportunity otherwise? Along those same lines, has having a degree directly helped you sell a piece of work? No - I really don't think a degree would matter for anything but teaching credentials.

- do you rely on your spouse for the majority of your financial support?
I wish! Nope, divorced and paying my own way.

[Heidi Maiers]

Feel free to verbalize your responses to the above survey here. There are now two polls available in this section entitled "The value of a formal art education" that you can answer so that we can view the answers statistically as a group percentage.
http://forum.portraitartist.com/showthread.php?t=4447
http://forum.portraitartist.com/showthread.php?t=4448

[Chuck Yokota]

While I had some interest in art when I was young, I had no interest in pursuing a formal art education or in pursuing art as a career. There were several majors I would have selected ahead of art. No one discouraged me about studying art; I just had other interests ahead of it.

I got my bachelor's degree in chemistry, and over the years I've gotten two master's degrees in other fields. I wound up working for most of my career in engineering, and worked as an engineer for 15 years before ever taking an engineering class.

For many years, the only art I did was some pencil drawings. I had not painted since painting with poster paints in high school. A friend of mine encouraged me to try painting, and in February of last year I painted my first oil painting. I found that I liked it a lot, and am now seriously interested in becoming a professional portrait painter.

I do not regret working in other fields, as I found them interesting and rewarding, and they satisfied other interests that I have had. For me, art and other fields are not an either/or, but rather a both/and situation; i.e. I want it all.

[Allan Rahbek]

Hi,
I do not know which form to fill in, because I actually went to a bigger Academy for almost two years where I had some valuable training in drawing from live and plaster, as well as in sculpture.

But my main interest was painting in oils and I do not feel that I got any valuable input or challenges in that field. What I have achieved, I did on my own, by studying old masters, landscapes and portraits.

I feel that I did not get any degree in traditional painting because that the trend at that time ( 1970 - 71 ) was to sit down and watch the grass grow. Nobody dared to expect anything from you. So eventually I gave it all up.

Nowadays it is different, though it is still regarded "Finer Art" if combined with aerobic.

Traditional portraiture, and waltzing, is still a niche, but we will see what we can do.


Allan

[Leslie Ficcaglia]

Originally Posted by Heidi Maiers

Question: Do you have a formal education in art?

No

If you answered No then,

- did you want to pursue a formal education in art but succumbed to pressured against it?

- do you regret not pursuing a formal art education?

- are you working in the field for which you majored?

- did you not have a desire to pursue art as a career, but developed it later in life?

- did you not have the financial means to go to college at all?

- do you plan on going back to school?

- do you now attend artist workshops to make up for what you feel you missed out on in school?

- do you think a formal art education is somewhat worthless and everything you need to know to succeed can be gained by practical experience, practice, and networking with other artists?

When I was growing up I was interested in both writing and art as careers. Whether it was because of subtle influences from my family or my own practicality, I decided that neither could ensure me a steady paycheck if I needed one - and I doubt if it was because of my parents since my mother never worked. So I chose first French (same objection) and then psychology as my major in college, went on for a Master's degree, and spent my professional career working mostly with children in various settings. I found my jobs interesting and stimulating and am glad I spent my time that way, but am now equally happy to be able to turn my attention to art as a second career. I had no formal training but occasionally take workshops; I read magazines and also interact with other artists online and in our community. Talking to other artists, for me, is the best way to keep my mind and techniques sharp and be aware of new ideas and opportunities. I don't know how well that would work for others but for me it's been fine. My art income is a nice supplement, although it wouldn't be sufficient to feed and clothe us, and I also have a waiting list, so I'm happy.

[Judy Simons]

My family encouraged me, but they wanted me to go into teaching. They wouldn't pay for an art college, but that's what I wanted and I managed to get a full scholarship so they allowed it. The weirdest thing about my undergraduate education (this was a long time ago, but it still disturbs me) was that I was totally ignored by some male professors. They wouldn't critique my work. One told me it was a waste of his time since I was just going to get married and have babies. It was almost impossible for a female to be regarded seriously unless she acquired a well-known mentor.

I kept my studio alive, barely, and made money with other jobs. I learned to be content painting for myself.

After a life filled with the usual ~ craziness, love, and hard knocks ~ I decided to continue my art education. There are a lot of MFA programs out there today, but the top programs are expensive and harder to get into than Harvard Business school which accepts 10% of applicants. Highly rated MFA programs accept less than 7% of applicants, sometimes less than 4%. The whole enchilada was a revelation to me.

I wasn't accepted at first, it took two tries. I attended Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) and found every kind of art is respected and figurative art is encouraged.

I feel it doesn't diminish portrait artists to learn that abstract expressionism was a response to the horrors of WWII, or surrealism began as a mining of the unconscious, or to become familiar with modern conceptual portraiture. Art is my love, so I want to know as much as possible. I consider painting similar to any other profession out there, having an evolving history, a specialized vocabulary, and an increasingly technical basis. I wouldn't begin to think I could understand physics without a knowledge of basic math, and art today, including some portraiture, has reached a similar level of complexity.

Now, is all that required to paint a wonderful painting/portrait? No.

Is it better to go the academic route than specialized portrait courses? I think it is just a different path to an end. We are artists because we engage in the practice of art. As we practice art, we learn what we need and where to obtain it.

Now, has it helped me ? Yes, being part of that community was/is wonderful. I try to maintain contact with many of the artists I met at school and we share information about exhibiting opportunities and commissions.

An artist follows his/her interests to continue to grow. I will try to share here - and, in turn, learn from you - the excellent portraitists who followed their own paths. It feels like completing a circle.