I had an interesting conversation with a classmate of mine today.
As I alluded to earlier, I am not particularly thrilled with the lineup of classes that I have to take this term. I got into none of the classes I wanted to, and one class in particular seems like it will give me a migraine from now until May. I pretty much botched the first project, and so far the second one doesn't seem like it will be going any more smoothly.
I feel like Senior-itis has set in (well, it
has been five and a half years in college, plus summer classes). It's difficult for me to focus on projects that demand for me to move in a completely different direction from what I would like to do. I have nothing against realism, but it's not my strong suit, and having just about all of my classes focus on that, it seems, just makes me very uncomfortable in my own abilities in terms of what it is that I do want to do when I get out of here.
I got the lecture on how realism is the foundation of visual art, so needless to say, it was more than a bit insulting to hear it from one of my classmates again as though I hadn't spent the past three years studying it. But hey, that's neither here nor there. It is what it is. I'm aware of it, and I also know that realism is
not what I want to spend the rest of my life doing professionally. Hell, I could have just gotten a scholarship to conservatory after high school and graduated with honors in three and a half years, spared myself all the time and trouble, and spent the rest of my life wondering what could have been.
What I want to do when I get out is something along the lines of what I've been doing in my free time. Storybook illustration, cartoons, editorial... anything where I won't have people trying to change the way I draw fundamentally. There's a distinction between that and having mistakes in my work corrected or having to change things according to the needs of a client, of course. I do understand that I probably won't be able to get away with drawing big muscly guys with tusks all the time and make a living doing it.
I've rambled enough about that part. It essentially boils down to aesthetic differences.
What I don't appreciate is the implication that I, as someone who does not see himself as a "realist", is somehow less of an artist than someone who does. That somehow I put less time and effort into the work that I produce than someone who draws and paints photo-realistic portraits and landscapes. I've heard it many, many times before and no doubt I will continue to hear it. That doesn't make it any less painful to hear when people talk about the work that I do as somehow being "beneath" their level of appreciation.
I suppose it's at least a bit of consolation that my work isn't outright mocked by my peers, as it was when I was in middle school and decided essentially to stop drawing for the next eight years. But at the same time, it's still painful. My work is a part of me, and it does me no good when people tell me to change simply because they don't believe I work hard enough based on the assumption that the work that I do is somehow beneath the "realism" they hold in high regard.
More people to laugh at when I get where I want to go, I guess. Oh well.
Stay classy, folks.
-DC
`anmari has been spreading her infectious positivity throughout our community for over 6 years. Throughout this time Ana has been at the core of all things devious, passionately developing an eclectic gallery, helping organise devmeets, participating in chat events and also recently completed dedicating her time as a Community Volunteer. We are absolutely delighted to bestow the Deviousness Award for May 2013 to `anmari, congratulations! Read More
Sta.sh
Total prizes reach 1000 
!!!! 
But of course there are always the rules......
Please please please fave the journal!
Make another journal about this giveaway and provide a link of that journal in the comments (this will help spread the word about this giveaway)
this journal 
Rules
Should be about School Times!
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oints:
Zeal 
I dont get it. If you know for a fact that this is fundamental to improving your work, even though its hard and not enjoyable; why are you still grasping for reasons not to do it? I mean at least it seems that way whenever you post these kinds of journals. I mean, its not just important, its ESSENTIAL! You'll never get better if you don't clutch on to it tighter then a horny cave troll from beyond the gates of Mordor!
Honestly, you kind of do this with me all the time. Not necessarily with 'realism' but with other topics and it does get kind of irritating because I have the same reaction of, "you think I'm not studying this stuff?"
Me? I just roll with it, nod my head, keep doing what I'm doing because I know I'm on the right track anyway. But maybe the fact that you do the same thing to me might make you think about why the other people are saying this to you.
An architect might just want to design pretty buildings, but they need to understand a foundation of physics first.
Cartooning is defined by breaking the rules of reality, to produce something believable. To break the rule, you need to understand them.
"Realism" is important to you, as a foundation, because it will make your cartoons better.
Style just isn't that important. I remember back in school that so many people were always so focused on what style they had. That's ridiculous - I never worried about it. I just draw how I draw and instead of focusing on a particular style, I tried to focus on learning the fundamentals. I think my one particular style of drawing just happened from that.
So, I would suggest that you just ignore the assholes and let what they say roll off your back. It isn't really all that important in the overall scheme of things. One of the most important parts about being an artist is developing that thick skin - no matter how good you are, there is always somebody better. Personally, I know every drawing I do is flawed in some way, I just choose to do the best I can and move on. Take the crits I get and apply those to whatever the next project is and keep rolling.
Oh, and try to make the most out of your classes, but if that isn't possible, find some way to get the classes that you want. I've been in a similar position and it is fucking HARD. I spent two years at the Kansas City Art Institute doing everything except studying what I wanted. I finally had enough and on a lark made the crazy decision to go out to the Joe Kubert School instead. Best decision I ever made (even though I only attended for two years and then ended up back at the Art Institute to finish my degree - it gave me what I needed to do that on my own terms). Even if you can only go for one year - it'll give you what you've been missing. My point being - don't waste your time and money doing something that isn't fulfilling you or making you happy.
Dunno if that helps, but I feel your pain and I wanted to chime in! Hope things get better soon!
I've had my sights set on the JKSC for a while, actually. Ever since '06 I've been wanting to go there. Part of the problem was coming up with the money, but after I graduate I will definitely look into it more.
I'd love to see where they end up - there isn't exactly a huge need for realism artists, and with so many of them, it's going to be a competition just to get a job. I think you're doing good by branching out and trying to get into a less travelled path. It'll be hard, too, but I think there is more of a market for you than them.