What I Learned in One Year of College Art School!

What I Learned in One Year of College Art School

I went to college for visual arts for one year after high school.

Before I got married and moved away.

I guess I was going to be an art teacher or something, I wasn't really sure.

I was knocking out generals and taking extra art classes.

I took drawing classes, sculpture and stuff like that.

I realized at this time in my life that I loved crafting...creating, building, making, painting, and even sculpture much more than I like drawing.

I did not enjoy drawing with pencils, charcoal or any of that.

I had the hardest time getting the light, shadow, highlight and all that figured out.

I did not like coming into my art class and seeing such a boring piece of still life on the center table and knowing that we were going to have to draw that smooshed gallon jug or a wrinkly piece of paper.

Fine art was not for me.

Creating still life drawings is an intricate art form requiring meticulous observation and skilled execution. This artistic pursuit involves arranging inanimate objects in a visually compelling composition and capturing their intricate details on paper. 

The artist must keenly observe light and shadow, mastering techniques to convey texture, depth, and realism. Still life drawings serve as a unique platform for honing precision, offering a tangible connection between the artist's vision and the rendered image. 

Through this process, aspiring artists cultivate their ability to depict everyday objects with a heightened level of detail, transforming the ordinary into captivating works of art.

Again. Not for me.

I love crafting. I love hot glue burns, glitter, bright colors and quick projects!

Even worse, a pile of naked dolls in some sort of sculptural conglomeration, some missing heads, that I was going to have to sketch, shade and highlight.

Not my thing.

I totally love fine art, and respect the artists that do it.

It just wasn't for me.

I learned that the quicker I got my sketches done, the sooner I could do things I enjoy.

I don't think that is how art school should feel.

I realized that I was not into hyperrealism, realism or even drawing.

I also learned that my art teacher was into drawing shoes.

Someone had to take off their shoe so we could draw it.

That was weird.

So, I got okay at sketching out a lady boot or two.

Guess how many times in my life this skill has come in handy...???

none.

zero.

zip.

I did some painting too.

I actually did marbling and paint pouring before it was cool.

I used baby oil to help the ink separate.

All the while in my various art classes, was a girl just crying out to be a crafter!

She just wants to make beautiful things even if nobody cares.

I liked how this colored pencil puma turned out. 

I think I like the black paper and the medium of colored pencils.

I had fun with mixed media and pen and ink too!

I am thankful for the mixed mediums I was able to experience as a young person so I would have the confidence to invest in my own supplies later.

I had a special art class that was "invitation only" in 9th grade. I learned pottery, spinning pottery, metal work, jewelry making.

In high school I was in the "graphics art" class and did all the screen printing, photoshop (it was JUST released) and more hands on stuff.

I did learn one really important thing about drawing though...

My sister (4 years younger than me) was REALLY good at drawing.

Like, really good.

Realistic stuff.

In fact, I had her help me with this giraffe so I could turn it in and pass my college art class...

So, what I learned in one year of college art school...

was that I love crafting!