Reading through the comments, I’m starting to think the whole “first year of college is absolute hell and pointless and all you want to do is drop out” is an universal experience every student has to suffer through lol. I went to law school, one of the subjects furthest from art I can think of, and the first year felt nonsensical and a hole in time space. Stay strong there girl, and think of yourself and you wellbeing first.
It's kinda comforting to see other people struggle with their choices about college and education, I've been very stressed with school and it fells nice to know it isn't just me
ya same, schools been getting really hard and i feel like im being dramatic or not trying hard enough, but its nice knowing we're not the only ones sobs
Hiya! As somebody who has gone through the whole art school struggle I can honestly say that one, the first year is the absolute worst. They put students through hell to weed people out (and get their money). Your second year will be better. Two, you are learning so much that will surprise you later on. All of these stupid little assignments that seem ridiculous are teaching you something, they're teaching you how to think like an artist, they're testing your skills, etc. It might not feel like it but this will pay off. Three, nobody is having a good time, everybody is struggling (again that's the point of first year). Four, if you feel like you're not learning anything, think about what it is specifically that you want to be learning and use your professors to your benefit. Ask them those specific questions, they're there to help you. You're so talented and obviously hard working, you're going to do great!
The question always is: what are you getting out of school? If it's nothing you can't get on your own, or it's nothing you even want, drop out. School is for people that either need the degree for a specific reason or need something out of higher education that they can't get otherwise. That's a personal assessment and decision, but that's what you should consider. What did you go for, and are you getting that thing? Are you getting something unique and of significant value? There is no wrong answer, only the answer that works best for you.
Mental breakdown after mental breakdown after mental breakdown….THAT is ARTSCHOOL also 88 frames in 1 hr vs 66 in 4hrs is EXACTLY WHY you are doing those projects! To make you make decisions quickly.
i went to art school and i understand the struggle of first semester foundation classes. maybe after another semester, you’ll be like WOW!! actual classes that revolved around my major were so much more fun than the basics.
Art school burns out a lot of creatives by putting them in a box. Remember they give these non-sensicle assignments simply because they are required to give you a grade. They cannot grade without specific criteria for you to follow. It super sucks but just do your best to keep that creative spark - you have something special to share.
Girl, you more then deserve to be there. Every time I see your acrylic paintings (as an acrylic painter) I lose my MIND! You are so incredibly skilled and talented. Even if you don’t decide to go through with college and art school, don’t give up on art.
i'm currently a senior at SCAD (another very expensive private art school) so I know how it feels to be worried if what you're doin is worth it. i suggest using the time you have while in the beginning of college to research and nail down what specific job in the arts you want to have. google, friends, teachers, and school counselors are a great resource you have to help you figure it out. once you have a goal to strive towards you can figure out ways to make seemingly pointless assignments into practice that will help your future. good luck!
RISD grad here. Freshman year is literally the worst but after foundations once you get into your major it gets so much better and honestly some of the best years of my life. People even said Foundation year is meant to weed people out but it’s just such a different experience than the rest of RISDs program. You’re going to do great ❤
Deadass, don’t listen to the comments about whether or not to stay in school. It’s such a personal question, parasocial peeps aren’t equipped to have valid takes on it for u
3:44 gurl, you absolutely have what it takes. Every time I watch one of your videos, I think about how much hard work went into it. It is absolutely astonishing, yet you seem so unfazed. If I had TWO WEEKS to make that greenhouse painting, and had to work on it 8 HOURS everyday, you bet I would be a whiny baby. Even worse, I would probably refuse to do it. You are very dedicated and persistent, so don’t ever question if you can, because you absolutely can. The more important question is if you want to.
As someone who got through foundations at RISD semi recently I have a bit of advice if you're open to it. Firstly, it's the stress that's the enemy. Everything that happens freshman year is for YOU. It's for you to get used to long hours of work, to get better at art and find out what you like to do. I remember doing so many things I hated and having transfer tabs open all the time for other schools lol. But I also remember the freedom and accomplishment of freshman year. I'm proud I did it and I see that I grew a lot. Personally the crunch of it was helpful for me because doing so much art everyday solidified that I am just a happier person when it's a large portion of what I think about. Also you will never be in the environment again where people are giving you these insane open ended tasks or making you go way outside your comfort zone. I always thought of it like a game show or reality TV show -- like project runway. It's really you vs you. It was very fun. But also it was totally miserable. I wouldn't try and decide whether or not to drop out mid semester or during midterms or finals though. Best to assess afterwards when you're in a more rational frame of mind. Can't get the money back at that point anyway. I guess I would recommend thinking to yourself - "how can I do this assignment in a way that maximizes my chance of survival and pleasure this week?" Sometimes that means doing a bad job, sometimes that means being overambitious, playing it safe, doing something amusing, funny, boundary pushing. I guess just following your heart in a way. Also per "getting a job" -- so much of ANY job, unless you're EXTREMELY lucky is wasting your time with stupid fucking tasks. Learning to do all sorts of things at RISD -- like using animation software -- is actually going to come in handy in whatever creative field you go into. I remember having to 3d model and print and hating it and it has been so useful lol. Even just learning basic woodworking saves you so much time and money when you're an adult -- now I know how a chair is made I know how to fix one or look for quality lol. It sounds kind of stupid and obviously freshman year is not perfect but I found it valuable. They do make it 300x more miserable than it needs to be. I honestly remember feeling so maligned and borderline bullied by some of my teachers. Also I was so young then and my emotions were out of control. I have like 500x the maturity now than I did then and if you asked if I want to go back I would say absolutely only if I could keep my level of maturity that I have now. My 18 y/o brain was exploding. 🤷♂
Coming from someone who dropped out of art school- I'm kinda glad I did! I dropped out for financial reasons, but I've heard a lot of people say that art school killed their creativity. That once they got out they felt super burnt out and under prepared for the real world art jobs. I feel like had I stayed I probably would have felt the same. I am super grateful for the classes I did have tho (one being a super in depth anatomy class that really upped my anatomy skills). Maybe anyone who is in art school rn- ask yourself "are these classes actually upping my skill and benefiting me in the long run?" If that's not the case then maybe consider leaving art school, and creating your own curriculum for things you want to study. :) I've been doing that and I'm enjoying my art journey so far!
I feel like these comments aren’t understanding that she’s going to RISD it’s one of the hardest most expensive art schools. It’s like an Ivy League of arts schools so you have to take that into consideration when you become overworked, not doing the art you thought you’d be, and paying wayyy to much. Not all art schools are like that just do your research 😅
I get RISD is intense but I went to UNT and had the same exact work load even though its a public school. This is just what the colleges do, even the assignments shes been given are very similar to the ones I had my first year. Just because it's ivy doesnt mean it's a better art school and in my experience it only gets worse after year one. I would spend 8 hours everyday in the art studio, sleep in my car when I was so exhausted from painting all day, feel mentally drained and never like im enjoying what I'm painting. I'm not saying she should drop out, but it being RISD really changes nothing except the fact that more money is going down the drain.
@@brandi598 more money down the drain, BUT there are crazyyy connections/opportunities. it’s not all for nothing, going to RISD is truly a massive advantage when it comes to finding work/gallery representation after graduating. that doesn’t necessarily mean the curriculum is better - but as a risd student there’s usually a few people that get signed to really big name galleries or work bought by museums/collectors immediately upon finishing school. I’m still an undergrad and my classmates have already been awarded fellowships (worth like 10-15k) for their work. there are also classes we can take that end in international design shows/exhibitions (like milan design week). the money is literally just getting you more reach career wise.
I graduated from Herron School of Art and Design recently and my experience was very similar! The first year is like that to weed out the "weak". I understand feeling like you're wasting your time but you're not! I still think about the projects I did in my first year, they really exercised my "artistic brain"? The BIGGEST reason I loved art school was it gave me the space and time to really perfect my craft. I feel like I would not have done all that I did if I were just on my own. Also, there's nothing like the feeling of graduating with the other like 6 people who made it through your major when it started with 30+.
Finish, finish strong and then take a break from art. Don’t even look at a brush or pencil, rest, be with friends, goof around. Resting is so important because it lets your breathe and not take everything so serious so when you’re going back to work/school you’ll have mental fortitude to tackle it again. Balance, eb and flow, it’s a marathon not a race
For anyone that is looking at this as a senior in high school, while I did not go to college for art, you will cry in whatever you choose. There will be the best of times and the worst of times. Having an existential crisis is a rite of passage. Don't be discouraged :3
Trust me it gets so much better after 1st year. Everyone is struggling, First year is known wildly for being dumb and hard. After first year Crits get better, u start to feel like ur work matters and what ur learning is important. Risd feels so amazing and worth it after first year, I’m loving 2nd year .
I'm from the UK and went to art school there. Foundation year felt like a whole lot of pointless. Then as each year progressed I got more freedom to do the projects I wanted. Foundation year is for people who don't know what they want to do or letting people try new things that they might actually like. Unsure if art school was worth it professionally as most of my learning was self taught but I really valued my peers and friends I made along the way. It was AMAZING to be in one room everyday surrounded by creatives and learning off each-other!
Bruh as a STEM student, I feel like the only ppl with more time-consuming assignments are the *art students* 😂😭 like for real, my friend might’ve spent more time in the studio working on a singular art project than I did studying for my organic chem final ☠️ To all the artists out there, I got a lot of respect for y’all, but could never be one of ya 😅
I dropped out of art school. Wish i had stayed. I felt the same way you did. Stick with it if you can. The first few years are boring, and you won't like what ur doing, but as you advance, you will pick courses more relevant as your education grows. The first year is just learning how to churn out art you dont feel invested in on a time restriction. Fact is, most artists dont get to only create what they want. You got to pay your bills, which means taking any job you can complete. Sometimes its just commissions or sometimes its a full project. Imagine getting a job at a comic studio but you end up working on a comic that instrists you 0 percent. Still a job and gotta get done. A formal art education will get you a foot in the door and seriously in the art world you need it.
foundation year of art college sucks for most people-- i had a major freakout my freshman year of art school because it was all incredibly foundational and not at all what i wanted to pursue BUT holy COW, it got so much better for me as soon as my classes actually reflected what i want to do. talk to upperclassmen!! they'll know what's worth your time and hopefully push you in that direction.
For someone like Camila who is already very good at art, maybe pursuing a different degree that would support an art business would be more beneficial. Talking to different people in the field would help her get different perspectives as well. Good luck girl, we're all cheering you on!!
My first semester in college was hard. I was away from home for the first time ever, everything was new, the coursework seemed so much harder than high school. I cried so much. But I made friends, we hung out, ate junk food, we laughed, we cried. It does get better. Hang in there! You're going to do great! Take a break, play some videogames, hang out with friends, laugh, cry (crying is such a wonderful release). You'll look back a few years from now and laugh at the memories.
Omg this video was so relatable. Thank you so much for sharing your honest feelings about art school! I dropped out of SCAD after my first year. Part of my freshman year was online because of Covid, so I was sooooo discouraged after paying INSANE amounts of money just to make a cardboard whale in my tiny ass bedroom by myself lmao. But even when I was at Scad in person, I felt burnt out, lonely, homesick, and insecure about my abilities. I took a few gap years and am now studying psychology in a completely different state lol. I’m still not sure how i got here. Even though I’m content where I am now and still making time for my creative pursuits, some part of me still wishes I could have found a way to make it work and finish art school. But you’re right- it’s hella expensive, and as someone with immigrant parents who are living paycheck to paycheck, even though I was on a scholarship I was like… am I really going into a soul crushing amount of debt rn to make an ugly, half-assed little painting???? I felt guilty and not good enough and selfish and all that. Anyways all this to say, no matter what you decide to do, you’re still a super talented human being (your work inspires me all the time!) with a good head on your shoulders and you’ll flourish wherever you decide to go in life
FELLOW SCAD DROP OUT HIIII 💅 that school ruined meeeeeee. No fr tho, I’m at a state school now AND ITS WAY BETTER! I’m still studying Art and SCAD was such a waste. I’ve learned way more at state school. Also, was your whale that fucking cardboard 3D design project?? 💀 mine was a mini rocking horse that would fall flat on its face.😭 It made me cry bc it was soooo fucking stupid LOL. I was literally there for Graphic Design!!!
Going through the SAME shit right now. It’s hard to gauge whether I’m learning anything or not while also constantly living in the future, worrying about if I can actually make a career for myself out of art. I really wish you well! You’re fantastic and deserve an amazing career. You have SUCH a bright future!!!!
Hey girl! Here’s some advice from someone in art school. So many of us have been where you are (especially during midterms and finals). My genuine advice is not to drop out right away - finish your semester at least and then reevaluate. There are other options to an art/ fine art career than art school, BUT there are also things you can do to make ur school WORK FOR YOU. Comb through your course degree plan and look at all of the classes - sort them into ones you would like would benefit you, and ones that u hate. If it looks like ur degree isn’t working for you, talk to ur PEERS (sometimes upperclassmen know better than the advisors) and your advisors about modifying your degree or switching majors. IF THAT DOESN’T WORK, consider transferring school! Do the same comb through other schools’ degree plans and see how many of the class u would look forward to. If trad school really isn’t for you, there are alternative schooling options (such as a shadowing/mentorship). In some art schools, the first year classes can be BS abstract work which, while it may have value, typically doesn’t excessive any of the skills you came to art school to specifically explore. These classes typically stop once you get into your second year about. I’m sorry I you’re going through it rn, but hopefully you have a nice thanksgiving break! You got this!
duuude foundation sucks and making projects you aren’t excited for totally makes you feel like why the hell am I doing this. I hope it gets better year 2, especially since you get to take classes that are more specific to what you wanna do, but your feelings are super valid honestly
you are so real for this. this is the vlog that I need. i always feel like the reality of college that is depicted on social media is too romanticized and it feels hard to actually go through it; finals season, burnout, group projects... all of them is so tiring... glad to know I'm not the only one who feels like this.... but trust me, it will get better along the way!! seeing you in this vlog kinda feel like seeing myself went through my 1st semester.... now I'm on my 3th year and i hope the best for us!!! good luck girlie
I went to art school and my first year felt pointless too, but as you get farther into your degree everything gets so much better. You have more freedom, your projects are more interesting, you're exposed to a variety of new perspectives, and the teachers push you harder in ways that allow you to grow your personal art. The professors I had in my final two years inspired me more than anything or anyone else thus far, and my art grew so much! I recommend sticking it out unless it's truly making you miserable. Good luck!
Girlll I felt the exact same way freshmen year, but I was at a normal college. It totally does get better, especially once you figure out how to manage the work. You got this if you want to continue!
I attended art college for one semester then left. Best decision I made. Like you I did not enjoy the lessons I was given and felt it was a waste of time. I moved towards online classes and currently working on oil paints with Evolve program. I also have classes on Proko and other sources as well. Now I am able to pursue the kind of lessons I want to. Honestly still hurts the brain, because well learning, but it is worth it. If you want to stay in college go for it, but just know there are so many options out there for artists. I managed to make money off my art. I am not able to support myself yet hence working at DQ, but I am steadily working towards a career. Some things I have done are pet portrait illustrations (surprisingly huge market for it) and children book illustrations. If you are worried about a job I recommend people portraits for family’s. You have patience and talent for it. Seriously there are so many family who would love a traditional art piece done for them. Weddings, funerals, holidays, and even just a day to remember. You can do things like that, so I would not worry about a job. You got this lady 👍🏻.
camila!!! as a college senior in STEM i promise you none of these feelings are art-school specific. so many programs feel this way. i would get so much anxiety in my first couple years about not knowing what to do with my “good” degree and i only figured it out last year. the important thing to keep in mind is, unless you’re going into tons of debt, education is super valuable no matter what. you’re so young and have so much time to literally do whatever job you want after grad:)
So you’re saying what you go to college for doesn’t matter? I’m just wondering because I can’t decide if I want go to school for STEM or animation but I still want to work in both areas someday
@@halcyon.x you would be surprised how many people work in completely different fields than what they went to college for! obviously if you want to be a researcher, engineer, teacher, doctor, or anything that requires specific education, you do need that degree. but i’m saying you have more options than you think with whatever degree you get. STEM is less open than visual art in that sense, but there’s still flexibility. do your research on the schools and programs and you’ll be fine:)
I dropped out after a year of art school. I did really well, just decided it wasn't worth it. It was one of the best and hardest decisions of my life. Do what you need to do to be happy
@RU-Srs I had opportunities in the art sphere after I dropped out, and honestly, it went pretty well. I decided to do art as a side thing for the sake of my mental health though. I have a semi successful art side hustle, but I do computer science full time.
Foundation year at RISD is undoubtedly rough. I went there years ago and there was barely anytime to process my feelings. Just had to crank everything out and just keep my eye on the prize to get to my major, illustration/animation. Then the fun, seriously, began. I'm still working in children's TV and I honestly thank God for my education. Almost all my peers still work in their chosen major from film to industrial design. But yes, foundation year was insane. By the end of freshman year I think one student put it best: "Fuck this build a fucking kayak in a week kind of assignments..." It's true that some of the foundation assignments were quite joyless.
I’m a freshman this semester too (nursing major) and I just want to say that I’m grateful that you’re expressing your honest emotions in your videos. Like you, I’m also feeling exhausted, homesick, and everything else this semester. And like you said, it feels like everyone else is just having the best time and doing really well. And obv I’m not glad that you’re feeling that way but it’s just comforting to know that someone else feels the same way I do. I really hope that you finish the semester off strong and enjoy seeing your family for Thanksgiving. K bye
If you’re considering transferring, because I know RISD can be really really rough and work load heavy, I’m at Tufts SMFA right now as a freshman BFA, and I really love it. Like any art school, there’s still a lot of work and you’ll spend time in the studio, but the professors here all understand your circumstances and assign work that is doable. You won’t be dying and maybe you’ll have to do a few late nights in the studio, but it really is manageable. I’ve learned so many valuable skills and tricks from this school, and I love it here- the people are great. Only con is that the studio is off campus lol but there’s university affiliated transport. The projects are also a lot more independent and you can choose what to do (to an extent) with most courses
As a fellow Art school freshman, I FEEL YOU, I’m not at RISD but based on everything you say, if you are thinking about if it’s all worth it, I would honestly look at different schools as well, either way, YOU ARE DOING SO GOOD AND US NEW ENGLAND ART KIDS WILL MAKE IT THROUGH TOGETHER
This totally brought me back to my freshman year of art school. It’s such a battle and everyone’s experience is different but in my experience, freshman year is just especially rough. The foundational classes are so intense- it feels like some very dramatic, hardcore, chaotic right of passage sometimes lol. Gradually you will get to do and make more things that align with what you actually see yourself creating. I managed to graduate but I’m still trying to figure out what the positives were out of all the struggle - so my advice is to remind yourself why and how you got there in the first place (passion for art, skill, and hard work!!) avoid all-nighters whenever possible, call it done even if it’s not the best thing you’ve ever made, try not to isolate yourself too hard, and keep track of all of your wins and accomplishments so you can keep up faith in yourself. You got this!!! :)
I think part of this is the universal freshman semester college experience haha. I don't go to an art school but I did move away from home to study art at a state school and I experienced a lot of the same things. That first semester away from home is rough but in my experience it gets a lot better as you make friends and start to feel more at home.
I'm a senior in college studying graphic design and I've transferred schools TWICE over the last four years (the pandemic, mental health, extremely heavy course load, went to an out of state school and moved back home, etc.). My first year of college as an art/design major was ROUGH because of the insane workload/expectations in my foundational art courses in addition to my gen-ed courses. I was so sleep deprived, stressed, and kept falling behind in all of my classes. My mental health got really bad during this time and this was also at the beginning of the pandemic, so I moved back home and went to community college for two years and got an associates degree in graphic design. Now, I go to a commuter university in Chicago with cheaper tuition and better support and I'm planning on graduating with a BFA in graphic design next year. I promise that your classes will get better once you get to the higher level classes because the projects are way more fun and the professors tend to loosen up on project requirements so we have more creative freedom. I wish you the best and you're doing great! :)
Ah yes, the art school bummer moments. I see myself in you. I went to art school with great skills and a drive to do something with them. As they kept giving me more and more projects that had nothing to do with my speciality, I questioned why I was wasting my time. I eventually came to the same realizations you did, as in, why am I here, what does this have to do with anything, and am I wasting my time? I spent more time trying to make it work, transferring to another school that I hoped would give me better projects, but it only made me feel as if it was out of my league. I eventually dropped out and decided to only do art as a side hustle/hobby. Art schools really tend to just beat the fun out of actually doing art. The time I wasted and the skills I eventually lost in the process was not worth the experience of art school. You have such great skills with painting your self-portraits, and I hope with all my heart that this school won’t take it from you.
Hey! I'm a RISD Grad. I cannot begin to imagine how difficult it must be to balance foundation year with all the content you create. That being said, I think you are on an amazing tragectory. You have a very valuable asset (your following), and I believe your work's conceptual aspect could benefit immensely from the last 3 years in the painting department. You have incredible skill, and RISD can help you to figure out how to use it. Good luck on your journey and it does get so much easier!
What you're feeling is entirely normal, especially as a first-year student. It's easy to compare yourselves to others, to see others having fun, but trust me, on the inside, most are just as confused and anxious as you feel. I was not an art student, my degree is in English literature, but I still remember how terrible I felt...most of my college career. I had fun, of course. But the imposter syndrome is real. I felt as if, "What am I doing here?" most of my days. I would try to make it through your first year at the very least, and then see how you feel after. Just know what your feeling is really, really normal and school is hard...really, really hard. I also thought of dropping out several times, but I'm glad I stuck through. Each year will have its own challenges. But I'm just a stranger on the internet.
this was genuinely so refreshing, you’re so relatable. i’m in college as well (not art school tho) but i certainly understand being overwhelmed and feeling like this is a waste of time & money! def subscribed, your art is incredible.
the art school struggle is REAL. The homesickness also hits different when you just spend so many hours staring at the same project, wishing your family was there to hype you up. I'm in my final year of animation school, and yeah, I still think about how much calmer my life would be if I majored in the humanities. But at the end of the day, I can't see myself NOT doing art. It's so valid to be questioning "is this worth it". ESPECIALLY when you start to feel isolated and burnt out. Even as a senior, I'm still asking that. I'm sure there's something somewhere out there for us, so just know that a fellow art student is rooting for you from across the country
i really love your honesty in your art school vlogs, i’m currently a junior in hs with my dream school being risd, and seeing your experience with it so far is really helping me out! you’re insanely talented and doing amazing so far, we believe in you!!
As a first year student of art college myself, I totally relate to the massive amounts of workload from the professors and how we have to do seemingly 'unrelated' assignments for our major. I've heard upper classmen say that it gets easier for your second year since you can choose electives and the profs push so much work on you right now because it is your foundational year. If you really are planning on dropping out, I'd say wait until the second year to consider ToT. You've got this! Your hard work will surely pay off!
if art school is anything like architecture school (which by this video it seems like it very much is) then the first year is the weed out year. I know everything is horrible right now, but it's sadly supposed to be. They want people to drop out and only the "dedicated few" to make it to second year. From my experience 2-4 year have been much harder, but I enjoyed it SO much more because it related more to what I actually signed up for. Like I said, could be completely different, but that's my take based on this video and following along with you on instagram reels :) either way everything will work out no matter how it feels right now.
Wow lol. So.. Schooling is literally like “pay us $100k so we can bully you and make you develop mental illnesses so we can see if you’re ’dedicated enough?’” Man-
I love how honest and real you are, especially about hating it. I feel like I'm hating it right there with you. Seriously, please never stop being you.
Hey Camila, from one artist to another I would offer this advice to help: Ask yourself “What am I going to college for?” Is to get better at art, or is it to get a degree? If it’s to get better at art, then I would definitely say college is not worth it. There are so many things that you can learn free and for way cheaper online (RUclips, Skillershare, etc) rather than art school. I’ve learned so many things that I use all of the time from RUclips, and I feel like that’s what we need, things that we are actually going to use. On the other hand, if you’re going to get a degree then first ask yourself, “ How am I going to use this degree and what type of job do I want?” For me, I want to get my bachelors degree in graphic design so that I can have a study and stable job. Then once I build a following on social media and can see myself living off of online profit, then I can transition to that full time. So if you know what you want to do then keep sticking it out. And while you are enduring, keep the goal in mind so that you can keep on going. And ask yourself, “What are my goals?” I really hope this helped and remember that you’re not alone ❤
I’m not even in art school but those questions are really good to consider, I too want to go into graphic design and hope to have a stable career in it.
generally, i would agree, however as someone that goes to risd the sheer amount of improvement/growth i’ve seen in the work of basically all of my peers has been MIND-BLOWING, especially in fine arts majors!! they sure are good at building high end gallery/exhibiting artists lol. that being said - when it comes to doing fine art specifically for a career, you absolutely do not need a degree. however, it definitely helps (and not just for the connections, frequent exhibitions and other opportunities) just being in that environment where you can discuss ways of developing your ideas in a really refined, well-researched/considered way with people that are capable, very educated/knowledgeable, and absolutely invested in having these deeper discussions about your work and line of thinking with you is such a rare and valuable resource. It’s a massive privilege. You learn ways of integrating your personal observations/experiences about life/existence into your specific craft, while also grounding your work in broader cultural narratives and contexts - which is something that is *really* difficult to learn in a one sided way like watching online tutorials. That dedicated community/peer engagement is so hard to find outside of art school. You can absolutely teach yourself a craft, how to draw anatomically correct figures, how to use specific software, or any other technical (and usually more ‘employable’) skill, but those supposedly ‘softer’ skills - like how to synthesize and grow your ideas into something which physically exists and successfully communicates what you’re trying to say - is something that almost anyone will struggle to do on their own. You need to have that dialogue somehow, art school is the easiest way to access it.
Pratt Grad here, freshman year foundations are brutal, but I really recommend sticking it through. Junior and senior years are filled with freedom. It's worth it!
This was true, took me like 3 years to get my love of art and creativity back. I walked away feeling relieved it was over, not proud that i finished it. I been through some crazy stuff in my life, i consider myself to be pretty tough, but art school fucking broke me XD
i gotta disagree tbh, im an animation student and im enjoying the learning process (even though it has made me pull so many all-nighters... dont recommend THAT)
tbh even if you're going for a STEM, law, or whatever degree you still have those entry-level, nonsense base requirement classes that you gotta push through. it sucks all around but i hope it goes quickly for you!
hahahhaha oh god … im 5 years out of art school and watching this is bringing back memories. if u got a good scholarship DO NOT DROP OUT!!!!!!!! these vlogs r great… it Will get easier.. all this stuff is normal … and u can do it 😐👍
The first year of art school sucks. you get a lot of dumb assignments that look and are dumb af!! BUT some students need those tasks at the beginning. Later on you will get more freedom and start experimenting. I almost dropped out my first year but I'm so glad I didn't!!!
Art school graduate here 👋 From my experience, every freshman year of any art school is filled with random ahh ahh tasks and assignments, sorta like a 'hazing'. It does well to introduce fundamentals to students of all levels and also make them *really* question themselves on whether or not they want to continue. The like-minded (or polarising), passionate people tend to stay, dont worry. And you'll have more fun focusing on specilization later on.
I went to art school from 2012-2015, at VCU. I felt like the majority of what I was "learning" was so pointless. It made me feel like I was wasting time and money. I wanted to be doing what I felt were real art assignments and that wasn't the case most of the time. And I felt like what we were being asked to do would never be applied outside of art foundation. After AFO it did get a little better, but I didn't finish my last year. You have to go with your gut. You are incredibly talented. My art style is like yours. I like realism, portraits, etc. You don't need college to make it. I'll be 31 in Feb and I'm not sorry I gave up on art school. But I know people that have really benefitted from seeing it through. Think it depends on the person (personality), what kind of art you make, what field you want to go into, etc!
Making art isn't a waste of time. Every piece of art you make, even if it doesn't succeed or isn't your preferred subject/medium/whatever, teaches you something. In your heart of hearts if you want to keep making what you already make then it might make sense to drop out, so you don't spend all that money on school (and that RISD money is no joke). But if you do want to stay, you will end up growing as an artist.
I’m a junior in the Bachelor of Fine Arts program at my school so I can’t exactly speak on “art school” but it feels pretty close… I will say I struggle too with burnout and feeling like what I’m doing is a waste of time, especially with assignments like that. But, the more time passes I realize it’s a test of personal truth, integrity, and creativity… (also collaborative skills)… They want to teach new skills of course but also help you grow, so they push you hard to challenge your creativity. For me, it helps me think bigger with my ideas, concepts, etc. I feel like in a lot of ways art school is a test of “how can I be better and push myself to think more creatively and make an assignment more ME?” So, a good teacher will always appreciate you “breaking the rules” so to speak… I’ve considered dropping out many times but just wanted to share what I think about during the hard times!! Don’t let the weight crush you… use it to fuel your creativity and make things that excite you 💖
Honestly I would drop out if it’s effecting your mental health in this way. Also 88k a year is OD! You have options to get a different degree, work a job, continue RUclips, etc.
I graduated from art school last year, and I'm still a bit burnt out. I applied to grad schools, got into one, and every day I'm grateful that I listened to my gut and took a gap year (which is now turning into probably a forever gap year, but I'm okay with that). Listen to your gut! Life's too short to be suffering and having breakdowns everyday. I know school gives you structure and somewhat of a defined future, and not knowing what the future looks like is terrifying, but slowly hating the things you used to enjoy is so much worse.
I'm a junior in a different art school! It's actually really normal to feel burnt out and like you're not getting anywhere those first 2 years, the foundation classes are awful and you either already know the material or you hate it. It's inconvenient, but it does sometimes help, just most of the time, not so much. I think it's normal to hate the first year of an art curriculum, I actually changed my major and minor quite a bit through this time, before I finally started enjoying what I was doing! It's a pain, it's a grind, it's tedious and so awful for your well being sometimes, but depending on what you want out of it, it can get better! Overall, trust yourself, if you need a break, take one! Most schools give you time to take a break (at least mine does), but overall- your health should still be your priority. You're spending a lot of money, you deserve to find your happy place too! If it doesn't work, it happens, but it's not the end of the world either, and sometimes something else may be better. You can do this! 💛
As someone who went through foundation classes as a freshman too, I assure you that once you start your major classes (was the start of sophomore year for me) you will enjoy what you're doing a lot more. if you don't, maybe rethink what it is you want to major in! I believe in u
I’m 39, graduated with an ID degree, and have been an employed designer ever since. I did that same charcoal animation project 20 years ago when I was a freshman and NEVER used that knowledge. Your concerns are VERY valid. How on earth will that prepare you for the workforce? Sometimes I think art school is a scam. Please check what graduates in your degree are doing now. If they are not successfully employed I think switching majors would be a good call.
I meant to add that this is the time where many students will drop out, we called it The Weeding Out Year. I know so many that dropped out and I know for a fact that many regretted it. Some actually came back! You’re in one of The Toughest Art Colleges in the US. Not saying where I went or anywhere else isn’t, but we called RISD the Ivy League of Art Colleges. You can do this!!!
i feel like most people in the comments are people who stuck it out, so let me give you the perspective of someone who DID drop out: i went to an art school for fine art, and felt EXACTLY the same way you did. "i feel like everyone is having way more fun than me, what else would i be doing if not this?" but honestly i was only in the program because i didnt know what i wanted to do with my future, and my parents wouldnt let me do anything but uni. so i intermitted, and it was the best decision of my life. i took two years to figure out what i truly wanted to do and i wouldnt have it any other way. im a completely different person now, and i dont even draw anymore but im getting ready to go back into uni and switch courses to what suits me better. you are so talented in what you do but you remind me SO much of myself, you have potential in anything you want to do but you just need time to yourself to figure out what you need and what you want. not what suits you best in this current moment. i just wanted to provide an alternative perspective, and i hope you do whats best for you, best of luck ❤️
@@mivical architecture! i went to several career advisors and they told me that all my strengths, hobbies and interests align with architecture, design, building and illustration.
Looking back, the idea of a college with so many project proposals is to get students to get closer to these processes and understand for themselves how to produce their ideas. It is generally in these spaces that students discover what they like and especially what they don't like. In my opinion, you already know what you like, you flow naturally with self-portraits, it's what you have fun with. This is what you will probably explore as an artist when you leave college. This feeling that you are wasting time could be because you know that you could be using this time to develop something along the lines of self-portraits, which you do very well. Sasha Gordon also only does self-portraits and does incredible work. College is interesting for many reasons, but it steals a few years of your life by forcing you to do things you don't want to do and that also has its positive side, I would say.
If you feel you’re not learning anything new, it’s because you’re not learning anything new. As a fellow painter, I will tell you that you don’t need them. You already have the talent and knowledge. They’re just going to give you critiques (some biased) and call it teaching. Unless you have a scholarship and most of the materials are provided by the school, then I would recommend that you quit. A degree doesn’t guarantee a job. You should try thinking about what you want to do in the future. Do you want to keep making art? Then earn money either through a job related to art (sell paintings/art through the internet or auctions, create art content and post it in social media, become an art tutor, etc) or a regular job (minimum wage or get an associate degree and maybe get a job with a higher salary). Either way, you already got the talent and experience, so use it to your advantage.
As a college dropout take it from me that it would be much wiser to take a gap semester or even gap year if needed to be able to focus on self growth and gaining more work experiences. That way it’s much easier to return. Once you drop out it’s a lot more difficult to return to your institution. Additionally, taking a gap semester gives you times to be able to focus on your art without deadlines so you can regain your passion and be ready for academics again. ✨
I started art school in September and your experience felt literally the same as mine, I’m so glad to know someone I look up to a lot as an artist is just as "normal" and human as me. Hope it gets better for you we’re in this together
Camila I am a freshman at a different art school, and I totally understand everything you are going through. Please stick it out you are incredibly talented and resilient you got this
As someone who is a sophomore currently in art college I can tell you that honestly finding the right fit for you is rough. Sometimes people just benefit more not going to art college and realize it’s not for them. So many schools have different ways to go about teaching. Who knows maybe if you do stick around till the next year you’ll find yourself really enjoying it! I’ve had some classmates transfer to different schools because it didn’t fit what they wanted out of an art school. Getting into the art world and finding what’s best is completely personal and different to every person. There’s no shame in looking into different schools and seeing if they fit better with you and how you want your experience to be. It’s all about if you’re not just enjoying what you are doing but also feeling confident that your getting your moneys worth.
I absolutely get what you mean, the considering to drop out, the doubts, insecurities, fears, not enjoying what you should be loving cuz dammit its art its supposed to be enjoyed not suffered through, and just general aaaaaaa feelings. I get them too, felt them real hard this semester at art college. Legit not learning anything, hardly critiques, hardly classes, but also I’m not good for anything else. Yeah I feel u gurl. Had so many breakdowns this year I’m taking a semester break. And bro, I’m like, practically a fourth year. I struggle
Your realness in these vlogs is so comforting to see especially because lately I have been hitting a wall and feeling burn out and overall just melancholy with schoolwork and college applications so watching these makes me feel like I’m not alone and that it’s ok to be sad sometimes. Best of luck staying on that art school grind, we’re all rooting for you!
Girl I was doing fine arts in Spain, in my hometown Seville. Then I moved for Erasmus to England and started doing all in their way (that reminds me of what you've showed in the vlog) and OMG I hated it. The Erasmus was supposed to be one year and I lasted less than 6 months. In Seville we did 6h of class per day. We learned ALL THE FUNDAMENTALS like we had live drawing sessions with models, then we also sculpted, and we learn perspective, but it was all super technical and easy-to-follow. Then I arrived to the UK and there was less than 2h of class per day, they were all so abstract, too free, it felt like nothing made sense. You were paying money to do WHATEVER and WHATEVER was ok. If I want to take a photo of a ball of cereal then it is ok. I understood what they were trying to do but it made me angry cause I wanted to be a good painter, a good drawer, a good artist. Sometimes, creativity and crazy or random works mean nothing if there is not a solid classic knowledge in the back. In Seville, only in the last two years, we started doing more actual subjects. Performance, illustration, digital art... but only after two years of drawing hands and feets and bodies and faces and perspectives you know.
Girl you are giving yourself a foundation for the art world. And your art is freaking incredible. Like you said trust the process. You are so talented , don’t waste it. My best bud went to school for 8 years and when he got out he couldn’t get a job but eventually he landed his dream job doing art and he loves it.
I’m going to art school to improve my drawing skills and to learn how to animate. Once I realized that for myself I tried to take as much as I could from all of my classes. I would suggest to really think about the reasons you want to continue art school. Are you doing it for a degree, because you want to learn, etc.? try to find a reason and justify it, if you can’t, maybe art school isn’t it, there are jobs for artists that you don’t need a degree for.
I hope your experience gets better. I'm currently attending a university that has a art program (It's a little different than art school) and I love it so much. I would recommend looking into other options if you really aren't having a good time. I know RISD is this big art school and it's supposed to be amazing but it's okay if it isnt the right fit for you. I thought about applying to art schools when I was transferring from my community college but im glad I didnt. The university I'm going to right now has a good but small art program. I know all my professors and classmates. It's nice and a much better fit for me :)
Also artprof could be helpful for you. The person who runs it Clara used to teach at risd. She really helped me a lot when I was looking into schools :)
I dropped out of school a month in so I’m proud of you for continuing despite your doubts. If you ever decide it’s not for you that’s okay. Dont beat yourself up over it
I think some self awareness that the program is a little ~~toxic~~ is healthy and reasonable. It strikes me as a stereotypical art school weeding out the weak crap. Are you really lucky to be there if you feel miserable? My advice, graduating with an art degree, now working as an art teacher, getting my teaching certificate at the same time is do NOT let this program kill something you love. There are lots of jobs out there and if it ends up making more sense for your life to make art and do something else for work to fund that endeavor, that is totally okay. If the program makes you miserable and you start resenting your field of study I would take that as a sign to drop out, take a gap year and transfer to another program. You are not even 20 yet. Really, there is not much you can do at your age that is set in stone. There is always room to make a change if needed
I relate to you honestly. I'm not in an art college. I'm studying psychology and I, as you said, expected it to be fun and stuff and not doubt myself and what I'm doing and what I will be doing with what I acquire from what I'm doing here I too had mental breakdown after breakdown and considered dropping. Thennn I remembered why I came here in the first place. And then I remembered that we shouldn't take things too seriously and try having a good time as much as we can My God, your story is so relatable, I wish you the best and don't forget to also take care of yourself!! Work always comes after your wellbeing :> 💗💗
@@inferno8070 if you are deeply interested in this topic and want to work in this field, yes. if you just want to learn things, you better not bother getting into a university/college. there are lots of resources online these days from which you can learn pretty much everything you want to know I personally follow this road because, first I am interested in psychology a lot and thought being taught on this topic would motivate me to actually learn something, and second, I might want to work in this field in the future. I'm still unsure though :"") I hope this covered up your question!
I was 2 years into an art degree when I switched to the jewelry making program at my school. I’m now in class 32+ hours a week but I’m so much happier and feel so much calmer about the future compared to when I was going for an art degree. Not that jewelry making is for everyone, it’s stressful as fuck, but also a reminder that art is a broad spectrum and never be afraid to take a chance and try something different!!
YOUR FEELING ABOUT CLASS IS EXACTLY HOW I FEEL RIGHT NOW! I'm studying cartooning at SVA and I feel like I'm not as fulfilled/learning at my full potential than I was last year !!! I haven't produced a portfolio piece in six months!!! PLUS THE PRICE??? It's a struggle girly
i loooooved art as a child + growing up, i was and am still a really creative person. but the minute i decided to take art class was when my imposter syndrome started. a lot of other ppl had such better abilities than me and it was really difficult to finish the course especially when i got into disagreements with my teacher. i always felt art in school ripped me of my creativity and limited me to one medium or one concept such as doing a pencil skull drawing or idk fine line of a building and it was never my thing bc it was sooooo boring and restrictive. even disliking the teacher would make someone disregard the subject as a whole bc i always felt judged for my style of art and felt i had to do everything in a way my teacher would like it, not me. i totally understand if you're suffering a burnout / imposter syndrome and if you would just prefer to make a living out of selling commissions and putting your work up in galleries, i'm 100% sure with your platform, perseverance and talent you will be successful in art. but do not let anyone kill your passions. being in a competitive atmosphere is not easy, but you got this.
The first year at risd is the hardest you got this I’ve had a ton of friends go there and they all say the first year is rough but you can do this I believe in you
yo i went to risd and the first semester is absolutely the hardest. id encourage you to stick with it, if only bc the opportunity to make stuff all the time and the people you meet are invaluable. theres no shame in dropping out. if thats whats right for you thats whats right. but if its comforting: this is the tallest hurdle. foundation year is really hard. it DOES cool down after that
Wow... I graduated with a BFA in 1994 and THIS shite is real! The word I privately used for personal critiques is complementique... folks just want to hear how great their work was and not honest input.
i felt like that as a freshman too. Literally deciding whether to transfer, dropout, quit film forever, etc... it was a lot, i stuck it through and that ended up being okay. i hope after ur first year you're able to decide too!! u got this
art school was the worst experience of my life. genuinely been considering therapy to talk thru what happened there. im doing better now and the degree got me the job i have now but i wouldve done something else knowing what i know now 100%
i always dont know if youre about to cry or laugh next...
LMFAOOO
✨ It's called anxiety ✨
Or depression👍✨
@@TheSunshineIsNear💀
@@TheSunshineIsNear💀😭
@@TheSunshineIsNear😂💀
Don't worry girl, crying in front of your professor is an art school ritual
For sure! 😅
I think we have all done it at least once lol
@@celestemedrano1799 it happens at least once a semester for me lmao they’re very used to students crying
Reading through the comments, I’m starting to think the whole “first year of college is absolute hell and pointless and all you want to do is drop out” is an universal experience every student has to suffer through lol. I went to law school, one of the subjects furthest from art I can think of, and the first year felt nonsensical and a hole in time space. Stay strong there girl, and think of yourself and you wellbeing first.
thanks!!
It's kinda comforting to see other people struggle with their choices about college and education, I've been very stressed with school and it fells nice to know it isn't just me
I know it sounds bad but what can you do🤷
ya same, schools been getting really hard and i feel like im being dramatic or not trying hard enough, but its nice knowing we're not the only ones sobs
aw you got these lovelies
Hiya! As somebody who has gone through the whole art school struggle I can honestly say that one, the first year is the absolute worst. They put students through hell to weed people out (and get their money). Your second year will be better. Two, you are learning so much that will surprise you later on. All of these stupid little assignments that seem ridiculous are teaching you something, they're teaching you how to think like an artist, they're testing your skills, etc. It might not feel like it but this will pay off. Three, nobody is having a good time, everybody is struggling (again that's the point of first year). Four, if you feel like you're not learning anything, think about what it is specifically that you want to be learning and use your professors to your benefit. Ask them those specific questions, they're there to help you. You're so talented and obviously hard working, you're going to do great!
EXACTLY i went through the whole same crisis and i hope she reads your comment, this is solid advice for this situation
The question always is: what are you getting out of school? If it's nothing you can't get on your own, or it's nothing you even want, drop out. School is for people that either need the degree for a specific reason or need something out of higher education that they can't get otherwise. That's a personal assessment and decision, but that's what you should consider. What did you go for, and are you getting that thing? Are you getting something unique and of significant value? There is no wrong answer, only the answer that works best for you.
Mental breakdown after mental breakdown after mental breakdown….THAT is ARTSCHOOL also 88 frames in 1 hr vs 66 in 4hrs is EXACTLY WHY you are doing those projects! To make you make decisions quickly.
i went to art school and i understand the struggle of first semester foundation classes. maybe after another semester, you’ll be like WOW!! actual classes that revolved around my major were so much more fun than the basics.
Art school burns out a lot of creatives by putting them in a box. Remember they give these non-sensicle assignments simply because they are required to give you a grade. They cannot grade without specific criteria for you to follow. It super sucks but just do your best to keep that creative spark - you have something special to share.
Girl, you more then deserve to be there. Every time I see your acrylic paintings (as an acrylic painter) I lose my MIND! You are so incredibly skilled and talented. Even if you don’t decide to go through with college and art school, don’t give up on art.
i'm currently a senior at SCAD (another very expensive private art school) so I know how it feels to be worried if what you're doin is worth it. i suggest using the time you have while in the beginning of college to research and nail down what specific job in the arts you want to have. google, friends, teachers, and school counselors are a great resource you have to help you figure it out. once you have a goal to strive towards you can figure out ways to make seemingly pointless assignments into practice that will help your future. good luck!
😮good advice. Specially the one of thinking about what do you want work on after college.
RISD grad here. Freshman year is literally the worst but after foundations once you get into your major it gets so much better and honestly some of the best years of my life. People even said Foundation year is meant to weed people out but it’s just such a different experience than the rest of RISDs program. You’re going to do great ❤
Is it okay to ask what you’re doing now :)?
doing great :) making children's books and drawing for my job so I'm happy! @@neruya09
@@fuzziemonkie437 people like you give me hope in myself thank you for commenting
Deadass, don’t listen to the comments about whether or not to stay in school. It’s such a personal question, parasocial peeps aren’t equipped to have valid takes on it for u
3:44 gurl, you absolutely have what it takes. Every time I watch one of your videos, I think about how much hard work went into it. It is absolutely astonishing, yet you seem so unfazed. If I had TWO WEEKS to make that greenhouse painting, and had to work on it 8 HOURS everyday, you bet I would be a whiny baby. Even worse, I would probably refuse to do it. You are very dedicated and persistent, so don’t ever question if you can, because you absolutely can. The more important question is if you want to.
As someone who got through foundations at RISD semi recently I have a bit of advice if you're open to it. Firstly, it's the stress that's the enemy. Everything that happens freshman year is for YOU. It's for you to get used to long hours of work, to get better at art and find out what you like to do. I remember doing so many things I hated and having transfer tabs open all the time for other schools lol. But I also remember the freedom and accomplishment of freshman year. I'm proud I did it and I see that I grew a lot. Personally the crunch of it was helpful for me because doing so much art everyday solidified that I am just a happier person when it's a large portion of what I think about. Also you will never be in the environment again where people are giving you these insane open ended tasks or making you go way outside your comfort zone. I always thought of it like a game show or reality TV show -- like project runway. It's really you vs you. It was very fun. But also it was totally miserable. I wouldn't try and decide whether or not to drop out mid semester or during midterms or finals though. Best to assess afterwards when you're in a more rational frame of mind. Can't get the money back at that point anyway. I guess I would recommend thinking to yourself - "how can I do this assignment in a way that maximizes my chance of survival and pleasure this week?" Sometimes that means doing a bad job, sometimes that means being overambitious, playing it safe, doing something amusing, funny, boundary pushing. I guess just following your heart in a way.
Also per "getting a job" -- so much of ANY job, unless you're EXTREMELY lucky is wasting your time with stupid fucking tasks. Learning to do all sorts of things at RISD -- like using animation software -- is actually going to come in handy in whatever creative field you go into. I remember having to 3d model and print and hating it and it has been so useful lol. Even just learning basic woodworking saves you so much time and money when you're an adult -- now I know how a chair is made I know how to fix one or look for quality lol. It sounds kind of stupid and obviously freshman year is not perfect but I found it valuable. They do make it 300x more miserable than it needs to be. I honestly remember feeling so maligned and borderline bullied by some of my teachers. Also I was so young then and my emotions were out of control. I have like 500x the maturity now than I did then and if you asked if I want to go back I would say absolutely only if I could keep my level of maturity that I have now. My 18 y/o brain was exploding. 🤷♂
I’m also a first year art student and the swings between “this is stupid I should drop out” and “yay, art” are so real…
Coming from someone who dropped out of art school- I'm kinda glad I did! I dropped out for financial reasons, but I've heard a lot of people say that art school killed their creativity. That once they got out they felt super burnt out and under prepared for the real world art jobs. I feel like had I stayed I probably would have felt the same. I am super grateful for the classes I did have tho (one being a super in depth anatomy class that really upped my anatomy skills). Maybe anyone who is in art school rn- ask yourself "are these classes actually upping my skill and benefiting me in the long run?" If that's not the case then maybe consider leaving art school, and creating your own curriculum for things you want to study. :) I've been doing that and I'm enjoying my art journey so far!
Also I HATED working with charcoal lol
I feel like these comments aren’t understanding that she’s going to RISD it’s one of the hardest most expensive art schools. It’s like an Ivy League of arts schools so you have to take that into consideration when you become overworked, not doing the art you thought you’d be, and paying wayyy to much. Not all art schools are like that just do your research 😅
I get RISD is intense but I went to UNT and had the same exact work load even though its a public school. This is just what the colleges do, even the assignments shes been given are very similar to the ones I had my first year. Just because it's ivy doesnt mean it's a better art school and in my experience it only gets worse after year one. I would spend 8 hours everyday in the art studio, sleep in my car when I was so exhausted from painting all day, feel mentally drained and never like im enjoying what I'm painting. I'm not saying she should drop out, but it being RISD really changes nothing except the fact that more money is going down the drain.
I don't care how prestigious this place is, those assignments were whack
just having risd on your resume carries you into places
@@brandi598 more money down the drain, BUT there are crazyyy connections/opportunities. it’s not all for nothing, going to RISD is truly a massive advantage when it comes to finding work/gallery representation after graduating. that doesn’t necessarily mean the curriculum is better - but as a risd student there’s usually a few people that get signed to really big name galleries or work bought by museums/collectors immediately upon finishing school. I’m still an undergrad and my classmates have already been awarded fellowships (worth like 10-15k) for their work. there are also classes we can take that end in international design shows/exhibitions (like milan design week). the money is literally just getting you more reach career wise.
@@kittyblack1538 that’s freshman year for ya lmao it’s literally a haze year
I graduated from Herron School of Art and Design recently and my experience was very similar! The first year is like that to weed out the "weak". I understand feeling like you're wasting your time but you're not! I still think about the projects I did in my first year, they really exercised my "artistic brain"? The BIGGEST reason I loved art school was it gave me the space and time to really perfect my craft. I feel like I would not have done all that I did if I were just on my own. Also, there's nothing like the feeling of graduating with the other like 6 people who made it through your major when it started with 30+.
Finish, finish strong and then take a break from art. Don’t even look at a brush or pencil, rest, be with friends, goof around. Resting is so important because it lets your breathe and not take everything so serious so when you’re going back to work/school you’ll have mental fortitude to tackle it again. Balance, eb and flow, it’s a marathon not a race
💙💙
For anyone that is looking at this as a senior in high school, while I did not go to college for art, you will cry in whatever you choose. There will be the best of times and the worst of times. Having an existential crisis is a rite of passage. Don't be discouraged :3
Trust me it gets so much better after 1st year. Everyone is struggling, First year is known wildly for being dumb and hard. After first year Crits get better, u start to feel like ur work matters and what ur learning is important. Risd feels so amazing and worth it after first year, I’m loving 2nd year .
I'm from the UK and went to art school there. Foundation year felt like a whole lot of pointless. Then as each year progressed I got more freedom to do the projects I wanted. Foundation year is for people who don't know what they want to do or letting people try new things that they might actually like. Unsure if art school was worth it professionally as most of my learning was self taught but I really valued my peers and friends I made along the way. It was AMAZING to be in one room everyday surrounded by creatives and learning off each-other!
Bruh as a STEM student, I feel like the only ppl with more time-consuming assignments are the *art students* 😂😭 like for real, my friend might’ve spent more time in the studio working on a singular art project than I did studying for my organic chem final ☠️
To all the artists out there, I got a lot of respect for y’all, but could never be one of ya 😅
I dropped out of art school. Wish i had stayed. I felt the same way you did. Stick with it if you can. The first few years are boring, and you won't like what ur doing, but as you advance, you will pick courses more relevant as your education grows. The first year is just learning how to churn out art you dont feel invested in on a time restriction. Fact is, most artists dont get to only create what they want. You got to pay your bills, which means taking any job you can complete. Sometimes its just commissions or sometimes its a full project. Imagine getting a job at a comic studio but you end up working on a comic that instrists you 0 percent. Still a job and gotta get done.
A formal art education will get you a foot in the door and seriously in the art world you need it.
And school is your first (and easiest!) opportunity to network!
@@ivyvinewood so true
girl this is so real. tbh it gets better once ur done with all the STINKY freshman projects and u have more freedom UR SO STRONG
foundation year of art college sucks for most people-- i had a major freakout my freshman year of art school because it was all incredibly foundational and not at all what i wanted to pursue BUT holy COW, it got so much better for me as soon as my classes actually reflected what i want to do. talk to upperclassmen!! they'll know what's worth your time and hopefully push you in that direction.
For someone like Camila who is already very good at art, maybe pursuing a different degree that would support an art business would be more beneficial. Talking to different people in the field would help her get different perspectives as well. Good luck girl, we're all cheering you on!!
My first semester in college was hard. I was away from home for the first time ever, everything was new, the coursework seemed so much harder than high school. I cried so much. But I made friends, we hung out, ate junk food, we laughed, we cried. It does get better.
Hang in there! You're going to do great! Take a break, play some videogames, hang out with friends, laugh, cry (crying is such a wonderful release). You'll look back a few years from now and laugh at the memories.
Omg this video was so relatable. Thank you so much for sharing your honest feelings about art school! I dropped out of SCAD after my first year. Part of my freshman year was online because of Covid, so I was sooooo discouraged after paying INSANE amounts of money just to make a cardboard whale in my tiny ass bedroom by myself lmao. But even when I was at Scad in person, I felt burnt out, lonely, homesick, and insecure about my abilities. I took a few gap years and am now studying psychology in a completely different state lol. I’m still not sure how i got here. Even though I’m content where I am now and still making time for my creative pursuits, some part of me still wishes I could have found a way to make it work and finish art school. But you’re right- it’s hella expensive, and as someone with immigrant parents who are living paycheck to paycheck, even though I was on a scholarship I was like… am I really going into a soul crushing amount of debt rn to make an ugly, half-assed little painting???? I felt guilty and not good enough and selfish and all that. Anyways all this to say, no matter what you decide to do, you’re still a super talented human being (your work inspires me all the time!) with a good head on your shoulders and you’ll flourish wherever you decide to go in life
FELLOW SCAD DROP OUT HIIII 💅 that school ruined meeeeeee. No fr tho, I’m at a state school now AND ITS WAY BETTER! I’m still studying Art and SCAD was such a waste. I’ve learned way more at state school. Also, was your whale that fucking cardboard 3D design project?? 💀 mine was a mini rocking horse that would fall flat on its face.😭 It made me cry bc it was soooo fucking stupid LOL. I was literally there for Graphic Design!!!
Going through the SAME shit right now. It’s hard to gauge whether I’m learning anything or not while also constantly living in the future, worrying about if I can actually make a career for myself out of art. I really wish you well! You’re fantastic and deserve an amazing career. You have SUCH a bright future!!!!
Hey girl! Here’s some advice from someone in art school. So many of us have been where you are (especially during midterms and finals). My genuine advice is not to drop out right away - finish your semester at least and then reevaluate. There are other options to an art/ fine art career than art school, BUT there are also things you can do to make ur school WORK FOR YOU. Comb through your course degree plan and look at all of the classes - sort them into ones you would like would benefit you, and ones that u hate. If it looks like ur degree isn’t working for you, talk to ur PEERS (sometimes upperclassmen know better than the advisors) and your advisors about modifying your degree or switching majors. IF THAT DOESN’T WORK, consider transferring school! Do the same comb through other schools’ degree plans and see how many of the class u would look forward to. If trad school really isn’t for you, there are alternative schooling options (such as a shadowing/mentorship).
In some art schools, the first year classes can be BS abstract work which, while it may have value, typically doesn’t excessive any of the skills you came to art school to specifically explore. These classes typically stop once you get into your second year about. I’m sorry I you’re going through it rn, but hopefully you have a nice thanksgiving break! You got this!
duuude foundation sucks and making projects you aren’t excited for totally makes you feel like why the hell am I doing this. I hope it gets better year 2, especially since you get to take classes that are more specific to what you wanna do, but your feelings are super valid honestly
you are so real for this. this is the vlog that I need. i always feel like the reality of college that is depicted on social media is too romanticized and it feels hard to actually go through it; finals season, burnout, group projects... all of them is so tiring... glad to know I'm not the only one who feels like this.... but trust me, it will get better along the way!! seeing you in this vlog kinda feel like seeing myself went through my 1st semester.... now I'm on my 3th year and i hope the best for us!!! good luck girlie
I went to art school and my first year felt pointless too, but as you get farther into your degree everything gets so much better. You have more freedom, your projects are more interesting, you're exposed to a variety of new perspectives, and the teachers push you harder in ways that allow you to grow your personal art. The professors I had in my final two years inspired me more than anything or anyone else thus far, and my art grew so much! I recommend sticking it out unless it's truly making you miserable. Good luck!
Girlll I felt the exact same way freshmen year, but I was at a normal college. It totally does get better, especially once you figure out how to manage the work. You got this if you want to continue!
I attended art college for one semester then left. Best decision I made. Like you I did not enjoy the lessons I was given and felt it was a waste of time. I moved towards online classes and currently working on oil paints with Evolve program. I also have classes on Proko and other sources as well. Now I am able to pursue the kind of lessons I want to. Honestly still hurts the brain, because well learning, but it is worth it. If you want to stay in college go for it, but just know there are so many options out there for artists. I managed to make money off my art. I am not able to support myself yet hence working at DQ, but I am steadily working towards a career. Some things I have done are pet portrait illustrations (surprisingly huge market for it) and children book illustrations. If you are worried about a job I recommend people portraits for family’s. You have patience and talent for it. Seriously there are so many family who would love a traditional art piece done for them. Weddings, funerals, holidays, and even just a day to remember. You can do things like that, so I would not worry about a job. You got this lady 👍🏻.
camila!!! as a college senior in STEM i promise you none of these feelings are art-school specific. so many programs feel this way. i would get so much anxiety in my first couple years about not knowing what to do with my “good” degree and i only figured it out last year. the important thing to keep in mind is, unless you’re going into tons of debt, education is super valuable no matter what. you’re so young and have so much time to literally do whatever job you want after grad:)
So you’re saying what you go to college for doesn’t matter? I’m just wondering because I can’t decide if I want go to school for STEM or animation but I still want to work in both areas someday
@@halcyon.x you would be surprised how many people work in completely different fields than what they went to college for! obviously if you want to be a researcher, engineer, teacher, doctor, or anything that requires specific education, you do need that degree. but i’m saying you have more options than you think with whatever degree you get. STEM is less open than visual art in that sense, but there’s still flexibility. do your research on the schools and programs and you’ll be fine:)
I dropped out after a year of art school. I did really well, just decided it wasn't worth it. It was one of the best and hardest decisions of my life. Do what you need to do to be happy
Are you successful still? Like financially as an artist?
@RU-Srs I had opportunities in the art sphere after I dropped out, and honestly, it went pretty well. I decided to do art as a side thing for the sake of my mental health though. I have a semi successful art side hustle, but I do computer science full time.
Foundation year at RISD is undoubtedly rough. I went there years ago and there was barely anytime to process my feelings. Just had to crank everything out and just keep my eye on the prize to get to my major, illustration/animation. Then the fun, seriously, began. I'm still working in children's TV and I honestly thank God for my education. Almost all my peers still work in their chosen major from film to industrial design.
But yes, foundation year was insane. By the end of freshman year I think one student put it best: "Fuck this build a fucking kayak in a week kind of assignments..." It's true that some of the foundation assignments were quite joyless.
I’m a freshman this semester too (nursing major) and I just want to say that I’m grateful that you’re expressing your honest emotions in your videos. Like you, I’m also feeling exhausted, homesick, and everything else this semester. And like you said, it feels like everyone else is just having the best time and doing really well. And obv I’m not glad that you’re feeling that way but it’s just comforting to know that someone else feels the same way I do. I really hope that you finish the semester off strong and enjoy seeing your family for Thanksgiving. K bye
If you’re considering transferring, because I know RISD can be really really rough and work load heavy, I’m at Tufts SMFA right now as a freshman BFA, and I really love it. Like any art school, there’s still a lot of work and you’ll spend time in the studio, but the professors here all understand your circumstances and assign work that is doable. You won’t be dying and maybe you’ll have to do a few late nights in the studio, but it really is manageable. I’ve learned so many valuable skills and tricks from this school, and I love it here- the people are great. Only con is that the studio is off campus lol but there’s university affiliated transport. The projects are also a lot more independent and you can choose what to do (to an extent) with most courses
As a fellow Art school freshman, I FEEL YOU, I’m not at RISD but based on everything you say, if you are thinking about if it’s all worth it, I would honestly look at different schools as well, either way, YOU ARE DOING SO GOOD AND US NEW ENGLAND ART KIDS WILL MAKE IT THROUGH TOGETHER
This totally brought me back to my freshman year of art school. It’s such a battle and everyone’s experience is different but in my experience, freshman year is just especially rough. The foundational classes are so intense- it feels like some very dramatic, hardcore, chaotic right of passage sometimes lol. Gradually you will get to do and make more things that align with what you actually see yourself creating. I managed to graduate but I’m still trying to figure out what the positives were out of all the struggle - so my advice is to remind yourself why and how you got there in the first place (passion for art, skill, and hard work!!) avoid all-nighters whenever possible, call it done even if it’s not the best thing you’ve ever made, try not to isolate yourself too hard, and keep track of all of your wins and accomplishments so you can keep up faith in yourself. You got this!!! :)
This is such a nice comment, thks for the tips ❤
I think part of this is the universal freshman semester college experience haha. I don't go to an art school but I did move away from home to study art at a state school and I experienced a lot of the same things. That first semester away from home is rough but in my experience it gets a lot better as you make friends and start to feel more at home.
I'm a senior in college studying graphic design and I've transferred schools TWICE over the last four years (the pandemic, mental health, extremely heavy course load, went to an out of state school and moved back home, etc.). My first year of college as an art/design major was ROUGH because of the insane workload/expectations in my foundational art courses in addition to my gen-ed courses. I was so sleep deprived, stressed, and kept falling behind in all of my classes. My mental health got really bad during this time and this was also at the beginning of the pandemic, so I moved back home and went to community college for two years and got an associates degree in graphic design. Now, I go to a commuter university in Chicago with cheaper tuition and better support and I'm planning on graduating with a BFA in graphic design next year. I promise that your classes will get better once you get to the higher level classes because the projects are way more fun and the professors tend to loosen up on project requirements so we have more creative freedom. I wish you the best and you're doing great! :)
Ah yes, the art school bummer moments. I see myself in you. I went to art school with great skills and a drive to do something with them. As they kept giving me more and more projects that had nothing to do with my speciality, I questioned why I was wasting my time. I eventually came to the same realizations you did, as in, why am I here, what does this have to do with anything, and am I wasting my time?
I spent more time trying to make it work, transferring to another school that I hoped would give me better projects, but it only made me feel as if it was out of my league. I eventually dropped out and decided to only do art as a side hustle/hobby.
Art schools really tend to just beat the fun out of actually doing art. The time I wasted and the skills I eventually lost in the process was not worth the experience of art school. You have such great skills with painting your self-portraits, and I hope with all my heart that this school won’t take it from you.
Hey! I'm a RISD Grad. I cannot begin to imagine how difficult it must be to balance foundation year with all the content you create. That being said, I think you are on an amazing tragectory. You have a very valuable asset (your following), and I believe your work's conceptual aspect could benefit immensely from the last 3 years in the painting department. You have incredible skill, and RISD can help you to figure out how to use it. Good luck on your journey and it does get so much easier!
What you're feeling is entirely normal, especially as a first-year student. It's easy to compare yourselves to others, to see others having fun, but trust me, on the inside, most are just as confused and anxious as you feel.
I was not an art student, my degree is in English literature, but I still remember how terrible I felt...most of my college career. I had fun, of course. But the imposter syndrome is real. I felt as if, "What am I doing here?" most of my days.
I would try to make it through your first year at the very least, and then see how you feel after. Just know what your feeling is really, really normal and school is hard...really, really hard.
I also thought of dropping out several times, but I'm glad I stuck through.
Each year will have its own challenges.
But I'm just a stranger on the internet.
Art School is without a doubt the most hellish thing I've been through. It's the most soulless, depressing stuff
this was genuinely so refreshing, you’re so relatable. i’m in college as well (not art school tho) but i certainly understand being overwhelmed and feeling like this is a waste of time & money! def subscribed, your art is incredible.
the art school struggle is REAL. The homesickness also hits different when you just spend so many hours staring at the same project, wishing your family was there to hype you up. I'm in my final year of animation school, and yeah, I still think about how much calmer my life would be if I majored in the humanities. But at the end of the day, I can't see myself NOT doing art.
It's so valid to be questioning "is this worth it". ESPECIALLY when you start to feel isolated and burnt out. Even as a senior, I'm still asking that. I'm sure there's something somewhere out there for us, so just know that a fellow art student is rooting for you from across the country
that charcoal animation would've killed me. the random projects really make you question your existence like why-
i really love your honesty in your art school vlogs, i’m currently a junior in hs with my dream school being risd, and seeing your experience with it so far is really helping me out! you’re insanely talented and doing amazing so far, we believe in you!!
As a first year student of art college myself, I totally relate to the massive amounts of workload from the professors and how we have to do seemingly 'unrelated' assignments for our major. I've heard upper classmen say that it gets easier for your second year since you can choose electives and the profs push so much work on you right now because it is your foundational year. If you really are planning on dropping out, I'd say wait until the second year to consider ToT. You've got this! Your hard work will surely pay off!
if art school is anything like architecture school (which by this video it seems like it very much is) then the first year is the weed out year. I know everything is horrible right now, but it's sadly supposed to be. They want people to drop out and only the "dedicated few" to make it to second year. From my experience 2-4 year have been much harder, but I enjoyed it SO much more because it related more to what I actually signed up for. Like I said, could be completely different, but that's my take based on this video and following along with you on instagram reels :) either way everything will work out no matter how it feels right now.
Wow lol. So.. Schooling is literally like “pay us $100k so we can bully you and make you develop mental illnesses so we can see if you’re ’dedicated enough?’” Man-
I love how honest and real you are, especially about hating it. I feel like I'm hating it right there with you. Seriously, please never stop being you.
thank u so much, genuinely appreciate it :) 🫶
Hey Camila, from one artist to another I would offer this advice to help: Ask yourself “What am I going to college for?” Is to get better at art, or is it to get a degree? If it’s to get better at art, then I would definitely say college is not worth it. There are so many things that you can learn free and for way cheaper online (RUclips, Skillershare, etc) rather than art school. I’ve learned so many things that I use all of the time from RUclips, and I feel like that’s what we need, things that we are actually going to use. On the other hand, if you’re going to get a degree then first ask yourself, “ How am I going to use this degree and what type of job do I want?” For me, I want to get my bachelors degree in graphic design so that I can have a study and stable job. Then once I build a following on social media and can see myself living off of online profit, then I can transition to that full time. So if you know what you want to do then keep sticking it out. And while you are enduring, keep the goal in mind so that you can keep on going. And ask yourself, “What are my goals?”
I really hope this helped and remember that you’re not alone ❤
This is excellent advice!
I’m not even in art school but those questions are really good to consider, I too want to go into graphic design and hope to have a stable career in it.
generally, i would agree, however as someone that goes to risd the sheer amount of improvement/growth i’ve seen in the work of basically all of my peers has been MIND-BLOWING, especially in fine arts majors!! they sure are good at building high end gallery/exhibiting artists lol.
that being said - when it comes to doing fine art specifically for a career, you absolutely do not need a degree. however, it definitely helps (and not just for the connections, frequent exhibitions and other opportunities) just being in that environment where you can discuss ways of developing your ideas in a really refined, well-researched/considered way with people that are capable, very educated/knowledgeable, and absolutely invested in having these deeper discussions about your work and line of thinking with you is such a rare and valuable resource. It’s a massive privilege. You learn ways of integrating your personal observations/experiences about life/existence into your specific craft, while also grounding your work in broader cultural narratives and contexts - which is something that is *really* difficult to learn in a one sided way like watching online tutorials. That dedicated community/peer engagement is so hard to find outside of art school. You can absolutely teach yourself a craft, how to draw anatomically correct figures, how to use specific software, or any other technical (and usually more ‘employable’) skill, but those supposedly ‘softer’ skills - like how to synthesize and grow your ideas into something which physically exists and successfully communicates what you’re trying to say - is something that almost anyone will struggle to do on their own. You need to have that dialogue somehow, art school is the easiest way to access it.
Pratt Grad here, freshman year foundations are brutal, but I really recommend sticking it through. Junior and senior years are filled with freedom. It's worth it!
Someone once said that if you love art, don't go to art school, they'll ruin you.
That is bad advice
This was true, took me like 3 years to get my love of art and creativity back. I walked away feeling relieved it was over, not proud that i finished it. I been through some crazy stuff in my life, i consider myself to be pretty tough, but art school fucking broke me XD
i gotta disagree tbh, im an animation student and im enjoying the learning process (even though it has made me pull so many all-nighters... dont recommend THAT)
True as certain man once got rejected and joined politics are rest is history 🌚
Completely depends on the artist and the school.
tbh even if you're going for a STEM, law, or whatever degree you still have those entry-level, nonsense base requirement classes that you gotta push through. it sucks all around but i hope it goes quickly for you!
hahahhaha oh god … im 5 years out of art school and watching this is bringing back memories. if u got a good scholarship DO NOT DROP OUT!!!!!!!! these vlogs r great… it Will get easier.. all this stuff is normal … and u can do it 😐👍
The first year of art school sucks. you get a lot of dumb assignments that look and are dumb af!! BUT some students need those tasks at the beginning. Later on you will get more freedom and start experimenting. I almost dropped out my first year but I'm so glad I didn't!!!
Art school graduate here 👋 From my experience, every freshman year of any art school is filled with random ahh ahh tasks and assignments, sorta like a 'hazing'. It does well to introduce fundamentals to students of all levels and also make them *really* question themselves on whether or not they want to continue.
The like-minded (or polarising), passionate people tend to stay, dont worry. And you'll have more fun focusing on specilization later on.
oh honey ur not alone I'm also a freshman in art school and absolutely going thru it :((
It's ok tho I'm gonna be fine and u will too
I went to art school from 2012-2015, at VCU. I felt like the majority of what I was "learning" was so pointless. It made me feel like I was wasting time and money. I wanted to be doing what I felt were real art assignments and that wasn't the case most of the time. And I felt like what we were being asked to do would never be applied outside of art foundation. After AFO it did get a little better, but I didn't finish my last year. You have to go with your gut. You are incredibly talented. My art style is like yours. I like realism, portraits, etc. You don't need college to make it. I'll be 31 in Feb and I'm not sorry I gave up on art school. But I know people that have really benefitted from seeing it through. Think it depends on the person (personality), what kind of art you make, what field you want to go into, etc!
Making art isn't a waste of time. Every piece of art you make, even if it doesn't succeed or isn't your preferred subject/medium/whatever, teaches you something. In your heart of hearts if you want to keep making what you already make then it might make sense to drop out, so you don't spend all that money on school (and that RISD money is no joke). But if you do want to stay, you will end up growing as an artist.
I’m a junior in the Bachelor of Fine Arts program at my school so I can’t exactly speak on “art school” but it feels pretty close… I will say I struggle too with burnout and feeling like what I’m doing is a waste of time, especially with assignments like that. But, the more time passes I realize it’s a test of personal truth, integrity, and creativity… (also collaborative skills)… They want to teach new skills of course but also help you grow, so they push you hard to challenge your creativity. For me, it helps me think bigger with my ideas, concepts, etc. I feel like in a lot of ways art school is a test of “how can I be better and push myself to think more creatively and make an assignment more ME?”
So, a good teacher will always appreciate you “breaking the rules” so to speak…
I’ve considered dropping out many times but just wanted to share what I think about during the hard times!! Don’t let the weight crush you… use it to fuel your creativity and make things that excite you 💖
Honestly I would drop out if it’s effecting your mental health in this way. Also 88k a year is OD!
You have options to get a different degree, work a job, continue RUclips, etc.
But if you stay, the views that you get from college videos could help cover tuition if you’re paying it. Also could help your business
I graduated from art school last year, and I'm still a bit burnt out. I applied to grad schools, got into one, and every day I'm grateful that I listened to my gut and took a gap year (which is now turning into probably a forever gap year, but I'm okay with that).
Listen to your gut! Life's too short to be suffering and having breakdowns everyday. I know school gives you structure and somewhat of a defined future, and not knowing what the future looks like is terrifying, but slowly hating the things you used to enjoy is so much worse.
I'm a junior in a different art school! It's actually really normal to feel burnt out and like you're not getting anywhere those first 2 years, the foundation classes are awful and you either already know the material or you hate it. It's inconvenient, but it does sometimes help, just most of the time, not so much. I think it's normal to hate the first year of an art curriculum, I actually changed my major and minor quite a bit through this time, before I finally started enjoying what I was doing! It's a pain, it's a grind, it's tedious and so awful for your well being sometimes, but depending on what you want out of it, it can get better! Overall, trust yourself, if you need a break, take one! Most schools give you time to take a break (at least mine does), but overall- your health should still be your priority. You're spending a lot of money, you deserve to find your happy place too! If it doesn't work, it happens, but it's not the end of the world either, and sometimes something else may be better. You can do this! 💛
As someone who went through foundation classes as a freshman too, I assure you that once you start your major classes (was the start of sophomore year for me) you will enjoy what you're doing a lot more. if you don't, maybe rethink what it is you want to major in! I believe in u
I’m 39, graduated with an ID degree, and have been an employed designer ever since. I did that same charcoal animation project 20 years ago when I was a freshman and NEVER used that knowledge. Your concerns are VERY valid. How on earth will that prepare you for the workforce? Sometimes I think art school is a scam. Please check what graduates in your degree are doing now. If they are not successfully employed I think switching majors would be a good call.
she isn’t in a major yet. she’s in her foundation year - hence the weird random projects.
I meant to add that this is the time where many students will drop out, we called it The Weeding Out Year. I know so many that dropped out and I know for a fact that many regretted it. Some actually came back! You’re in one of The Toughest Art Colleges in the US. Not saying where I went or anywhere else isn’t, but we called RISD the Ivy League of Art Colleges. You can do this!!!
i feel like most people in the comments are people who stuck it out, so let me give you the perspective of someone who DID drop out:
i went to an art school for fine art, and felt EXACTLY the same way you did. "i feel like everyone is having way more fun than me, what else would i be doing if not this?" but honestly i was only in the program because i didnt know what i wanted to do with my future, and my parents wouldnt let me do anything but uni. so i intermitted, and it was the best decision of my life. i took two years to figure out what i truly wanted to do and i wouldnt have it any other way. im a completely different person now, and i dont even draw anymore but im getting ready to go back into uni and switch courses to what suits me better.
you are so talented in what you do but you remind me SO much of myself, you have potential in anything you want to do but you just need time to yourself to figure out what you need and what you want. not what suits you best in this current moment. i just wanted to provide an alternative perspective, and i hope you do whats best for you, best of luck ❤️
what are you switching to?
@@mivical architecture! i went to several career advisors and they told me that all my strengths, hobbies and interests align with architecture, design, building and illustration.
Looking back, the idea of a college with so many project proposals is to get students to get closer to these processes and understand for themselves how to produce their ideas. It is generally in these spaces that students discover what they like and especially what they don't like. In my opinion, you already know what you like, you flow naturally with self-portraits, it's what you have fun with. This is what you will probably explore as an artist when you leave college. This feeling that you are wasting time could be because you know that you could be using this time to develop something along the lines of self-portraits, which you do very well. Sasha Gordon also only does self-portraits and does incredible work. College is interesting for many reasons, but it steals a few years of your life by forcing you to do things you don't want to do and that also has its positive side, I would say.
Camila, I left my college in August due to severe anxiety and I’m living with that regret daily. Try to stick it out. I wish I did and I hope you do!
If you feel you’re not learning anything new, it’s because you’re not learning anything new. As a fellow painter, I will tell you that you don’t need them. You already have the talent and knowledge. They’re just going to give you critiques (some biased) and call it teaching. Unless you have a scholarship and most of the materials are provided by the school, then I would recommend that you quit. A degree doesn’t guarantee a job. You should try thinking about what you want to do in the future. Do you want to keep making art? Then earn money either through a job related to art (sell paintings/art through the internet or auctions, create art content and post it in social media, become an art tutor, etc) or a regular job (minimum wage or get an associate degree and maybe get a job with a higher salary). Either way, you already got the talent and experience, so use it to your advantage.
As a college dropout take it from me that it would be much wiser to take a gap semester or even gap year if needed to be able to focus on self growth and gaining more work experiences. That way it’s much easier to return. Once you drop out it’s a lot more difficult to return to your institution. Additionally, taking a gap semester gives you times to be able to focus on your art without deadlines so you can regain your passion and be ready for academics again. ✨
I started art school in September and your experience felt literally the same as mine, I’m so glad to know someone I look up to a lot as an artist is just as "normal" and human as me. Hope it gets better for you we’re in this together
Camila I am a freshman at a different art school, and I totally understand everything you are going through. Please stick it out you are incredibly talented and resilient you got this
As someone who is a sophomore currently in art college I can tell you that honestly finding the right fit for you is rough. Sometimes people just benefit more not going to art college and realize it’s not for them. So many schools have different ways to go about teaching. Who knows maybe if you do stick around till the next year you’ll find yourself really enjoying it! I’ve had some classmates transfer to different schools because it didn’t fit what they wanted out of an art school. Getting into the art world and finding what’s best is completely personal and different to every person. There’s no shame in looking into different schools and seeing if they fit better with you and how you want your experience to be. It’s all about if you’re not just enjoying what you are doing but also feeling confident that your getting your moneys worth.
I absolutely get what you mean, the considering to drop out, the doubts, insecurities, fears, not enjoying what you should be loving cuz dammit its art its supposed to be enjoyed not suffered through, and just general aaaaaaa feelings. I get them too, felt them real hard this semester at art college. Legit not learning anything, hardly critiques, hardly classes, but also I’m not good for anything else. Yeah I feel u gurl. Had so many breakdowns this year I’m taking a semester break. And bro, I’m like, practically a fourth year. I struggle
Your realness in these vlogs is so comforting to see especially because lately I have been hitting a wall and feeling burn out and overall just melancholy with schoolwork and college applications so watching these makes me feel like I’m not alone and that it’s ok to be sad sometimes. Best of luck staying on that art school grind, we’re all rooting for you!
you commenting made me feel less alone, so thank you!!
Girl I was doing fine arts in Spain, in my hometown Seville. Then I moved for Erasmus to England and started doing all in their way (that reminds me of what you've showed in the vlog) and OMG I hated it. The Erasmus was supposed to be one year and I lasted less than 6 months. In Seville we did 6h of class per day. We learned ALL THE FUNDAMENTALS like we had live drawing sessions with models, then we also sculpted, and we learn perspective, but it was all super technical and easy-to-follow. Then I arrived to the UK and there was less than 2h of class per day, they were all so abstract, too free, it felt like nothing made sense. You were paying money to do WHATEVER and WHATEVER was ok. If I want to take a photo of a ball of cereal then it is ok. I understood what they were trying to do but it made me angry cause I wanted to be a good painter, a good drawer, a good artist. Sometimes, creativity and crazy or random works mean nothing if there is not a solid classic knowledge in the back. In Seville, only in the last two years, we started doing more actual subjects. Performance, illustration, digital art... but only after two years of drawing hands and feets and bodies and faces and perspectives you know.
Girl you are giving yourself a foundation for the art world. And your art is freaking incredible. Like you said trust the process. You are so talented , don’t waste it. My best bud went to school for 8 years and when he got out he couldn’t get a job but eventually he landed his dream job doing art and he loves it.
I’m going to art school to improve my drawing skills and to learn how to animate. Once I realized that for myself I tried to take as much as I could from all of my classes. I would suggest to really think about the reasons you want to continue art school. Are you doing it for a degree, because you want to learn, etc.? try to find a reason and justify it, if you can’t, maybe art school isn’t it, there are jobs for artists that you don’t need a degree for.
I hope your experience gets better. I'm currently attending a university that has a art program (It's a little different than art school) and I love it so much. I would recommend looking into other options if you really aren't having a good time. I know RISD is this big art school and it's supposed to be amazing but it's okay if it isnt the right fit for you. I thought about applying to art schools when I was transferring from my community college but im glad I didnt. The university I'm going to right now has a good but small art program. I know all my professors and classmates. It's nice and a much better fit for me :)
Also artprof could be helpful for you. The person who runs it Clara used to teach at risd. She really helped me a lot when I was looking into schools :)
I dropped out of school a month in so I’m proud of you for continuing despite your doubts. If you ever decide it’s not for you that’s okay. Dont beat yourself up over it
The first year always random. It gets better! Or try another field within art&design that you’re interested in to learn something new
I think some self awareness that the program is a little ~~toxic~~ is healthy and reasonable. It strikes me as a stereotypical art school weeding out the weak crap. Are you really lucky to be there if you feel miserable? My advice, graduating with an art degree, now working as an art teacher, getting my teaching certificate at the same time is do NOT let this program kill something you love. There are lots of jobs out there and if it ends up making more sense for your life to make art and do something else for work to fund that endeavor, that is totally okay. If the program makes you miserable and you start resenting your field of study I would take that as a sign to drop out, take a gap year and transfer to another program. You are not even 20 yet. Really, there is not much you can do at your age that is set in stone. There is always room to make a change if needed
I relate to you honestly. I'm not in an art college. I'm studying psychology and I, as you said, expected it to be fun and stuff and not doubt myself and what I'm doing and what I will be doing with what I acquire from what I'm doing here
I too had mental breakdown after breakdown and considered dropping. Thennn I remembered why I came here in the first place. And then I remembered that we shouldn't take things too seriously and try having a good time as much as we can
My God, your story is so relatable, I wish you the best and don't forget to also take care of yourself!! Work always comes after your wellbeing :> 💗💗
So… would you recommend psychology?
@@inferno8070 if you are deeply interested in this topic and want to work in this field, yes. if you just want to learn things, you better not bother getting into a university/college. there are lots of resources online these days from which you can learn pretty much everything you want to know
I personally follow this road because, first I am interested in psychology a lot and thought being taught on this topic would motivate me to actually learn something, and second, I might want to work in this field in the future. I'm still unsure though :"")
I hope this covered up your question!
I was 2 years into an art degree when I switched to the jewelry making program at my school. I’m now in class 32+ hours a week but I’m so much happier and feel so much calmer about the future compared to when I was going for an art degree. Not that jewelry making is for everyone, it’s stressful as fuck, but also a reminder that art is a broad spectrum and never be afraid to take a chance and try something different!!
YOUR FEELING ABOUT CLASS IS EXACTLY HOW I FEEL RIGHT NOW! I'm studying cartooning at SVA and I feel like I'm not as fulfilled/learning at my full potential than I was last year !!! I haven't produced a portfolio piece in six months!!! PLUS THE PRICE??? It's a struggle girly
i loooooved art as a child + growing up, i was and am still a really creative person. but the minute i decided to take art class was when my imposter syndrome started. a lot of other ppl had such better abilities than me and it was really difficult to finish the course especially when i got into disagreements with my teacher. i always felt art in school ripped me of my creativity and limited me to one medium or one concept such as doing a pencil skull drawing or idk fine line of a building and it was never my thing bc it was sooooo boring and restrictive. even disliking the teacher would make someone disregard the subject as a whole bc i always felt judged for my style of art and felt i had to do everything in a way my teacher would like it, not me.
i totally understand if you're suffering a burnout / imposter syndrome and if you would just prefer to make a living out of selling commissions and putting your work up in galleries, i'm 100% sure with your platform, perseverance and talent you will be successful in art. but do not let anyone kill your passions. being in a competitive atmosphere is not easy, but you got this.
The first year at risd is the hardest you got this I’ve had a ton of friends go there and they all say the first year is rough but you can do this I believe in you
yo i went to risd and the first semester is absolutely the hardest. id encourage you to stick with it, if only bc the opportunity to make stuff all the time and the people you meet are invaluable. theres no shame in dropping out. if thats whats right for you thats whats right. but if its comforting: this is the tallest hurdle. foundation year is really hard. it DOES cool down after that
(also, prov is great; i graduated and then moved here lol. if you do drop out spend some time exploring rhode island before you go home hahaha)
Wow... I graduated with a BFA in 1994 and THIS shite is real! The word I privately used for personal critiques is complementique... folks just want to hear how great their work was and not honest input.
COMPLIMENTIQUE HAHAHAHA I’m totally going to start using that
i felt like that as a freshman too. Literally deciding whether to transfer, dropout, quit film forever, etc... it was a lot, i stuck it through and that ended up being okay. i hope after ur first year you're able to decide too!! u got this
art school was the worst experience of my life. genuinely been considering therapy to talk thru what happened there. im doing better now and the degree got me the job i have now but i wouldve done something else knowing what i know now 100%
Just curious, what do you work as now and what path would you have done instead?