Those who try to discourage us

[Chuck Yokota]

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

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

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

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

[Michele Rushworth]

Ah, a true Renaissance man!

[Jean Kelly]

Well, this brings up some very nasty memories, and maybe it's time to write them down. My story may benefit someone else in a similar situation.

I was a big fish in a small pond, won every art award available and made all my plans to attend the Art Institute of Chicago. There seemed to be no problem as far as my father was concerned. Unfortunately I was unaware that my goal in life was to become a corporate wife, and my father had trained me well. I could mix a perfect martini by the time I was 15. When the time came to solidify and submit to the Art Institute I was told NO, and I rebelled. Left home and supported myself and attended a small community college. I tried to get scholarships or loans, but was told that my father made too much money and since I was under 21 was still technically under his big umbrella. I tried to get emanicipated and again my father refused to sign any papers stating that I was self-supporting. I finally gave up on any art schooling, had to make enough money to live, but I never went back to my father. Some day I may forgive him, but not yet. When he died many years ago I gave him a private send off.

I've done many other things since then, but have never been a corporate wife. I've missed the art so badly, and now am so glad to be back to it. My current husband supports me totally and is my angel on my shoulder. When I started back painting three years ago I never thought I would come so far so fast, and I credit this forum for it all.

It's possible that my life experiences have made me a better artist, but sometimes I really wish that I had been able to find a way to incorporate formal art more into my life. When looking back I do realize that I was compelled to be creative though, and it sometimes got me in trouble (I could write a book)!

For anyone else who is in a similar situation I say, find a way to fight for what you need to do, and if you get roadblocks charge through them.

Recently I saw my stepmother and showed her my portfolio, she started crying and stated, "Your father would be so proud, and your mother too." This was the first time she ever made any reference to my mother (she died when I was 15 after a long illness). That felt really good.

Jean

[Kimberly Dow]

I didnt see an answer that fit my situation, so here is my comments:

I always drew and painted since I was a small child. I won awards in school and was in demand in my small town in NH. I always knew I'd be an artist and everyone around me was supportive of it.

I moved out at 17 for other reasons, but because of that it was easy to get student loans (not that my mother had any money - she was a waitress). I went to a close by University and they had some great instructors. I learned some basics, but was majoring in Art Education since I didnt know if I had what it took to be a fine artist. I soon saw I was one of the top students (and certainly the top at realism) - and I changed my degree to BFA. Alas - I only went for a year and a half before I got married. I was going to go back, but soon found my husband made too much money on paper to get any loans.

My mother, not a stupid woman, but lacking in formal education beyond high school was insistant I could not go to college since there was no money. She had no problem with me wanting to be an artist (she has always been in awe of my talent) - the thing she was shocked about was student loans - she never knew they existed. Onc I got them, she was extrememly proud.

Luckily I started working as a sales clerk in a gallery and they took my paintings and sold them one after the other for a few years. In those days I did still lifes only - I had never painted an interior or a portrait - it seems I only dared do fruit and flowers!

I do not know if finishing my degree would have helped me - but if I wanted to go back to school I would go to an classical realist school/atlier - not a University. I wish I had known about them back then!

[Allan Rahbek]

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

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

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

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

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


Allan

[Matthew Severson]

I feel incredibly spoiled after reading some of the posts in this thread. I have chosen art as my future career since I was 8 years old, and my parents have backed me up %100 - They even beg to pay for my art supplies.

If suffering is a requirement of becoming a great artist, I don't have a chance.

M.

[Mike McCarty]

If suffering is a requirement of becoming a great artist, I don't have a chance.

Patience, there will be other opportunities for suffering. Do you presently have a girlfriend?

[Matthew Severson]

Patience, there will be other opportunities for suffering. Do you presently have a girlfriend?

Hahahahaha, no I havent. (not officially)

Are you insinuating that girlfriends promote depression?.......don't answer that.

[David Bottoni]

Heidi, I am glad you started this thread. I am now able to see that my situation was not very isolated. Maybe I should have been more 'rebellious' against the advice of my counsellors and parents and listened to my art teachers, however, I think the underlying message I am seeing from everyone is to follow your passion for art no matter which road one takes or however long it may take. I basically came to the conclusion (only recently) that I should '**** the torpedoes' and do it. How many times have you heard someone tell you that you really couldn't make a living as an artist? Well I heard it a lot from many people, and only now, with age, do I realize that those people were ignorant. As far as education and formal training is concerned, I can only say that it is always more beneficial to have as much knowledge as possible, regardless if you use it or not. I have a degree in Labour Relations that has, to date, been useless as a career, but the has offered me knowledge that carries forth into other areas of life. At this point, I think I am beyond the allure academia and would rather take workshops and receive tidbits of advice from experienced artists. The struggle continues.

David

[Rob Sullivan]

In reading the replies here, it's easy to see that everyone has a different story with regard to the trials and tribulations of living the life of an artist.

No one (except Matthew, who admitted to it - and God bless you, Matthew!), has had it easy. There will always be lean times, detractors, and plain old artist's block. None of us are immune to these things. At these times, we feel very alone: I think I should hang it up for good - I'm not getting anywhere. I know I've thought this thought a few times.

I funded my own art training, and I'm still paying for it after graduating 11 years ago. I can't say I regret it, though. It was a fortunate thing that I found Marvin Mattelson. Of course, as encouraging as he was, he had other charges besides me. He couldn't replace my discouraging family, nor the poor environment that was fostered by it.

Despite that, I stuck with it. It has still yet to become a career, though I have made some money over the years. I got married, and my wife became the breadwinner. We had children. Things are now more difficult. That terrible thought (above) comes to mind again. The irony, and perhaps even saving grace is that it may be too late to quit. After illustrating, painting and drawing over the past 11 years, I have no other work history. What else would I do? What else CAN I do? I'm not qualified for anything else.

I still get the odd portrait commission, the once-in-awhile gallery show (with a rare sale), the every-so-often teaching gig. When these things happen, I feel like things might turn the corner. I feel truly happy, even if it is for a fleeting few days of optimism.

Of all the people who graduated in my class, I know of two who are painting. One is myself. The other is a very close friend of mine (why wouldn't he be, actually?) named Sean Beavers. We are both big fans of one another's work. Sean is moderately successful, but is destined for really big things in the near future. He is single, and his "non-art" obligations are fewer. More than that, his parents are huge champions of his career, and have been from the beginning.

I take note of that last sentence particularly. Not to pit it against my past, but rather as a lesson to be applied to the future. As I've said, I have children. Whatever they might do, I know now that their success hinges on my encouragement; not my wallet, not my aloof indifference, but by my sincere willingness to get behind their interests.

My oldest, a 6-year-old girl, knows that her daddy is an artist. Would I be doing her any favors in giving it up to (try) and get a "safe" job with "safe" money? The only thing she'd learn from that is: Don't pursue your dream, rather, sacrifice it in the name of (what we think is) security. Even her childlike mind knows what giving up means. She wouldn't be able to ride a bike if I didn't encourage her to get up off the ground and try again. Through tears from skinned knees, she did it - and the tears gave way to pure joy. I guess daddy needs to get up again, too.

Actually, Marvin told me something that bears quoting here (though I'm sure I'm paraphrasing): "The day you give up, the very next day might be the day of your big break."