Did I go to art school? My thoughts about it.

Did I go to art school? Is it necessary for a career? My thoughts!

How I became a full time self employed artist:

I am an artist residing in sunny, warm [humid] florida! My paintings are heavily inspired by nature and its beauty. I work primarily in oil, and sometimes watercolor. The vast majority of what I share here on youtube involves my creation process: paintings, drawings, time lapses, tips, and occasionally artist vlogs, where I share bits of my life as an artist. Creating art is my greatest passion and I'm thankful for the chance to share it with you. ♥

☾ My Links:

Painting Time Lapses | mostly oil and some watercolor:

⋆ Sketchbook Sunday | Casual series where I make sketches in my moleskine and chat with you about various art-related topics:

⋆Art help, tips, painting tutorials for beginners:

⋆Lena's Art Diary | Vlog series where I share some of my life. Travels, adventures, art museums, galleries, nature, food, at-home work days, etc:

Music:

[joannenicole]

The beautiful thing about the modern world with You Tube and Patreon, the whole world is an art school and you can chose your teachers.

[KCnthehoop]

I went to art school, and can honestly say it is not necessary. You obviously have the talent - but more importantly, the drive, to succeed in art. Those are two things that school can't give you. And arguably, it can take your drive away. I was so burnt out when I graduated, I didn't paint for the first 5 years out. Not to mention, the expense. You're rad Lena, keep it up!

[willwoods]

"Art is better when the rules are broken." -Lena Dayna 2017

[unidragonia]

I feel like I can relate. Before I started painting I went to college for 4 years and got a degree in business thinking that I could be a manager and eventually take on my own business. Not only was their nothing in my field open around me, the company I work for won't help/let me move out of my current position because they say that I am to valuable. After being frustrated and depressed I started painting again and now I am trying to use my degree to start my own business. You are a huge inspiration to me and one of the reasons why I decided to do it! Thank you!

[aoifedillon]

i relate!!! people always ask me why i';m not at uni or why i''m not doing an art degree if i want to be an artist, this is exactly what i needed to hear!! so refreshing to see someone spreading the message that there's more than one path to success & happiness <3 <3

[Leontinevanvliet]

I attempted art school. I already was at a semi professional level and all we did the first weeks was being taught how a kneaded eraser worksXD. Now I am a full time artist. I think it was a good decision to drop out of art school and figure out my own path. I think i would've lost my passion if I had finished school.

[Prairiejoyyy]

American tuition fees are insane. I'm doing my BFA in Canada and it's $20, 000 for the entire degree... $100, 000 is ridiculous! I can do both my BFA and my MFA here for almost half of that. I wouldn't have even entertained the idea of art school if that was the price I was looking at.

I really appreciate your perspective, Lena! Art school has been a wonderful experience for me but I agree that postsecondary schools/instructors can be hit or miss. I had a prof last semester that nearly drove me to drop out because she was so brutal, but I took an opportunity to study abroad for this current semester and I've been revitalized :)

My advice to anyone considering art school (or currently in art school) is to make sure that you don't lose sight of what YOU want, because it's very easy to take everyone's criticism and suggestions to heart when you're surrounded by it everyday... Like Lena said, a lot of art school grads have work that looks exactly the same and this is why that happens. The best artists are the ones that do what they want, when they want, and how they want. You need to maintain your independence.

[afish]

It fully depends on what art you want to do, your financial situation and how much drive you got. I went to art school and it fully gave me the drive, work ethic, and network. Art school teaches you how to present and talk about your work, how to make art that merges aesthetic and concept, how to create a body of work successfully, and gives you a network of other artists that you can always rely on. HOWEVER art school is not necessary, it makes being an artist easier but most art schools are very very expensive and I cannot in good conscious recommend it if it is at great financial cost.

[JustMeowMeow]

i relate to this sooo badly, im struggling with depression too and i want to do art as a living aswell, thanks so much for sharing this really inspired me

[shumakerart]

You are so inspiring! I had a very similar experience with community college. I remember the last semester I was there, my school accidentally dropped my courses out of nowhere. I had to pay them $100... for their mistake! At that point I didn't even like what I was studying to do and I was always rushing school work so I could do my art at the end of the day. I remember around this time I discovered your videos and I felt I had hope... Thank you for being amazing and sharing your story!

[balzac]

I am glad you are not depressed anymore. Art is a happyness fuel, without it I am dead.

[orlafriend]

Your sketchbook Sundays inspired me to draw more. I paint sooo much with acrylics, I was scared of oil but now I'm starting to become more confident! Thank you

[sandrasala]

OMGGGG!!! I lived in Tampa for 6 years and had to transfer OUT of that school. I know EXACTLY the one you are talking about, hahaha! I thought I was going crazy when all that was going on. All I wanted was to do art, and they completely deterred me from doing what I love. I have had the hardest time coming back to it, but thanks to artists like you and the many others I found on YouTube, the passion can be freed and I can enjoy what I love again. Thank you for sharing this! Love it :)

[rosieking]

If I ever heard anyone speak my mind and feelings on art and creativity, that's you Lady. I went to art school and I just got here from your TedTalk. I went to art school and with your personality (which I think I share with you) I don't think you missed much because most people I know that I went to school with came out exactly you described you didn't wanna be as... Now I'm here on your channel looking for inspiration on being 'self taught' and let my creativity flow... Wow. Love you.

[Najash]

Thanks for talking about this.
I feel 100% identified with what you think.
I noticed that many artists that I follow on YouTube did NOT go to an art school.
I personally didn't want to go because I realized that I can learn on my own.
The academic world makes me sick. It's not for me.
(But I also respect those who go to university, is their decision)

THANK YOU LENA!

[__Jessica]

On the topic of talking about art school I was talking about you to my art teacher and how I was really inspired by how you love to paint water and people in water and that's what I wanted to paint for myself portrait. and when she asked me to show your channel I was super excited because you're such a talented artist and artists like you really make me strive to challenge myself when I'm painting! :)) 💙💙

[michaelnorton]

Haven't seen a whole lot of your art but I do like what I've seen. Keep up the GREAT work

[robertlocklear]

i love your art clearly you didn't need to go to art school. your work is truly amazing.

[AngieShawkyArt]

A very inspirational, open-minded view on art school and art in general. It really shows you the flaw of the education system, and people doing things just because society told them to.
I personally tried extremely hard to go into a local art college in my country but unfortunately it was not a money problem (it is actually very cheap) but it was a education system problem; where you'd need to get a specific overall grade number to go to a certain college and I was 3.5 marks off and couldn't go.
However, I don't think I will every give up on my art.
Love you Lena ❤❤

[tabathalendquvist-grace]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I struggled with these same issues through my undergraduate college studio art degree program and even in my MFA program, and I still struggle with many of these issues as an art instructor at a University. You make several valid points, and I think you are lending support to many young artists out there who want to continue making but also do not want to go into debt. Thank you for sharing!