Should you go to COLLEGE for ART? | An Illustrator's Thoughts (+ Draw with Me!)

If you want to be an illustrator, do you need to go to art school? In this video, we'll do some painting and talk about my thoughts as a children's book illustrator on going to art school.

ARTISTS MENTIONED IN VIDEO

[elimo]

This video is really insightful both your art college experiences and your drawing and painting technique. These apples are way too adorable! Although you can learn a lot as a self-taught artist and illustrator with all the information out there, there is something the schools can do and that is both training different techniques, hopefully some good teachers who can inspire and you automatically get contacts in the industry by knowing people that you meet at the school. I have a background as an animator and production design and went to school for both. Unfortunately the teachers I thought were good or inspiring could be counted on one hand, and it was when we were doing internships that I learned the most. Totally agree that these schools are completely oblivious to the idea that their students must learn about the industry from a financial perspective and how they can have a sustainable professional life afterwards. Total lack thereof, I really hope it has changed. Over the years, I shifted around in the industry, which meant that I never got to know a skill in depth. Often I suffered from low self-esteem as well as impostor syndrome. In the end, I completely made a change of industries and now work as a teacher, among other things, with art as one of my subjects. In hindsigt I probably should have applied for a screenwriting degree, as I love storytelling and that was the general factor in my attraction to animation, film and illustration. This year I have now decided to take my art seriously again and work on it next to my job. I also want to finish writing stories that I have lying in the drawer, for instance I have a YA-novel that I want to send to a publisher.

[amandacanny]

TIME REALLY FLIES WHEN YOU'RE FLOATING IN DEBT 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[james.t.jeffers]

i loved this! i went to school for graphic design and EVERYONE in my class was like... "why don't you get into illustration!? you use so much illustration in your work!" and i was so stubborn and was like NO!! then i graduated and realized i hated graphic design and did a hard pivot into learning how to get better at illustration. now after 12 years, i am getting some dream jobs with my illustrations and it just fills me with so much happiness! did i learn some amazing things in graphic design? yes. but theres so much ive learned from youtube, other illustrators, and good ol google lol. its been a long road to get where i am now but i loved the things ive learned on the journey! ALSO i love these cutie apples 🍎🍏

[allia]

I’m seriously having the best morning over here watching you create these lil apple friends and wishing I could talk back to you through the screen. First of all, watching you draw and paint and color is…CHEF’S KISS. TOP TIER RELAXING AND SATISFYING. Literally how??? Do you know??? Where to put the colors and what it’ll look like when you start???? You just have such beautiful visions and you just go and do and you make it seems so effortless. And also number 2, i loved hearing your musings on school. I felt the same way about the business aspect of theatre school- it’s nonexistent. While technique and art is important, we also need to know HOW to have careers in these fields. Ok much more to talk about can’t wait to do so bye!!

[samiaselene]

Love this video, I relate to so much of what you said! I have two art degrees and the business side was hardly/never talked about. I found it really really frustrating. I could talk forever about how disconnected art education seems from the real world.

Please make more videos! This was so soothing and lovely to sketch with :)

[alliekroeper]

I had to keep rewinding the video because I kept getting caught up in the wonderful insights you provided AND I got caught up in watching your illustration techniques! Beautiful video all around ❤💚 Also, I love how the green apple was sour in flavor and expression :p

[draizys]

Lmfao ! It really has been a long time since college XD

P.s i love your videos!

[themightierpencil]

Sometimes I wish I had gone to art school, but you also made me feel glad I didn’t lol.