Strickly Art

Advice to those who want to be fine artists:

Here's what I did: I went to UNC-CH, and although it's a lovely school with an excellent reputation, in the art department I encountered only two professors who gave a damn about teaching REAL, DOWN 'N DIRTY ART. So if you're going to college for fine art, pick one that has a HUGE rep for artistic excellence. Talk to some of the graduates -- those who've achieved solid careers after their education. A little time spent researching before you start school can save you wasted years.

Also check out exactly what the art market is and how it matches your life goals (you have taken an hour or two to figure those out and write them down, haven't you?): How many artists working full time at their art are making the kind of money you're interested in or that will support you? How much time do they put into their careers? Will there be the kind of time left over for whatever kind of life you want in addition to your art?

After my initial BFA, I went to ECU, well-known for its commercial art department and — yes, this was back in the days of stone knives and bearskins, well before the personal computer — earned a degree that kept me steadily employed for the next few decades. (I have yet to see a graphic designer who came from a community college know the "why" of what they're doing or demonstrate a real grasp of art and marketing basics, so caveat emptor. And YCCMV: your community college may vary.There may be good ones out there. There are certainly good and even great individual courses to be found in community colleges.)

As my Midlife Crisis hit (slamming against my skull! Don't laugh; it'll happen to you if it hasn't already) I decided that I desperately needed fine art in my life. By then I was writing and one day I couldn't write. Instead I felt compelled to paint a canvas with light blue paint. Weird? You bet! But once I'd dug out an old canvas, found my paints and brushes and it was done -- ahh! I could write again! But now I also needed to paint.

What did I do? I returned to painting using what knowledge I'd picked up over the years (which included a childhood of Walter Foster books, of course. You use what you can find). The universe now led me to the very first "Art of the Carolinas," sponsored by Jerry's Artarama just down the road in Raleigh. It was LOADED with workshops. For about $500 for a workshop-filled weekend, I could get as much fine art education as I got during a couple of years at Carolina.

I also tried out a workshop I'd seen advertised again and again in the classified section of Artists Magazine. Because it had appeared so often, I figured it must be legit. When the artist, Tony Couch, came to North Carolina just down the road from where my parents live, I signed up for a week-long course. Again (without lodging & food) this was about $500, and on one morning alone when Tony invited the beginners in the class to a lecture on art basics, I learned more than I had in college. Astounding!

Jerry's has the occasional weekend (or sometimes weeklong) art class from visiting artists, and of course there's the annual Art of the Carolinas, which brings in amazingly big name artists, most of whom are terrific teachers. This is what I'd recommend for art students. If you can't afford one of the courses, take a stroll around the trade floor where artists are giving free demonstrations using the latest materials. (Wait until Sunday afternoon to buy! Bring cash for the best bargains.)

Don't have a Jerry's nearby? There's Cheap Joes if you live in the NC mountains, which also has the smaller courses as well as an annual art spectacular. A few of the larger cities across the US are also beginning to host such trade shows/workshop events. Check out Artists Magazine as well as International Artist Magazine for listings of artists coming to where you live. (Make sure first that they're legit and that they offer the kind of art you're interested in.) Jerry's has VOD art courses. International Artists always has a section of instructional DVDs, which Artists Magazine also carries as part of various ads. Run a search at SmartFlix.com to see if they carry any workshops you're interested in. Rental for those DVDs are something like $10/week.

Have you checked with your local arts council to see what's offered in your area? What, you're not sure if you have a local arts council? Google is your friend. If you don't have a local arts council, you certainly have a state or provincial one.

And if you're not afraid, if you're not a shopaholic, North Light Book Club is well worth a look. They're set up as a negative option operation, so watch out if you're not organized. Somehow early in the game I got off that with them, which means I don't have to send in the card every month but don't receive uninvited books. Most of their books are terrific and loaded with info that you can immediately use in your own paintings. On their website they often include a "look inside" feature so you can check a good portion of the books before you buy. Though the original book prices are sometimes a bit steep, if you wait a while they'll go on sale. You can also build up "bonus points" to purchase a book just with points. Note: if you pay when you order, you don't pay postage and handling. I've spent all too much $$$ on my North Light books and I've gotten not just a mountain but an entire mountain range of enjoyment out of them.

Good luck, and get painting!

This site and all images and text on it, unless noted otherwise, is copyright Carol A. Strickland.