Spin Cycle: Making a case for school

Welcome to the Spin Cycle, a new collaborative blog effort by Sprite's Keeper. This week's theme is "work." This can mean so many things that I have been spending the last few days brainstorming topic ideas that would not bore you to tears. This is especially hard, sice I haven't had a "real" job in years, and it could be debated that the paying jobs I did have didn't really qualify as real jobs either (I worked in a mascot costume factory for four and a half years and spent a year in college as a writing lab/political science tutor - see what I mean?).

There is a post that I have had floating in my head for a while that kind of fits the topic, so now is as good a time as any to post about it. My chosen "career" field is in studio art/fine arts. Six years ago, I decided to get a degree in said field, which takes a lot of work. I decided to get the degree for me, not because I needed it. I joked that, what would I really need a degree for as an artist, it's not like people would ask to see my degree before buying my paintings.

I now know that a degree is actually extremely beneficial, even to an artist. So I present to you my reasons artists can benefit by going to college (I was going to use these in a talk to a 4H art club to convince the kids to work toward college, but that fell through, and now I share them with you):

Reason the First: You will learn a lot. A good art program will give you experience in a diverse range of arts. I would never have thought about sculpture as a possibility if not for Les's sculpture and ceramic classes. It also used to be required at the university I am attending for art students to take a printmaking class. Printmaking is an amazing experience that I think all artists should have the opportunity to try at some point. There's also the art history classes, which, as I have mentioned, have given me a broader view of art and helped my art grow.

Reason the Second: You will learn about art as a career. Again, if you are in a good art program, there will be an emphasis on selling art. We had the opportunity in a lot of my classes to visit studios of artists who actually make a living selling art. Plus, the two teachers I had the most happen to be extremely successful artists (this is Les, btw). They both teach just to pass on their wisdom to the rest of us. I think it was good for us to be around these artists and know that it's not only a feesible career, it's one you can make good money at, if you work hard enough and play your cards right. I will never forget Larry's expensive sweaters or the way he talked about buying furniture to match your art, instead of the other way around. And his parents still tell him he needs to get a real job.

The university I attend now also requires artists to take a business class, and there is a "Senior Seminar" about the business of being an artist. Learning how the system works can save you a lot of time and heartache getting your career going (it still takes time, but I think knowing what you are doing is better than floundering). This is one of those careers where you have to be able to sell yourself if you want to make any money from it. (Ironically, that is exactly why I didn't go into juggling as a career. Oh well.)

Reason the Third: That piece of paper actually will do you some good. It turns out you actually do need a good resume to make money as a gallery artist (a least, it helps considerably). You have to be able to actually get into the galleries in the first place, and they like to see your resume.

Reason the Fourth: An introduction into the local art community. This is one I sort of gave up by deciding to finish my degree at a school that is not in the same town I am, although I am strongly considering targeting Omaha galleries from here. Hopefully your teachers, like the ones at this school, will help introduce you to a lot of the local art community. It can be the pathway to a job as an apprentice to get yourself started. Student shows and thesis shows are a good start for showing your work and getting yourself known, as well.

Reason the Fifth: There's noting like college to teach you good work habits and just how much work being an artist is. Most the art classes I've taken required far more work than my other classes. Good teachers will also teach you the benefits of a sketch book and brainstorming and other things that many people deem unneccesary steps.

Reason the Final: Access to equipment and materials. Attending college gives you access to their art labs, welding shops, etc., which can be extremely helpful to a new artist. This is another benefit that I have pretty much given up by finishing things online, and I miss it. It's great to have access to all the clay you need or to be able to use that computer driven laser cutter (I really miss that one). Plus you have an endlss source of ideas and help from teachers and fellow students. It's really a great environment to work in.

I hope I've convinced you of the importance of attending college, no matter what field you want to go into to. I don't have that much experience selling art yet (moving twice a year and having kids kind of slows things down a bit on that front), but I really do believe now that college is a good idea. It's expensive, and it's a lot of work, and it takes time, but if you can find a way to do it, I would encourage you to do it.

Despite all of these reasons, though, I still think if you're going to work toward a degree, the biggest reason should still be to do it for you.