ARE YOU NOT GETTING SUPPORT FOR YOUR ART INTERESTS IN ART CLASS AT SCHOOL?

Welcome to the Weekly Blog of Christopher Hart

Best-Selling Author of How-To-Draw Books on Art Instruction

If you have a passion for drawing - whether it’s manga, cartoons, comics, or the human figure, then you’ve found the Blog that’s written just for you.  Every week, I’ll discuss tips on drawing; offer my analysis and predictions about the rapid changes in the publishing industry; offer advice on how to become a published artist; and, of course, give brief updates on my books. So make this a regular stop as you surf the Blog-O-Sphere. No reservations required.

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Taking art class in school, and not finding any support or instruction for drawing the style that interests you, such as manga, cartoons or comic book heroes and villains?

Don't worry -- lots of young students have the same problem in the U.S.A. Don't argue with your art teacher; don't show her your cartoon or manga drawings; just "act" enthusiastic about the style of art, or media, your art teacher covers, and try to get a good grade by following her instructions.



BUT...

At home, and during your free time, practice from how-to-draw books; and if you can, take a few art classes at your local art center -- even if it's not in your style of art. Show your classmates (but not the ones in art class) your drawings, in order to get suggestions, and also, to get some compliments and encouragement on your progress.

Parents are not usually good judges about contemporary art styles...

If you love drawing, and want to go into it as a field, then you should consider an art college - not a regular university. In a regular university, you might encounter the same problems; they may not appreciate commercial art. And their offerings of art classes will be much more limited. But in an art college, you'll find others who have the same interests as you, and draw the same kind of stuff that you do -- in fact, you will likely discover that many of your art instructors will be professionals in your style of art. An art college may offer cartooning classes in addition to foundation courses, such as animation, humorous illustration, comic book drawing, children's book drawing, and even manga. In my opinion, universities are far behind art colleges in terms of what they can offer students who want to become a pro. In my opinion, as a graduate of an art college, you would be far, far ahead of the competition, most of whom are self-taught. In a university, you still have your required classes, such as foreign languages, math, and English, in addition to art. But an art college concentrates almost exclusively in art instruction. As a result, the art college student typically spends about three times as much time actually drawing and creating art. The results are usually quite evident. (And, after graduating, when you start out in the field of art, without credits to show, you will find that you art college training IS a good and useful credit.)

Last point: If you think you may someday want to be a comics editor, publisher, or run your own commercial art business or studio, or license your work, you may want to go to a university, because they offer business classes. Artists who take business classes are less likely to be taken advantage of by employers. In addition, business-savvy artists have a functioning knowledge of how to get ahead financially. Universities also offer writing courses, which can be important, because if you can write, you do not have to split your royalties or fees with a writer. You can write and illustrate your own stuff.

Some things to think about.

Chris

Thanks for dropping by today! I hope you make this Blog a part of your regular surfing.

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