What I Learned in One Year of College Art School!

What I Learned in One Year of College Art School

I went to college for visual arts for one year after high school.

Before I got married and moved away.

I guess I was going to be an art teacher or something, I wasn't really sure.

I was knocking out generals and taking extra art classes.

I took drawing classes, sculpture and stuff like that.

I realized at this time in my life that I loved crafting...creating, building, making, painting, and even sculpture much more than I like drawing.

I did not enjoy drawing with pencils, charcoal or any of that.

I had the hardest time getting the light, shadow, highlight and all that figured out.

I did not like coming into my art class and seeing such a boring piece of still life on the center table and knowing that we were going to have to draw that smooshed gallon jug or a wrinkly piece of paper.

Fine art was not for me.

Even worse, a pile of naked dolls in some sort of sculptural conglomeration, some missing heads, that I was going to have to sketch, shade and highlight.

Not my thing.

I totally love fine art, and respect the artists that do it.

It just wasn't for me.

I learned that the quicker I got my sketches done, the sooner I could do things I enjoy.

I don't think that is how art school should feel.

I realized that I was not into hyperrealism, realism or even drawing.

I also learned that my art teacher was into drawing shoes.

Someone had to take off their shoe so we could draw it.

That was weird.

So, I got okay at sketching out a lady boot or two.

Guess how many times in my life this skill has come in handy...???

none.

zero.

zip.

I did some painting too.

I actually did marbling and paint pouring before it was cool.

I used baby oil to help the ink separate.

All the while in my various art classes, was a girl just crying out to be a crafter!

She just wants to make beautiful things even if nobody cares.

I liked how this colored pencil puma turned out. 

I think I like the black paper and the medium of colored pencils.

I had fun with mixed media and pen and ink too!

I am thankful for the mixed mediums I was able to experience as a young person so I would have the confidence to invest in my own supplies later.

I had a special art class that was "invitation only" in 9th grade. I learned pottery, spinning pottery, metal work, jewelry making.

In high school I was in the "graphics art" class and did all the screen printing, photoshop (it was JUST released) and more hands on stuff.

I did learn one really important thing about drawing though...

My sister (4 years younger than me) was REALLY good at drawing.

Like, really good.

Realistic stuff.

In fact, I had her help me with this giraffe so I could turn it in and pass my college art class...

So, what I learned in one year of college art school...

was that I love crafting!