What did you learn doing Fine Arts?

Mojo · Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Posts: 20 Location: Melbourne

In my late 20's I finally decided I needed to get back to art. Out of high school I should have gone to Art School, but didn't. I gave up on "art" before I even got out of my teens and by the time I realised I needed to do it I applied for a Bachelor of Design, as I didn't think the Fine Arts School would take me (very limited places etc).
I was keen to learn 'discipline' and "themes' from Design school, and I think I did. But I wondered all the time I was there (and still now), how different things might have been had I done Fine Arts.
Design School seemed to be a bit more focused towards communication rather than art for "self expression" sake.

So for those who have studied Fine Arts, what did you learn from your years there? What was the focus?

Steve Gray · Joined: 17 Aug 2008 Posts: 1569 Location: Geelong

What did I learn...
- The world is full of amazing people doing amazing things and I could be one of them.
- There are rules - there are no rules, you pick.
- Three year diplomas are now two years... go figure!
- You get a great chance to explore, I wasted a lot of time trying to figure that out and didn't do NEARLY ENOUGH.
- Process and product can be one and the same.
- Don't expect a (decent) job out of it.

What was the focus...
You do it, we'll mark it, you do ok, you pass. Any questions?

Smile

Kevin McKay · Joined: 12 Jun 2010 Posts: 19 Location: Sutherland

I agree with Steve Gray's assessment.

I was a self taught artist who decided to go back and get a formal art education. Three years at TAFE got me an Advanced Diploma, another three at National Art School got me a degree, I then did an honours year and am half way through my MFA (two years).

In many ways its just an extension of what I was doing before I went to art school, but the structure, the competition and the comradarie help to keep you focused. Some teachers are great, some are just marking time, but at the end of the day you get out what you put in.

It pays to be open to the experience as you will be asked to go places you would not necessarily choose to go.

Like Steve said, don't expect to get rich or famous. You'll experiment, go through phases, get better or move on to other things. It's all about the journey.

Mojo · Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Posts: 20 Location: Melbourne

Thanks for your replies.

I guess right now Im trying to figure out 'what next?' Which I think for me involves the question, "do I do art for communication or personal expression?". It seemed to be more communication focus on my degree, but also I dont think the tutors addressed the subject in any of the 3 years I was there (trying to produce the work they wanted to see ). I guess I wish I had realized whilst a student to ask that question about what sort of art I want to make.
My design degree did not offer painting as a subject either, and I have always felt intuitively that I am a painter, though I have literally only done a handful of dabblings in my whole life.
Im also very interested in textiles, which were not fully intergraded with the schools ideals.
I sometimes wonder if I missed out on knowing my direction because I did visual arts instead of fine arts?

Im interested to know if anyone else has thoughts about how their art education has shaped what they have gone on to do?

It is for sure a journey. Im not expecting to get rich or famous. Long term I want to be involved in the arts, though probably not as an artist. But for now, I need to explore my own personal creativity.

Kevin McKay · Joined: 12 Jun 2010 Posts: 19 Location: Sutherland

"Self expression" can be a hinderance to learning new things. A baby expresses itself by the only means it has, making a loud noise. It has a long journey ahead to find more intelligible means of expression. The same is true for painting.

As for "communication" It's hard to improve on words, although hugs and kisses work too!

I tend to resist thinking of art as a tool for either self expression or communication. They may be elements, but it's intrinsic value seems deeper than either of these.

If you feel compelled to do something, then do it, for its own reward, but that includes the hard work required to get better at it.

I suppose that this principle relates to other passions too. A surfer, skateboarder, dancer or musician, mixes the feeling of joy they experience in their chosen field with the discipline required to master their craft.

Art school can be a tool to help you achieve this. For the most part art school provides exercises, demands you to do things you don't feel like doing, pushes you out of your comfort zone, It's up to you to make something of that.

When its all over you are free to do what you want to do. Strangely, you then realise the value of limitation, and that what was imposed on you must be internally generated.

For me composition is the fundamental core of picture making, followed by a sensitivity to hue-tone-saturation. I am guessing your experience in design Mojo, will have helped you develop an appreciation for these. Learning to handle paint (wet into wet, scumbling, dry brush, glazing) and developing a sense of touch and knowing when to make an edge hard or soft is up there too.

Good luck with your journey wherever it takes you.

AvG · Joined: 17 Sep 2005 Posts: 1912

Art school is merely the beginning of all of the learnings that an artist will undertake through a lifetime as an artist.

Learning and discovery are a huge element of creative expression, communication through art, or simply making work. And there are many ways to uncover information about textiles, painting and other mediums: what they are, how to do them etc. So whatever limitations you feel your course had, know that they aren't your limitations and that you can work and learn beyond the course.

Louella · Joined: 14 Jan 2011 Posts: 1

hey Mojo, I feel exactly the same as you.. I studied Multimedia technology and Multimedia design Shocked

purely for the reason that I thought I could get a job out of it in the end and at least it was creative in a sense. After I completed studying I did get a job in the industry, and it was creative, BUT it kills to not have continued studying art after high-school because like you, I'd consider myself more into painting than working with the adobe suite. I think what scared me about studying art was not being able to find work after, or being the stereotypical struggling artist. After reading about so many drop outs in the arts schools, and how most art students who have studied at school tend to give the impression that it was a waste of time, I couldn't justify spending the next few years putting myself through it.

I've decided though that I only have one life to live, and in my heart I love to paint more than doing graphic/web design. It won't hurt to study art just to get the basics and fundamentals checked off. With graphic/web design under your belt, you could probably study art part time while you work as a graphic designer supporting your art habit. I can't afford uni/tafe anymore so I'm looking for alternative classes or lessons. There are some online classes and some local artists who hold their own classes. I'm sure most of them have actually studied the material at uni/taf level. You won't get a piece of paper in the end but you can at least learn practically the same thing.

RJW · Joined: 17 Sep 2010 Posts: 16 Location: Sydney

I completed a degree in Visual Arts. Different to a Fine Arts degree in that it qualifies you with a much broader foundation in visual arts and design. The main course elements were studio practice, art and design history and theory as well as graphic design and curatorial practice.

I work in a commercial gallery by day and work as a hobbyist artist by night. I barely manage to pay the bills but I LOVE what I do! I would much rather just "get by" working in my chosen field rather than earning big bucks in a job i hate.

It's up to you whether you sell your soul or keep it real!