Art prob with parents?

if you love visual arts so badly, you cant survive without doing it, and you are banned from doing anything related to art because your parents say so, what will you do?


let's say you are not too bad at art, and you're only 15. but you really want to go to art college and get a job in life related to it, even though everyone tells you you won't get paid well and all those stuff. i mean, if you were to tell someone your dream is to be a painter or designer or something like that, they'll only say " it wont earn you big bucks. you'll be lucky in your hundreds if you're an artist. if i were you i'd just be something like a lawyer or doctor. just treat art like a hobby. " but you know that art as only a 'hobby' is not what you're looking for. okay, you get the idea, so what are you going to do if you're banned from doing it, and most likely aren't going to be allowed to go to an art school in the future? i'm really affected, please help.

Art prob with parents?
Do it anyway. They cannot stop your creativity. Keep doing it, and do it well. Talk to art teachers at school. Sometimes, they are able to help out with the parental situation. As for college, there are scholarships and loans available.





You're right about the money. It can take a long time to make money.





I just graduated from art school in May. I work odd jobs and still create. That's what I love and that's what I will continue to do.





I have a show in August. It's my first one since college.





They key is staying out of debt.. and minimizing your expenses.





Just start saving your money now.. birthday, christmas, etc. And try selling your art now. There are tons of websites to do this and being in high shcool, I'm sure you have art shows, or something similar.





Good luck to you.





If you want to talk, you can catch me on AIM at thaicycle212.
Reply:I went through the same thing somewhat, I'm a writer and my dad told me that I will never make it as a writer, it's too hard to make it such a field. He wanted me to be like him a teacher, like the term "Father like Son" says, but that wasn't what I wanted to do. My dreams and goals we're to become a writer, but he told me the very same thing your parents are telling you, now I'm 40 and I have a publishing career with Random House, so if it's something you really want to do, and if it's a passion of yours then do it, I know it's going to be very hard getting to where you want to be in the field of art, the art field is one of the hardest fields to get into whether you're a writer, musician, an artist, an actor or even a dancer, any part field is hard, but the only thing that keeps us going is the love we have for it, and the determination and will to get there, so good luck with everything, and just keep your head up and keep going strong, because it's more than a hobby its a passion.
Reply:Try becoming a teacher, and eventually after graduating from that go into an elective and hopefully get hooked on to an art programme with the school..
Reply:I have several friends who are artists.


Allow me a momet to "paint a picture" if you will.


One is a very gifted creative photographer. She does very fine art photography and includes other media in her work.


In order to pay the bills, she works during the day doing rather repetitive,, photo related work, but it is a job. It is not the thing she loves. She now does this rather than the graphics design work she used to do, as her vision of what was a good design was not always what the company wanted.


What she loves...THAT is what she does on her time.





So, my only caveat to you is that while art college or classes are great for honing your craft and affording you the ability to express yourself in new ways, the work for people with these degrees tends to be limited in several ways.





The job title ARTIST, is somewhat rare. In the historical sense of the word, to be an artist meant you had a patron, someone who gave you money to make art just for them.


If they were smart, and you were good, they left you alone to "do your thing". If they were snooty, then you painted, sculpted etc. what they told you to do.


If you work in a graphics design company, you will be creating art for assignments. You may or may not have creative control.





Now I don;t tell you these things to say you cannot do art, only that if you do find work in the art field, you may not have control over what you create. Be ready for that. You could be someone who gets very lucky and is about to become an 'artist'. There is a reason they used to be called "starving artists!"





If you have not done so already, look into your local county fair (they have them even in the big cities) and usually you can look in the counties that touch your, and enter things. Whatever media you work in, there will be an entry for it. The county fair in Marin Cal. (home of Lucas and star wars) even allows entries from nationwide in some areas!


Enter contests and events where you can showcase, and get feedback. II am pleased to say that I have a number of blue ribbons for my leatherwork and boots, as well as my textile work.


It might seem hokey, but it does get your name out there- and your art gets seen.





If your folks will not let you do art related activities at home, consider talking to a friend and see if it is possible to use their garage, basement, whatever.





Now finally, given that art is in the eye of the beholder and creator, perhaps the art you are choosing to do does not meet your parents "definition" or sense of art. In this case, here is the opportunity for you to begin learning what people will like/buy/support you at!


Are you able to make something that your parents DO approve of? The great debate in art is "do I make it for ME? do I make it for the money?" (a girl has to eat!)


Good luck, and stay creative


Kay
Reply:hey i am the perfect person to ask about this. i come from a very science oriented family. my grandpa is a mechanical engineer and so is my dad and my mom is a cheical engineer and my aunt a nurse. soo eveyrone really wanted me to be somewhere in the science field where they said that i could actually earn money. they would have paid for my college to do so. instead i broke free and decided to go for what i absolutely love. i decided to become an art major and i currently am. i just told them one day and i stuck to it. they were very upset and now i have to pay for college out of pocket with absolutely no help. i am happy with my decision and well i get by. i sell a few paintings and i have a job. i say that if you really love this and are serious about it then go for it. there will be lots of hard work with few rewards but i am happy with my choice
Reply:I went to design school. A lot of the people there had the same problem you have. Some just went ahead and did art anyways, but others were able to convince their parents that you can make a decent living.


You can earn decent money! As long as you choose a design field where you learn computer programs (learning a 3D cad program, or a web design program are the best), you can do just fine. And don't worry, you still get to draw and create in design.


A lot of parents only think art is putting some painting up in a gallery, and starving on the street. It's just not true, and you can convince them if you're mature and reasonable about it.


Who do you think designs cell phones for Nokia? Toys for Disney? Ipods for Apple? Packaging for Nestle Foods? Cars for Toyota? Creative designers do! Yay!


Start showing them brochures of serious design programs. And here, below is a link to payscales for designers, and this site, Coroflot, also has a lot of information on design.
Reply:Get good enough at art so you will get a scholarship. Work hard enough in finding out yourself what you have to do to get one. Try if you can get internships in galleries, see if there are any art community projects you can get involved in (in the town I live they actually have a program for teenagers where they can work for the summer with an artist and get even payed some pocketmoney for it). Look for art related opportunities where you live. Practise and read books about it. Talk to your art teacher for advice and extra assignments. There is lots you can do even before you go to art school.





If you really want to do it, you can do it, but you should not expect any financial help from your parents to help you achieve an aim they don't believe is good for you. But if you can earn it by yourself you can go for it. But you need to show that you can bear the financial responsibility for it.





But they are right in this: it will be tough, and you may not get a job which is art related anyway, but then you may and you won't know unless you try.


Also if it doesn't work out right now, you can always go back to school at any stage later in life. Especially in art school it is not uncommon to have a number of mature students of any age.
Reply:Thai said it very well. I'm a parent, and would never tell my kids they couldn't do something, they wanted to do. Running the risk of undermining your parents, follow your hart and do what your hart tells you to do. If you have such a burning desire to do this, get off your butt and do it.





Good luck
Reply:I'm an older artist/mom who never really went to art school but have stayed in the arts off and on ever since I was a child. If you have a passion for the arts, drawing/painting or whatever than it will never leave you no matter what your parents say. I ifnd it hard to believe that your parents won't even allow you to draw. It is extremely hard to find a job in art-related fields unless you go into the graphics field or become an art teacher. There are a lot of students who graduate in the arts and end up working at a job that isn't related at all to their degree. I'm not saying that this would happen to you but the smart thing to do would be to go to college and get a degree in something that you can find a job in and minor in arts. You can always find workshops and night classes in art and it's the one area in your life that doesn't require a teacher. The more you paint/draw the more you will improve, plus there are great books at Amazon.com. Also, there are online art schools not to mention great websites like wetcanvas.com that will have wonderful sources for you and any artist, beginning or otherwise. If you really feel like an artist in your soul then you won't let anyone disuade you from it and, no matter how good you are, the artist in you will come out in one way or another. Good luck, Diane