/uses appropriate icon.

[cherryfox]

So I got a letter in the mail yesterday. Apparently the local art club that I won a college scholarship from is planning to put together a gallery of work by their scholarship recipients, and they want no more than 25% of the work to be NFS. RSVP date is September 1, and they're estimating a showing in December

Comments

[albireo]

variety is appreciated in any portfolio, but so is an established style. safe is boring, but sells somewhat. you want to show yourself, and what you're currently capable of, not just pander to safety.

MY THOUGHTS, FROM ME TO YOU..........

[cherryfox]

Wow, a serious response for once. I'm shocked.

[albireo]

hey!

i can do serious!

it's just not needed, 99% of the time!

[cherryfox]

Yeah.

Well.

25% of the time is being a little stingy.

[nalina]

If you have a variety of subject matter/styles, I'd say go for having a mixture of stuff. Safe smafe. |D I personally think having the ability to draw in different styles is a good thing. :3b And, even then, I find there's always something about any drawing, be it original or fan art that has just SOMETHING that is very much your own style. I know all my work is recognizable as being mine, no matter how much I try to be "on model" or whatever. XD

[cherryfox]

Oh yeah. XD I've tried to imitate other artists' styles before and really, it never quite works. There's always something about the way I draw that has my "scent" on it. XD I still will pick up things intentionally here and there, if I like the way something is done, but I don't worry about making my art look a certain way anymore

[thumbs]

You could always experiment to try and find what best suits what you want to create and what style best fits you.

Also, I don't think "safe" is always actually safe. Even though certain things may seem like the generic, usual choice, I think people are always looking for true originality. Especially with art, I think people like to see a piece of artwork and be able to know who the artist is from just looking because it is the style that defines them best.

Not sure if I made any sense, but to try and be more helpful, you could still take usual subject matters and go about using them in a more unique way. Kind of like how Georgia O'Keeffe had flowers but painted them close up and abstractly.

Yeah, I'm not too helpful. D: But not sure if I told you, but I switched my minor to Studio Art, so I could try getting better at it. I take a drawing class this semester. No more stick figures for me. ;_;

[cherryfox]

Nope, you didn't tell me. :/ Thanks a lot. JK.

Are there certain classes you have to take, or are you free to take just whatever? Not sure what you're really into, but I'd recommend trying something like a pottery, sculpting, or metalworking class if you can.

Yeah, I get what you're saying. XD

I need to dig out the old stuff at some point and see where I was, where I went, figure out where I am now, and just go with it.

Ironically I did an art project on Georgia O'Keeffe once. I believe she also painted a lot of bones (deer/antelope skulls) and stuff when she moved somewhere out west...? :X

[thumbs]

As far as I know, I'm required to take two classes of "Design Fundamentals" and four of the following:

Art 118, 218 Ceramics I, II
Art 122, 222 Sculpture I, II
Art 156, 256 Drawing I, II
Art 257 Figure Drawing
Art 162, 262 Painting I, II
Art 166, 266 Photograph I, II

For sure, I need to take Drawing and Painting, but depending on whether or not I take the second classes for those, I may take Ceramics and Sculpture for the other two. I don't know. My advisor/professor/boss has my whole future planned out since I'm his own Tech major, so it's really whatever he feels I should do. |:

[kai_lan]

Whoo art stuff sorry if I end up writing a whole essay for you lol

[cherryfox]

Whoa WALL OF TEXT. Hello. Actually it was very helpful.

I used to take it really personally when people were like "oh anime isn't art blah blah". Now perhaps not so much, but it's definitely still something I love looking at, and like drawing for myself. I've seen some absolutely wonderful stuff out there for the art style, so I can't really agree with the people who say it's any bit "less art" than anything else.

And yeah. As a matter of fact I have never taken a proper PROPER figure drawing or anatomy class. Lol. I mean, I think it was in advanced drawing that we did a TON of figure drawing (mostly lounging), but we never really went over the basics of how things go together and move. I remember when we had nude models I was embarrassed and intentionally obscured "certain things". Haha. ^^; I think anatomy is probably my biggest biggest weak point, tbh. (That and I'm LAZY.) Definitely something worth looking into

[kai_lan]

lol I'm glad my words were useful!

Yeah, I feel like alot of times, depending on the environment mostly, when a young person has a talent, people tend to encourage it without also incorporating foundation because they think they don't need it. While some youths will evolve without much assistance, that is not the case for everyone, which is totally fine. Doesn't make them any less skilled or artistically mature.

If you're not too keen on live figure drawing (I have not done any past stock photos really lol tho I'd like to) some good books you can look into are the Glenn Vilppu Drawing Manual and Force: Dynamic Life Drawing for Animators. Betty Davis's books are also very good resources. Tbh, most of my study in the past couple years has been from books, as my art classes really do nothing for me :|

BUT YEAH OK I'LL STOP NOW LOL. KEEP ON TRUCKING YOU CAN DO IT.