Art by Analise Black
In this episode, illustrators Jake Parker, Lee White, and Will Terry share their top advice for art school students. Tune in and discover how to get the most from your educational experience!
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SHOW LINKS
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Deep Questions with Cal Newport
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Don’t follow the school; follow the teacher. Better than a degree from a prestigious university is experience studying under illustration masters. Prioritize learning from the right people over everything else. That might mean taking only a few classes at your local university and supplementing the rest with online courses or in-person mentorships.
If you’re the best in the school, you’re at the wrong school.
Take fewer classes than you think you can manage and overdeliver on all of your assignments.
Your artistic education doesn’t happen to you; you happen to it. Take advantage of every opportunity to learn, including from your professors’ critiques of other students’ work.
Good student habits become successful entrepreneur habits.
The 11 Sins of Art Students:
Being chronically late to class. It’s a sign of narcissism and lack of respect.
Telling your professor how hard you’re going to work. Try less talk and more action!
Sharing “phantom art” for critique. In art school, you pay your professor to be your art director. They should see all of your pieces starting in the sketching phase. Consult them through the entire creation process; don’t show up to your critique with work they’ve never seen before.
Scribbling in the sketchbook for credit. Your sketchbook is like a gym for your art skills. Don’t merely fill pages; train. Invest the necessary time to create sketches that improve your drawing skills. If you can’t do that, you’re not cut out for a career in illustration.
Being last to set up in class. Preparing your palette or drawing board takes some time. Show up early so you don’t waste precious class time setting up.
Showing your teacher the same sketches week to week with no changes. Come on, they know.
Poor critique etiquette. Some students deal harsh critiques when they have no skills of their own; other students receive abundant feedback on their work but never offer suggestions to others. Find the middle ground.
Wearing headphones in class. This habit is both rude and isolating. Never be so plugged in that you miss an opportunity to learn from your professors (and more often your peers) in class.
On your phone in class. See rule 8.
Being overly critical of pro illustrators’ work. A little humility will serve you well.
Packing up early. Every chance to learn and practice is precious. If you’re preparing to leave class before it’s even over, you are not committed enough to survive as a full-time illustrator.
5 Tips for Students
Give yourself assignments, especially on school breaks. Create the assignments you want to be hired for.
Redraw your assignments before the deadlines. Is that figure drawing not coming together? Crumple it up and start again. Don’t stop after the first try.
Freelance. Get working experience in your chosen field as soon as possible, including before graduation.
Research the niche you hope to enter. Don’t expect your school to feed you everything you need to know about your future career.
Make work you enjoy alongside the tedious, required stuff.
LINKS
Jake Parker: mrjakeparker.com. Instagram: @jakeparker, Youtube: JakeParker44
Will Terry: willterry.com. Instagram: @willterryart, Youtube: WillTerryArt
Lee White: leewhiteillustration.com. Instagram: @leewhiteillo
Daniel Tu: danieltu.co.
Lily Camille Howell: lilycamille.com
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