With Hindsight
I presumed that after 3 years of University studying Fine Art, I would be excited to be out on my own. However, nearly two months after finishing I feel no drive to carry on creating art. One of the big reasons being the amount tutors promised, particularly at the degree show, and how very little they actually delivered. Their true motives, money and figures, have only become clear at the end. Don’t get me wrong University gave me one very valuable thing, which was time, a chance to pursue interests and to learn a lot, which I wouldn’t have given myself otherwise.
However, I do feel it failed to teach me the true realities of being an artist; working for free, paying to enter competitions, are to name but a few. One area I feel that University could have addressed is how to make a living as an artist. However, the reason this may not be provided is because they don’t know the answer, as a lot of art tutors teach to subsidise their artistry. On the other hand, I have been researching the ins and outs of
making a living as an artist and have come to the conclusion that the real reason the University’s do not include the information, is because it would probably be seen as compromising the University’s academic credibility. For example, telling students to slightly alter the way they create their work so that its more saleable is probably frowned upon, as that would be commercial work. However, at the end of the day we all have to live and only a small majority of artists make it into art institutions, compromises have to be made and I think that should be part of the education. Instead the majority of students who come out with firsts are the ones who have artwork that has a restricted buying audience, although encouraged by their grades are now lost as the true reality sinks in. On the contrary, a lot of the students who are selling artwork are not the ones who got firsts, therefore their work was not fulfilling the academic criteria, but hey, their artwork is selling so at least they can make a career out of it.
I feel lulled into a false sense of security and slightly bitter about the whole thing. This may not have been the case had I been prepared for the real world and the truth about what a University Fine Art course provides. I am hoping soon I will let go of that frustration towards art institutions and feel inspired to start creating again, as I can only have these opinions after having the full experience.
