Saturday 12 September 2015

Back to School Tips: Studying Art in College.

Okay so these tips are for college art, now these are things that I wish people had told me before/during my 2year Art and Design course so they may not apply to every art subject available but here goes...


  • It's very different to High School. Not only can you know where your own clothes but your class will be filled with people of different ages and the whole working system is different. But don't worry it's really easy to get the hang of. 
  • Don't quit in the first 2 weeks because you don't like it. When I first started I was so ready to pack it in and quit I hated it so much, but after I started to get used to it and the work started after the ice breaker sessions and introduction work is over it's great. Plus because every-one is stuck together in a great working environment it's great to meet so many different people.
  • Wear clothes you don't care about. You'll most likely be covered in paint, chalk and glue etc everyday, so wear clothes you don't mind getting messy. If you don't have anything old just nip to a charity shop or primark and get a mens button down shirt in a size bigger than you would normally wear and wear it over your clothes. Also if you do wear something nice and your tutor suggests wearing a apron or overall and you refuse to wear it because it's not flattering and you end up getting messy, it's your fault not your tutors so don't hold them responsible.
  • This is important... SAVE MONEY FOR SECOND YEAR. In first year I wish some-one had told me to save! In first year you have to buy your sketchbooks and materials you need but in second year you will need to buy a portfolio to store/show your work to be marked and assessed, some assessment people won't mark your work unless it's presented in a portfolio. Also if you are planning to go to Universities that are not close to you you will need to pay for transport for interviews if you do not have access to a car or fly carpet. 
  • If you are doing an Art and Design course you should start thinking about a part of art you want to focus on, this will be focused upon in your second year but also it helps you decide what you want to do in university if you decide to go. 
  • Work your butt off. If a brief says do a minimum of 5 paintings that doesn't mean stop at 5, keep going and do as many as possible. Do artist research and find artists that interest you and can influence your style and way of working. Also, Work at home. Working in your own time can be such a good thing, it shows you have the motivation to work but also you'll get stuff done.
  • Be organised. Keep a journal or a planner. Keep track of deadlines and when your homework has to be back in for. Also it's good to make a kind of timeline, if a brief says it's lasting four weeks organize what you do in each week, say like one week for experiments and research etc. and just work your way around it, that way you know how much time you have for projects rather that trying to finish a final piece in an hour (this happened to me and I was a mess, I'm oh so professional, I learnt my lesson the hard way).
  • Don't be afraid to ask for help, your tutors are most likely professional artists so they know what they are doing just ask if you are unsure.
  • Try everything. My college had great facilities that many people took for granted, but use them experiment and find out what you like. In the future you might not get the chance to use them for free. 
I absolutely loved my two years at college! Even though in the beginning I was miserable but by the end I had made amazing friends who I was so privileged to be working along side for those two years. 

Do you have any tips for people going to study Art in College? Leave them down below...

Friday 4 September 2015

Back to School Tips: Studying Art in High School.

I'm starting this series of blog posts about studying Art at different education levels. I say series it's most likely only going to be about 3 posts but anyway. 

High school is that scary time of exams and every-one starts to say your becoming an adult (yikes). 
This will probably only apply to years 9 and above! But during years 7 & 8 this is your time to learn as much as humanly possible and experiment in art. 

Here are my main tips for studying Art at High School.

  • Take it seriously. I know so many people who came into a multiple hour art exam laid back and casual claiming it would be a piece of cake and not putting any effort what so ever into there work or exam and then they failed to get the grade they wanted. If you want to someday become an artist and make a living from your work this is the time to start working your butt off.
  • Ask for feedback on your work from teachers and other students. This helps improve in not only your work but your practice too.
  • Your teachers are Artists ask them for advice on anything, they are there to help!
  • Don't waste materials. When you buy your own materials you will understand how much materials and supplies cost, so don't waste your Art departments funds by using the expensive acrylic pants to paint a dick under the table (true story) or you may be using pound shop paint next lesson. 
  • Attend after school Art clubs. I attended Art Clubs after school clubs in high school from year 7 until I left in year 11. Not only do you surround yourself with people who love art but it also opens up opportunities for you. Me and my friend Laura attended since year 7, this meant we got to make props for the school production of 'Little Shop of Horrors'. 
  • Experiment in everything. Try new materials and techniques.
  • This one is more for year 11 students, start to think about college (arghhh i know) but the sooner into year 11 you start to think about it the easier the transition will be. Think about what you want to focus and specialize in and if your not sure ask your teachers for advice. 

Do you have any tips for high school art lessons? Leave them in the comments below!