Comments on: I graduated from San Francisco Art Academy. Now what? https://artistswhothrive.com/2013/10/4905?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=i-graduated-from-san-francisco-art-academy-now-what creative freedom + business savvy Mon, 30 Jun 2014 17:12:50 +0000 hourly 1 By: Mari Vega https://artistswhothrive.com/2013/10/4905/comment-page-1#comment-52093 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 15:45:41 +0000 https://artistswhothrive.com/?p=4905#comment-52093 Lo, I did not avoid the trap. My parents had an arts magazine when I was growing up, and most gifts I received were art supplies. When I graduated college prep HS and started at ‘normal’ university, I found how much happier I was painting on my shoes than being in lecture and so started over at art school. While terribly interesting for content and philosophy, it did not prepare me for making my livelihood in practical terms.

My disillusionment with not somehow magically being successful with my artmaking probably put me off of art making. After all, how many pieces does anyone really want to store in their closet?

]]> By: Ann Rea https://artistswhothrive.com/2013/10/4905/comment-page-1#comment-51571 Sat, 02 Nov 2013 18:20:57 +0000 https://artistswhothrive.com/?p=4905#comment-51571 “set goals, take risks, and never stop learning…And trust your gut.”

Great advice!

]]> By: Andrea https://artistswhothrive.com/2013/10/4905/comment-page-1#comment-51570 Sat, 02 Nov 2013 18:17:31 +0000 https://artistswhothrive.com/?p=4905#comment-51570 I never knew you went to The Cleveland Institute of Art! I went there from 1994-1996 and decided I didn’t want to end up in Cleveland with a pile of debt and no job opportunities (they never taught business class which doesn’t make sense to me, not sure if they do now)…The only company anyone ever talked about working for was American Greetings, unless you were in Automotive or Industrial Design. I barely knew how to turn on a computer at that time because the computer program was not a focus, and for the amount of money they were asking for it should have been, whether you were a fine artist or not, so I saw that as a sign to get out. I’m sure it’s changed drastically since then, I hope!…So I picked up and moved to Redondo Beach, CA, taught myself everything I could to be fluent in all graphic design software and got a job illustrating for a publishing company, and am now the Creative Director and partner for an Entertainment company – no degree, no debt! :0)…The School of Life is priceless…What has helped me is to set goals, take risks, and never stop learning…And trust your gut.

Andrea

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