what does an art student/ artist do all day? - Writers Forum

Avarice · 03-09-2006, 04:27 PM

I'm writing a book about young people in their early twenties fresh out of Art college, the main character is already quite successful and so are most of his friends but...

What would they do all day? I know you should only write about what you know but I really need him to be an Artist so, what would they do all day? All I really have is art exhibits, drugs, lazying about complaining, sex, obsession with things like cavities and STD's. And restaurants and night clubs....

but i need moreeee

so yeah, whatcha think?

TSMaloy · 03-09-2006, 04:32 PM

Unless there are actual art students on this forum, you are asking the wrong people. Go to the main source. If you aren't going to write what you know, then you need to do extensive research. Find art students! Try looking for a forum for artists and ask what they did fresh out of college. Go to a local art institute and ask around, find art teachers, etc. They are out there, I'm sure it wouldn't take much to find some who would be willing to help you out.

Good luck!

Hodge · 03-09-2006, 04:46 PM

Art students spend their days doing "artsy" stuff. Like smoking pot and skipping classes. There's a reason having a degree in art is basically worthless...

Eiji Tunsinagi · 03-09-2006, 05:01 PM

I have a story about the same kind of people. Art students tend to be either emo and just hang around at places like Starbucks writing or drawing, or their are the kind you mentioned, that goes to clubs and smokes pots and THEN just sits around all day.

Art students dont do much. You do some paintings, get them put up in some gallerys or stores around town and take in unrealistically large commision, or you write articles freelance or something. OR you're a photographer. Actually, every art student is a photographer. Who knows why.

If you're doing a story about art students, all you've really got is drugs and relationships to really create some conflict. Good luck - you might need it.

Drzava · 03-09-2006, 05:13 PM

They sack my groceries

mammamaia · 03-09-2006, 05:56 PM

good one, drz!!!

but i think all here are ignoring that rare creature, the serious artist... anyone who's serious about being an artist of any kind will spend most of his/her time practicing his/her art!

sounds like you haven't a clue who/what your characters are, so do what malloy said and go ask the real thing...

love and hugs, maia

ReikiMeg · 03-09-2006, 11:47 PM

I have to say, not all art students do drugs and not all are lazy bums. My Mom actually got a job at a newspaper working with ads. She also opened a gallery with another lady. She painted a lot, worked to bring other artists in, and painted many murals for people. However, there was a point where she did do the cafe thing. She sat in the cafe, drew, and hung her pieces in the cafe. People even bought them. So, I say definitely go to the source. People on the outside really won't do the art life justice.

Hodge · 03-10-2006, 12:21 AM

Yes, a few art students get jobs as graphic arists or something, but those are few and far in between. Fact is, an art degree is pretty useless--more useless than an English degree!

Drzava · 03-10-2006, 12:41 AM

I could never take an art or English degree knowing that the vast majority of the people I was studying never had degrees in that field...

Mike C · 03-10-2006, 01:25 AM

Art Student's do the same stuff everyone else does; they aren't martians!

And the value of an art degree (in the UK) is relative, depending on which college you got it from.

The thing you'll often find with artists (just like writers) is that they'll spend all their time talking and arguing about art rather than producing it.

teflon · 03-10-2006, 02:34 AM

they are also Bohemians, inseparably cohabiting with all other non-scientists, non-engineers. Are you in the region with significant James Joycian influence? Yiu might be living in the thick of it.

Avarice · 03-10-2006, 07:53 AM

well ok I did go to an art college in Cork city [south Ireland] but it was... sorta less than inspiring, I mean I didnt see one black beret and they all just smoked and sat around depressed, one guy could draw but his next statement "I'm lysdexic" sorta ruined my want to have his children so... I was hoping they might be different in America or England. Bleh...

SilkFX · 03-10-2006, 10:23 AM

Black berets? I haven't seen one of those in...well...ever.

Since I'm in the process of getting an MFA, I guess you could call me an art student. It's far more agonizing than most people realize. It's bad enough when you're not in school and you're beating yourself up about your art (whether it's because you're not doing it or you are doing it but it's not going well, which is usually the case). It's worse when you ARE in school and people are expecting to actually SEE your art and SEE that you've put in the work and you're beating yourself up for the above reasons. At least in the "real world" where people largely don't give a toss about art you can say that you're depressed or something. That excuse only flies so far when you're in school.

Because you get tired of beating yourself up, you go out and get drunk/high/whatever. Or, in my case, you get on the Internet.

Avarice · 03-10-2006, 01:44 PM

yeah my girlfriend wants to wear one but i'm discreetly mentioning for her to lose a bit more weight, but wouldnt a beret look nice?

kalibantre · 03-10-2006, 01:50 PM

Art and English degrees aren't worthless. At least not in the UK, no degree is worthless. they can all get you on post graduate schemes so they're pretty damn useful.

Serious art students do research, art work, and have fun..