I recently graduated from art center college of design in illustration. Out of a class of fortu, three of my friends got into pixar and the rest of us were told we weren’t talented.
I happen to be one of the untalented.
My friends seem to think that our school isn’t a scam. but to pay as much as we did and not have a position available is obscene in my opinion.
At this point I’m going to try and plan change my future and prepare for a ton of struggle…but I know it will be worth it.
I currently have $27,000 in loans. so my first plan of attack is to get a job (or two if needs) and pay them off.
My step two is to take some community colleges courses and find a more lucrative path.
This is where I’d prefer input…
should I obtain an associates in something like a registered nurse or dental assistant position?
Or should I try to transfer and obtain a second bachelors in engineering?
Should I obtain an MBA?
Or, finally, should I try to transfer into a masters program in the sciencrs?
Are you truly untalented or are they just harsh at the Art Center? There are lots of graphic arts job, web design jobs, etc that you could get. I know a student what was TRULY horrid and still landed a job at a community college designing the web site. It’s dreadful, but she’s employed. I am assuming you are far better than that student and could think of a creative twist to ADD value to your art degree rather than starting all over as a nurse or dental assistant.
Of course, if you want to do a medical or technical field, go for it. But only do it if you have some passion or at least professional pride in going into it. Nothing worse than a nurse who just doesn’t care and is going through the motions.
What are your academic talents besides art? Do you have an engineering/science mind? Do you love programming or being in a lab? Then sure… go one of those routes.
If not, then maybe look into something like web design, even architecture or other fields like fashion design that having an art degree is a big bonus.
Hi Annika, I wanted to thank you for replying.
And the “untalented” comment came from the recruiters as I was walking out the door.
I have tried to revise the situation and continued submitting my portfolio to companies but I only receive a “nice work! Not what we’re looking for!” reply.
I am reviewing my portfolio and am thoroughly displeased with the lax attitude of my school with how much tuition and supplies cost (100k to be exact).
This is my portfolio: kariflaaganportfolio.blogspot.com
I have decided to take actions into my own hands and take whatever job (retail or otherwise) and submit an application for a post-bachelor at an oregon university in the sciences.
I’m going to take some community colleges courses to transfer (I’m thinking chemistry and mathematics).
I’m currently 26, fyi.
My parents think that I’m overreacting, but for how much time and effort I put into this school and its demands I expected to be treated with a lot more respect.
I still think if you love drawing and graphics there is work for you out there in your field. Stretch outside of animation and try companies making games for face-book (Zynga, Playdom, others) or game design companies for example.
I guess I am pointing out that there is no need to leave your illustration in a closet for the rest of your life and there are jobs in related fields.
I would stop looking for “respect” and find a job to get your toe in the door so you can keep learning in the work-place environment.
I also suggest you find a mentor in the business that can give you advice on how to proceed both with job options as well as what you need to do next to keep developing your skills. You need someone to let you know honestly where your portfolio is strong and what area/s needs improvement.
I promise you if you stick with it for another 5 - 10 years you will be so much farther along in your art that you won’t recognize yourself anymore. If you stop today and put in fulltime effort in a nursing/science degree and career that in 5 - 10 years you will still be in the same place with your art and be swishing out bedpans for a paycheck. It is awesome to be a nurse if that is your calling and choice of profession… but I don’t get that sense from you yet.
You know what annika , I decided to stick with art and keep plugging away.
I may not be talented enough yet to get into animation, but I’m going to keep trying.
If I have to stock shelves to pay off loans in the mean time, so be it.
Thanks!
Good luck! I know someone without a degree of any kind (just 2 years and then dropped out) with modest digital art skills (you have far more already!) who pieced together graphic design jobs with different websites that needed graphics done. For awhile there she had part-time job with a small education company and she drew the simple graphics for “connect the dots” activity sheets and other handouts that teachers use… over time she got really good at doing other graphics (for like SIMS) just for fun… and eventually she got so good that she works for a face-book gaming company making a great salary. You really just need to get your toe in the door for art-related work and keep developing your skills on your own, too. This friend really needed to just believe she could stick with it.
Can you try to set up some kind of freelance business, or do contract work? This will help pull in some income and allow you to keep using your skills. Even if it’s just part-time work on top of a full-time job, it is better to keep using and improving on your skills and getting your name out there and seen.
Think about it: there are a lot of good art schools in the country. Pixar is not able to take on every good student from every school. How many other places did you apply to? Or did you just wait for recruiters to come and pick you?
Self-marketing is a crucial aspect of being an artist, and from what I’ve seen too few schools place enough emphasis on developing this skill in addition to the art skills. You need to have your work seen, in some way or another, by as many people as possible. They need to know your name. If you get some other full time job and just wait around for a design firm or animation studio to find you, it is never going to happen.
Also, illustration alone is tough to make a go of; do you have skills in web development and advertisement design? Adding some variety to your portfolio will help, so perhaps self-teaching or taking a course or two at a local community college will help you to add variety to your portfolio.
You are not untalented. Character sketches appear to be your strength, so do not give it up! But being a diverse artist is essential in increasing your marketability to potential employers and recruiters.
Hey guys, I’ve applied everywhere from trader Joes to game art companies.
No-one is interested.
I’m getting stressed and very uneasy at home.
I’m planning to go for a second degree in the fall or spring and get a more valuable education.
I’m probably going to have trouble because I’ll have to take out private loans and I believe there is a max on college credits.
But I know it will be worth my time and energy getting a good degree.
Thanks!
Sorry you’ve had a rough post-graduation experience. Art Center was my dream school since I was a kid, until I had a close family friend explicitly state “DO NOT GO THERE”. He wasn’t bashing the school itself, but simply the nature of the business, where your portfolio dwarfs your formal education in importance - and the cost simply couldn’t be justified.
That said, I’m sure you have excellent skills which are marketable in some capacity, either now or later on in life. Art Center and RISD are like the only art schools non-artists seem to hear of. Have you considered CS? If you end up being a good programmer with excellent art skills, I’m sure you won’t be hurting for work.
I’ve actually started shadowing my dentist and found that, through online research, people have been accepted into Dental school with art degrees or even music degrees.
So I’m planning the post bach and trying to use my artistic skills to HELP people.
I really don’t want to be stuck at a computer or doing retail for the rest of my life.