Something to be aware ofposted Mar 8th 2009, 4:17PM
Mood: Blank
Music: Isn't She Lovely - Stevie Wonder
Howdy fellas.
I know not a lot of people watch me here on sheezy, but if even just one person reads this and gets something out of it then mission accomplished.
Kay, sooo I just got done applying to an art college for a scholarship and sadly I was turned down. Why you might ask? I believe it was because of an image that I drew that happened to look similar to a picture I referenced.
I have been to many art college fairs in my time and let me warn you guys now, they all preach the same thing: If you do not submit 100% purely YOUR OWN WORK (as in it was NOT drawn off of another picture, especially if your "reference" was just redrawing the same picture and then changing the looks of the characters so they were your own) the colleges WILL be able to tell and they will not like it. D:
I've been told too many times before that they want an individual's own style showing through their work, even if it looks really crappy. It's still your own.
So please people... if you are planning a career in art let me tell you from experience, even ONE picture in a portfolio for college or work that is re-drawn from another picture (I'm not talking referencing PHOTOS, I'm talking about referencing fan art, official pictures, sprites, bases, etc), traced, or anything like that is pretty much an automatic no-go. :<
Another thing that I've come to learn is that they do NOT like fanart because it's not your character... The same goes with styles. Even if you are a MASTER at re-creating an anime style (like... you could draw a picture that looks exactly a cell or screen shot from FLCL) that does not impress them because they can tell it's not your own ORIGINAL style. Gaaahhh... *pushes her fanart works out of her portfolio folder and sighs*
Yes, it's frustrating, but I DO understand where they're coming from. Even if by some miracle a person's re-drawn, referenced, copied work, or fanart get them accepted into college AND gets them a scholarship what's it for? When you get to college you will NOT be allowed to draw off of pre-existing images (spare for PHOTOS) and your TRUE art talent will come out and be nurtured to grow into an amazing thing.
Guys, I beg of you.... DON'T try to hide behind a mask, no matter how self critical you are. Really, I've met too many people with amazing art talent that, instead of pouring their hearts and souls into creating their own styles (yes, it takes time... but it's WORTH it because it's YOUR OWN!) trace or something because they don't like their own personal style. Honestly guys, don't be discouraged! TRUST ME, colleges, future employers, and people in general will be a LOT more impressed with a picture of a deformed human character, a lumpy kitty, or a tree that looks like a bean bag chair than a picture that you might have poured seven hours into "drawing" and coloring but in reality you just redrew another image, changed the hair, and called it your own.
Thankfully I only had one picture in there was was even just SLIGHTLY referenced.... still they caught it. I wonder how many people have tried submitting full portfolios consisting of nothing but redraws of screen caps and stuff? D: I feel really bad for them!
Anyway... sorry for this little rant type thing. Just a little warning for you guys if you're seeking a career in art but haven't drawn a picture purely on your own. Honestly, I'm not saying that redrawing pictures is bad, I think it's a great way to PRACTICE your art, but the second you stop crediting the true artist and start claiming that it's your own finished and completed work, that's when you need to stop. If that kind of work is all you depend on for your art life, in my own personal opinion I think you should stop. Really. Just stop. You CAN'T use that to get into college and you CAN'T use that in a professional career. Nobody cares if your own ORIGINAL pictures suck... for all you know what you consider terrible looking could be what the world considers the next masterpiece! (just look at some of those goofy looking shows on Cartoon Network that made it big!)
So, if I have offended anyone through writing this, I'm sorry. It wasn't meant to be a personal attack or anything, just me kinda venting as well as warning people about what college and future art careers really demand. Don't let what happened to me happen to you! I have learned a lesson and I hope I have taught you something!
-----
In other news... Naka-kon is next Friday! WOOOOO! *boogies*
Good luck with your future art careers guys! Stella luffs you!!!!
Submit Artwork 
Manage Artwork 
Manage Journal 
Messages 
Watch List 
Settings 
Logout 
Upgrade 
Artwork
Favorites
Yura Yura-Studio Version
Watchers
Stella luffs you!!!!
Profile
Comments
!