A Breath of Fresh Art

Are you fond of drawing? Do you like to express yourself on a piece of paper or perhaps a canvas? Do you see drawings around where you go and think to yourself, “I could do that,” and “Hey I’m good at that,” or “That looks fun?”

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then how about putting your talents to work in the field of art and design? This field has a lot to offer to both new and experienced students, with an endless bunch of possibilities and opportunities just waiting to be explored and unlocked, regardless of your gender or age.

The process of becoming an outstanding artist isn’t that hard once you get some experience along with someone to teach you the ropes of the profession. As students attending QPA, we already have this with the Art Enrichment program being offered to all students and overseen by Mr. Akaloo, a great teacher in this line of work.

Once you have entered the Art room, you will be greeted by works from other students posted on the walls or in a stack by the teacher’s desk: works in progress, painting materials by the sink, along with the faint trace of paint in the air telling you that you are in a creative space. There are many objects around the room and on desks, inspiration that can feed your imagination about what to draw or create. Materials are ready for use but it’s nothing compared to learning to draw correctly.

The students in the class all work on the same project which is drawing an item in the room in detail onto paper. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but with time it will get to that level of completion. If you seek further education and knowledge of the area, you should consider attending one of the many colleges in New York State known for their art courses and the artists who graduated from those schools.

You can enter them like normal colleges or earn an art scholarship to make admission easier. Not only that, but this career path would be worthwhile for those who are interested in the field, or have innate proficiency. The pay of such a refined job is around 22k-89k with a monthly payment of $3,741 on average. Oh, and don’t worry, even if you’re not good at drawing, there are other choices in this field that don’t require you to draw, but you pass the ideas in your head to someone else on a digital screen. Not only will you be able to express your artistic vision, but you could work along with someone with skills that complement your own.

According to Mr. Akaloo, “You need to have a growth mindset, a mind that is willing to change; willing to try different things. Don’t tell yourself you can’t. Tell yourself you can try. Open yourself up to opportunities and figure out what you can do.” So even if you think that art may not be your best option, give it a try at least to see if you have what it takes to be a professional artist. There is also a possibility that you could also be a graphic designer. Like professional artists, they make a lot of money for a living doing what they love.

QPA students are aiming to grow into better, greater people but to do so we need to open those doors in front of us, and take the chances that present themselves to grow more. Art is one of those many doors we can open to success and achievement. However, don’t start later but rather now while we have it available to us. The goal should be to use the knowledge acquired in these classes to bring those untapped talents to fruition. If you’re still not convinced that art is or could be your career path then how about hearing about the payouts and salaries that come along with the job?

Each painting created by an artist earns that person $863 per day, but don’t get discouraged by the numbers, it will increase over time as you continue to work at your career. The top artists in the world make around 77,500 per year with the normal average being 43,877 so if you keep that goal in your mind you will surely reach it with time, like all things in life. Not to mention that if you keep putting your work out there, you can earn more popularity for yourself, and with earning more popularity comes more income and exposure. Who knows, maybe with your talents you can become the next Lady Pink, an artist well known for her graffiti works and meaning behind her work. But what if graffiti is not your cup of tea? Then take a look at Richard Diebenkorn’s artwork. He’s most known for his landscape during his time when he was alive and well, but even so every artist has their respective artistic style and preference. With the right education and teacher you can go on to become a proficient artist who makes a lot of money and is known by their name alone.

So if you are interested in art, I advise you to think about our school’s enrichment program and jump-start your career as an artist, or continue little by little until you’re able to grab that brass ring. No matter the path you choose to pursue with your potential art career, it is advised that you take whatever you learn and push your ideals to the limits, not just to help yourself which is indeed the main goal, but to put your creative mark on the world and be remembered for your artistic brilliance and accomplishments.

The world always welcomes upcoming artists. Not just the ones who sing and make music but the ones who draw and share their creativity with the rest of us. the ones who inspire the next generation of artists to be great. You can do it if you set your mind to it.