I changed my major to art in my second year of college and I could never go back to my old major or choose a new one because being an art major is the best. But it does come with some issues that people may not know about.
1. The cost of art supplies
Paying for books in college is expensive and people think that because art majors don't need books that we have it cheaper. This is false. Syllabus day is the day we find out how much money we need for paint, brushes, charcoal, paper, sketchbooks, eye protection, pencils, and erasers and those are just the supplies they tell you that you need on the 1st day. By the end of the semester you will have had to run to the art supply store countless times for more supplies that your professor decides you need.
2. Long Classes
Studio art classes on average are 3 hours long, 2 days a week. This doesn't seem like much but when you have to take 3 studio classes per semester that's 18 hours of classes and its only 9 of your credits. So you have other classes that you have to take as well. Being an art major means no sleep, no time, and no life.
3. Carrying your "projects"
Art professors love having you do projects with strange materials that you have to carry from your room all the way to class. When you have to carry a lamp, a blanket, a typewriter, a block of wood, and your backpack, you're bound to get some odd looks from people you walk past.
4. Homework takes forever
When non-art majors say they have homework that usually means they have some math homework to do, or they need to read an article for class which usually will only take an hour or two. But for art majors, our "homework" could take 8 hours to finish and that could only 1 of 3 projects that you have to finish for class. Homework for art majors is difficult so don't think we have it so easy and it's not just "coloring."
5. No clean clothes
When working with charcoal, paint, wood stain, or really any type of art material, you are bound to get it all over your clothes, and most of it doesn't wash out. You're gonna walk around the rest of the day with bright, orange, paint, or smears of charcoal all over you. So if you decide to be an art major, invest in some cheap clothes to wear to your studio classes.
6. Everyone always asking how you're going to make money in the future
Well, I'm going to do what every other graduate is doing. I'm going to get a job, make money, and hope that I get to do the kind of art that I enjoy.
7. Writing artist statements
Do I explain everything, or do I let the viewer figure out what the piece is about? And if i am going to explain it how do I do that? Writing an artist statement about your piece of art is ridiculously hard. If you explain it to much then the professor says theirs no room for the viewer to interpret, but if you don't explain enough then the viewer has no clue what it is. You have to find that exact middle point between the two and hope that you yourself can make sense of your own artwork.
8. Deadlines
When you have exactly one week to finish a project that you have no idea what you're going to do for it, you get a little stressed and your creative juices that could help you suddenly go on vacation and leave you stranded. Working around a professor's deadline can be strenuous and may make you staying up until 4 in the morning the night before it's due.
