As a senior art major I've had my share of questions about what I'm going to do once I graduate, and comments when I reply that I want to create art. Here are a few things art majors hear often and a response to each.

What are you going to do with that?

I have heard this question from literally everyone who has asked what my major in college is. For some odd reason people think that artists do nothing but sit around and doodle, which isn't true. My response to those who ask me this question is always the same, I'm going to create art. It's that simple.

You're not going to make money with that.

This comment is the one that bothers me the most when I tell someone that I'm an art major, or that I want to be studio artists once I graduate. I honestly believe that people who go into the art field are there because they love to create art, not because they want to make money. Personally I decided on art at the very last minute, I was originally going to be a magazine editor or work in the journalism field. As I was filling out my application for Lander University the words of my journalism professor floated into my mind, "always do what you love, because who wants to go to school and study to get a job they're just going to hate." I'd always loved art, but I had been told from a very young age that artists don't make enough money; that I needed to choose a job that I would make money in. I know entirely too many people who have gone to school for a job they knew they were going to make money with, but that wasn't what they truly loved, and they're absolutely miserable. You only have one life, why not spend it doing what you love?

Art is so easy.

Is it? Why don't you take my art classes for the week, along with my gen. eds, and then come talk to me. Artists are just as hard working as nursing majors or science majors. We spend 3 hours in studio classes learning how to paint, sculpt, create ceramic works, create graphics and so much more, and then are told "art is easy."

You're an artist? Draw me something!

A lot of people don't realize that this really irritates most artists, whether it comes from friends, family members, or random strangers. As an artist in college I struggle to keep up with projects and assignments assigned for my studio classes, adding other drawings or paintings to my list of work isn't something I want to do. It take's a large amount of time to create artwork, it's mentally and physically draining, and when we finish with our set assignments we barely have any creative juices left to make something for you as well. This doesn't mean we don't love you, or that we're just being stingy with our artwork, it means we're just too tired or prefer to save what energy we have left for creating something that's important to us.

You want how much?

Please realize that when you're buying a piece of artwork, whether it be an original piece, or an art print, that the artist has taken a considerable amount of time to create it. When you buy an artwork, you're paying for the time and effort that artist put into that piece, as well as materials used. Artwork takes time to create, it can take from 1 hour to 2 weeks for the artist to create their works, and the price of the piece reflects that. You wouldn't go to the doctor's office and ask them to pay less for their services, so please don't do that to artists.