Finding Your Passion in Visual Arts

Finding Your Passion in Visual Arts and studying for a visual arts education in today’s high tech world: Hi, my name is Liz. I am one of the counselors here at ReadyEdgeGo. My area of expertise is visual and digital arts. I am currently in my second year of teaching visual arts subjects at high school and middle school levels. Art has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. I was always encouraged by my parents to explore my creative side. My love for art grew because my mom has always been a very creative person. Growing up, she would always have some kind of camera with her whether it was a Polaroid or a disposable one.

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Getting my Visual Arts Education

Photography was by far her favorite hobby and she inspired me to learn more about visual arts. I enjoy seeing parents encourage their children to explore their creativity. I believe exposure to visual arts at a young age can help students develop an appreciation for art. Even learning about the history of art can allow students to develop an interest in art. I actually never took any art classes outside of school when I was growing up. The art classes I would take in school were just basic painting, drawing, and ceramics. My creative side started at home.

I always loved to draw, color and paint. I spent my entire high school career thinking about what I wanted to go into. The high school I went to had these little groups called academies. I joined the arts one of course and within the four years that I was in high school, I was able to take various art courses and learn more about art overall.

I recommend you take some AP classes if possible. And if there is none in Digital Arts, then focus on AP classes in math. It wasn’t until college that I realized that I loved to teach art history. My professors really inspired me to go into teaching. One of my professors was hired to work for National Geographic magazine. In order to travel and take pictures. At the same time he was a college professor teaching intro to studio lighting and other photography classes. He really inspired me to go into teaching.

What is a Visual Arts Degree?

It makes me very happy that they added a visual arts degree into the STEM acronym. Art is a big part of learning. Even for subjects like science and math, having visuals is very helpful for certain students. Especially those that perhaps have learning disabilities or difficulty with reading numbers and words. Having a visual within those subjects can be very helpful for a lot of students. And a lot of students express themselves through creativity.

The arts in the education system have definitely evolved ever since I was a kid up until now. High schools now offer a great range of visual arts classes. Because of that, I highly encourage students to take at least 4-5 different art courses in high school. Learning how to make art is like learning a whole new skill. Taking the many types of visual arts class provides a clearer picture to where you want your future to go. The possibilities are endless. With the development of technology, there are things like digital painting, digital drawing, 3d modeling degree, art advertising, and digital design. Everything is now digital which has made it so much easier for students to learn the skill of art.

What do Visual Arts Careers Look Like?

Art is also pretty well-rounded when it comes to careers. Anyone could go my route and be a teacher and have students create, but there are also other careers such as character design, animation, and game design. All those careers are very popular now especially with how much the gaming and entertainment industry has evolved.

Another wonderful career within the arts is 3D modeling careers. 3-D modeling is very well rounded and it’s used not just within art but for engineering, industrial design, and even the medical field. It’s definitely a degree in the arts that is very well-rounded. Note that getting an art degree is very hands-on. For students who are interested in getting into art, go to art shows and local galleries. Start by searching up if your city has any museums or upcoming gallery exhibitions. A lot of the time, you might even get the chance to meet the artist and ask any questions regarding their creative process. This is a great way to learn about the process it takes to put together an exhibition.

It’s also highly encouraged to do internships. Whether that is at a museum, with a photographer, or assisting an artist. Most assisting jobs can start in high school. Assisting an artist consists mainly of helping the artist set up, shadowing, and helping in big projects. That’s how you get the best experience within the art field, everything is very hands on.

Visual Arts In College – Conclusion

At ReadyEdgeGo, we specialize in youth mentorship and college counseling. From 8th grade to 12th, we have you covered for any stage in your high school career. Schedule a free consultation with us here. We have mentoring experts that can cater to your Visual Arts College Major interest if you wish to pursue it. Talk to us today.

We are always posting more helpful tips and tricks to help reduce the stress of college application season. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

See you soon!

Liz Robles

ReadyEdgeGo Mentor – Visual Arts

Sarah Gooch

Essay Editor

Q:How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: I have five years' experience in coaching student writing, but this is my first year with ReadyEdgeGo.

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: I love helping students find depth and meaning in their own stories—but I also just love it when they make me laugh!

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: In theory, I enjoy painting and writing poetry, but these days I actually spend most of my free time socializing or watching movies with my husband.

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: Don't just focus on achieving top grades and credentials because they look good on applications, or your education will be meaningless. The numbers and awards have their place, but stay connected to your sense of curiosity, discovery, excitement, and wonder so that the content you're learning is constantly transforming you—it's something you care about, something you remember after the final exam. Work on the aspects of yourself no one can measure, like integrity, wisdom, kindness, and compassion, so that you're not only developing your academic and career potential but also investing in the type of adult you're going to be, the person you'll have to live with after you clock out every day for the rest of your life. Doing the hard inner work of building your character and learning deeply instead of just earning grades will set you up for a satisfying, well-rounded life. Strange as it sounds, it will also put you ahead in your academic and career goals, because colleges and hiring managers aren't looking for an empty set of data on a spreadsheet; they want a fully fleshed-out person marked by passion, creativity, and a story no one else has lived. So go on studying hard for tests, but also spend some time asking yourself what matters in life and who your role models are. Read up on topics that amaze you, and build something incredible just for fun. Cultivate that spark of joy you feel when you're immersed in a subject that fascinates you. If you can hit that balancing act of doing your homework and meeting deadlines but also investing in the kind of person you want to be, then trust that all the rest will follow: schools will recognize you as a dynamic, all-star person, and you will also build a life of happiness, close relationships, and peace.

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