Picking a major for college is often a very hard decision, but when it comes to art majors, there are many pros and cons that come hand-in-hand with the field.
According to an article written at Lake Forest University, a liberal arts education “emphasizes the development of critical thinking… the ability to solve complex problems… as well as a desire to continue to learn.”
Liberal arts curriculums today include an interdisciplinary study, aiming to immerse students in as many different things as possible. This encourages“students to think beyond their interests…see how their interests intersect with other fields of study… and show them how they might find a substantial career that nurtures multiple interests,” as said in the same report.
The process of getting into art school is very similar to the regular application process but with a few added requirements.
“In general, when you’re applying to art programs, there’s the regular application, and then on top of that, you want to submit a portfolio, which is like a sample of [the best] work you’ve done over the years,” Page Lee, the College Information Center director, said.
Along with most art programs requiring an extra application, many art majors also need to worry about a source of stable income. While some can succeed selling their work, most have to look at other creative pursuits, such as an individual business or part-time job. This enables them to do what they love and make enough money to sustain themselves.
“If you need to make an income, you have to be practical about it [and] at the same time know that you will have the ability to pursue the pure form of your art on your own time,” Lee said.
Though there are a few downsides to an art degree, people that pursue the arts also learn a lot of crucial experiences during art school. Having to work with groups on projects helps strengthen their abilities to collaborate and communicate with others. They also learn valuable life skills such as research, resourcefulness and how to have discipline and focus through the various projects they take on.
Additionally, art students also learn how to handle criticism since most artists go through art critic panels where experts evaluate and critique student work. Getting other people’s opinions and feedback is a vital part of developing as an artist. It helps students learn what aspects of art people gravitate toward so that they can enhance those aspects in their work. Developing this skill allows students to be willing to grow and mature in their personal lives and careers.
For those considering majoring in fine arts, these things and more are important to examine. Overall, an arts major will learn valuable life skills that will be useful even if they decide to not pursue a career in art.
“Being able to collaborate with people, communicate well, have empathy and be able to see from other people’s perspectives is useful, and [all of] those skills are going to be built during art school,” Lee said.