A Deliberate Decision to Go to Art School

Despite ALL the warnings to the contrary, I’m going to art school.

And trust me, I read EVERY. SINGLE. ONE OF THEM. THRICE!

(Looking at you, Noah Bradley!)

I managed to hold it off for a good three years, but in the end I decided that I just couldn’t pass up a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity like this.

I mean, when again am I going to have several uninterrupted years of full focus on my area of study?

–Along with people who are passionate about the same thing?

When will I ever again have the consistent and immediate feedback loop of industry professionals over my shoulder to help me improve my work?

Of course, I’m making a lot of positive assumptions here, but I’m hoping that’s what I’ll find.

And it’s not just any old art school. I’m heading to the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon & Graphic Art this fall.

Top reasons for my decision:

1. No bullshit pre-requisite classes: “Oh, I have to take Pre-algebra again before I can draw some comics? Yeah, fuck that.”
2. Competitive Spirit: I love competition by nature, and I tend to give it my all when others are watching. When I thought about all the talented peers I could learn from that would put work ethic to shame, I knew I couldn’t pass this up.
3. Full-time access to teachers: “Oh, that 20-year industry vet who’s worked on comics you’ve actually read? Yeah, he’ll be your teacher now.” Sweet LORD.
4. Perfect timing: I know more about myself now than I did at 18. I know EXACTLY the kind of art I want to create and the kind of life I’m working towards. I know that instead of attending school to obtain credits, I’ll be going to gain specific knowledge tailored to my goals.
5. No more full-time job: I’m not waiting 3 or 4 more years to start eking out a living with my art while still living with parents and holding down a full-time job. I had to weigh my options: stay at home and try to balance a job with building an art business using the precious few hours I have left in the day, or get…
6. Three years of focused study: Y’all already know how I feel about focus. I decided that three years of focused study on comics & storytelling was worth the price alone.

I know I’m romanticizing a lot about this, but I’m ready to embrace whatever reality has to show me.

And no, I’m not going there to learn how to draw comics. Instead, I intend to improve my professional work ethic. I can draw comics, but I’m as slow as growing grass and don’t really know how fast I should be or how much work one can really handle in month. Basically, when I reverse-engineered my goals and even my own thinking, I decided that going back to school would be the best option for me to learn first-hand how professionals get it done.

I sealed my decision when I decided tuition cost was no longer a THREAT.

It’s about $99k give or take.

For the longest time, tuition cost was my #1 deterrent.

What tipped the scales for me was the day my mind went, “FUCK IT, I’ll just pay it back ten times over by going all in!” I decided I’d make it work by squeezing the most out of my education and giving back 10x it’s value in my artwork and knowledge. What this entails exactly, I don’t know yet, but I’ll find out.

The other deciding factor was; I know ME.

If I don’t have BIG, bombastic, audacious thoughts like this, it’s not worth doing. If it doesn’t seem like it could be an adventure or lead up to one, I don’t see the point.

I’m gonna pay SO hard for thinking like this.

It’s nice to dream before reality smacks you right across the face, innit? Sure I can talk big now, but when reality hits, how will I really fare? Will I drown in my own hubris? Or roll with the punches? Only time will tell.

I can’t guess how my decisions will pay off in the long run, but I’ve never placed my bets on “normal”. By that, I mean a normal straightforward life. You’ll win that bet, guaranteed. But that’s the worst part.

Just look at 99% of people around you to know exactly what awaits you. To see exactly what you’ll “win”.

Though I say that, I always calculate my wagers. I never place a bet without doing my due diligence and putting all the odds in my favor. Even that time I left home to bet everything on universal principles to guide my path. (Spoiler Alert: I won that bet).

I tend to be an all or nothing kinda guy. I really like to see where I can push my limits in order to do and be more. Honestly, I feel like my life purpose is to conquer my own fears and emotions, then use my experiences as fodder for great stories.

But why do I have so much confidence in myself?

I DEVELOPED it when I understood THE most important thing I learned from being homeless for 2 months, depressed and lethargic for 8, then snapping out of it and spending the next 8 setting a foundation for the rest of my life.

Want to know the secret?

Find out next time, only on the Finer Points Chronicle!

つづく
To be continued

-Ken