Alyssa Gonzales

1. Don't make art that looks "Tumblr"

One of the first things we notice as an art major is that what looks cool or as some may say "aesthetically pleasing." Yes, whatever you make might look awesome, but does it have a concept? Are you presenting your ideas and thoughts? Make work that has meaning because all of the "bullshit" work you make just because your project is due in a few hours, will just be "bullshit" work that doesn't help with your growth as an artist. The objective is to make art that expresses yourself through visual aspects, not to create something that is Instagram worthy that your friends will like.

2. Phases

Being surrounded by artistic souls allows you to have more freedom with your appearance than most college students. Unlike nursing majors and chemist and other "serious" majors, you may dye your hair blue, shave half your head, maybe shave your entire head. Your wardrobe may become a little funky as well. I wore my dad's over sized clothes, my brother's clothes, and baseball hats. I had classmates wear earrings of spiders and another one who uses tiny china cups as his earrings.

3. Question Everything

The first thing you should do to draw some inspiration is think about life questions you have. What is so important for you to figure out in life? Then figure out a way to express yourself visually with the "answers" or hypothesis of your most important questions. It took me nearly three years for a professor to ask my class this question and it forced me to realize how important it is to find purpose in your work, but to do so, you have to figure out what gives you purpose.

4. Priorities change

Sleep is no longer much of a priority and during finals week, neither is hygiene. Art becomes more important and overpowers all of your priorities, except for one thing. Food.

5.This is not a competition

Everyone wants to be the next rising artist, but one of the key factors of becoming a successful artist is to build connections, and you don't build great relationships by acting like you are above everyone. It's okay to help your colleagues. You should never not help someone because you want your work to be better. Some of the best work I have ever done was because of collaboration.

6.Money Money Money

Art does not come cheap and its especially not made cheap. Supplies cost a lot of money. One of the nice things about being an art major is the lack of textbooks, but supply lists can be just as pricey.

7. Your colleges become your closest friends.

Remember those long late all nighters you spent during the semester, the night before your project was due? Painting in the studio till sunrise and editing photographs all night just so you can finish printing them 10 minutes before class starts? Remember the person next to you that you promised you would never procrastinate again? During studio classes you spend 6 hours with the same person 1-3 days a week. Within the course of a semester, which turns into 4 years of several studio classes. You spend so much time together, professors begin to notice you are no longer classmates, you are basically an art family.