The Creative Process might be Lonely But The Journey Does Not Have To Be.

"You may not need school to become an artist, but you may need rooms full of artists to become the artist you could be." Once we decide for ourselves that we are artists, whether at age 6 or 46, another thought almost always creeps in, regardless of the medium: Do I need school? Do I need training? Is it a waste of time? Is there more to learn that I can only get from “enrollment”? What we often underestimate, though, is the empowering community waiting for us on the other side of that enrollment. There is something vital about surrounding yourself with other budding vessels of talent—people who challenge you, correct you, inspire you, and, perhaps most importantly, remind you that you are not the only one trying to make something out of nothing.

Well. There is always more to learn, and nothing is a waste (I hope). Still, there will never be one straight answer that guarantees any kind of success. No one path, no straight shot. For some, the schools of life, of New York City, of watching movies, of watching “the greats” over and over again, do the trick. We see that anywhere from Basquiat to Leonardo DiCaprio. The same way we see it go in the other direction, from Natalie Portman to Marc Jacobs and their diplomas.

However, what school, a program, a seminar, a workshop, whatever it may be, will give you - and this is a promise - is a shared space with like-minded and ever-so-talented individuals, and the pure, exhilarating, priceless artistic luxury of creating art together. Schooling provides an already tended garden. Yes, New York City is bustling with creatives and talent on every corner, but let’s be real, it is not always that easy to meet someone profoundly. So… do not disregard the ease that can be found once you enter a room that has been waiting for you. Because once real life hits and years begin to pass, it gets harder and harder to get back there, to allow yourself to be a novice at something again. What is more, you should be spending that energy on creating your art! Not struggling to meet a likeminded few.

Of course, there is a strange, powerful beauty in going on artistic journeys on your own. That bittersweet torment that comes when you are in flow and so indulged in your craft with no outside opinions. But absolutely nothing compares to meeting another black sheep. Getting to work alongside someone who is just as, if not more, talented as you are is the most exhilarating thing “a class” has to offer. You are pushed, inspired, and changed. It can feel like a dirty secret applying to schools or prestigious programs, secretly hoping you will have to drop out because of a life-changing opportunity. That’s fine. That feeling may never go away. But do not let that feeling blind you to the teachers around you just as much as the one within. Words By: Nina Lardi.