HOW TO BECOME AN ARTIST WITHOUT SPENDING A PENNY FOR ART SCHOOL. Hello I'm Joshua Rodriguez.

I was born and raised in New Jersey, about a mile across the Hudson River from New York EFFIN CITY! I'm an aspiring artist. How many time have you heard that before? No seriously, this time it,s different! This time around, I'm not one of these millions of so called artists looking to get attention and a shot at fame and glory. No, what I'm here to talk to you about is the education of an artist, their role in society, my journey on becoming an artist, and as well as lessons I can teach you, (and lessons you can teach me) in becoming an artist in todays society! Think of this blog as a school. It's a place where you can come to and UNLEARN everything WRONG about becoming an artist, and learn everything RIGHT about becoming an artist. You can teach yourself art using this blog! You'll learn everything from how to teach yourself the basics; How to paint/draw, if you're a beginner. Proper use of the principles of design if you're an intermediate artist. To how to expand your creativity, and think just like Da Vinci if you're already established. Furthermore, I'll teach you how to ACT, and LIVE as true artists do. Don't become the stereotypical emotional wreck starving artist! Stick to this blog, open your eyes, ears and mind, and achieve your dreams! BUT for now here's my story When I was 16 years old I dropped out of high school as freshman, got my GED and enrolled in college. In college, I majored in Graphic Design because I thought visual artists were a joke, and couldn't make any money. Two years later, I moved to Miami and enrolled in Miami International University of Art & Design. So far, so bad. Why? Because... ART SCHOOLS DON'T TEACH YOU HOW TO BECOME AN ARTIST! Seriously they'll suck you dry. Keep on reading and you'll see how. I majored in Graphic Design for another 6 months. I changed my major to Visual Arts, because hell why not give your dreams a shot! Well my Drawing 1 professor taught us that to become proficient at the skills needed to become a successful artist one needed to study in an atelier environment. It was in an atelier environment that an artist could build up the skills of drawing/painting to a level no college student would achieve in 10 years of study. I stuck around a few months after that before finally leaving art school because I felt as if I wasn't learning as fast and efficiently as I could have, and plus its too damn expensive. I left art school when I was 19 years old. I was saddled with debt over 30k to be exact. It was right decision because this is where my life took a turning point (one of many right?). That same year, I discovered a master artist who taught painting and drawing in his own atelier. His name is Alberto Pancorbo, he was also taught in a classical atelier setting. What drew me to him, wasn't just the atelier setting he provided but the fact that he has done nothing else but paint and draw for a living his entire life! His artwork is displayed across the world, in Spain, here in the States, and in Colombia. In fact when he was just 22 he made his debut as an artist on the world stage in Basel Switzerland, in the Art Basel festival. I studied under him for a full year, before setting off on my own. I had to UNLEARN everything I knew about the science of drawing and painting, and RELEARN how to draw and paint, down to holding a paint

brush. In a atelier setting, you learn things you never learn in college. But becoming an artist is so much more than that! For example, do you know what role an artist plays in society? An artist isn't some emotionally damaged narcissist, who lives in poverty creating inconceivable works of art that is of importance to no one else but themselves personally. THE ROLE OF AN ARTIST The role of an artist is to be a visionary for society. Take Leonardo Da Vinci for example, although he was a polymath he didn't have to actually go out and build his inventions. But we still give him credit for simply being a visionary! (insert examples of artists who are blogging as visionaries) To BE an artist, is be deeply introspective, to accumulate wisdom and knowledge, and embrace the di vincian principles.(link to How to think like Da Vinci). Being an artist means so much, and it is definitely a dream to chase, but the mantle is not light, and isn't for everyone. Most of us make the mistake of putting an artist in a box. For example a visual artist isn't simply someone who uses media to display their personal feelings and what not. A visual artist is the prelude to the engineer, the inventor, the scientist and mathematician. A visual artists uses their right brain to temporarily bypass logical and rational thinking, and creates works that are burned into the retinas of the beholder to envision a renewal of society! SEPERATE ARTICLE The Truth and Reconciliation: Art Renewal Center & Classical Ateliers Art Renewal Center is a website that shows off works of art by people who are training in the classical curriculum. And thats great! ONLY...the work often leaves you feeling empty, and honestly they are a bit dated if you ask me. They have no vision. Once again they put art in a box, a dogmatic, strict, serious box. The truth is that while being an artist requires true skill in drawing and seeing properly(provide links). But we must reconciliate the past definition of being a polymath in the renaissance to being a visionary and a progressive social leader for the 21st century. For example what if an artist today uses 3-D printing (links) to create sculptures, that artist can show off the potential of embracing new technology and influencing culture to move into a second industrial revolution! This is just the tip of the iceberg folks. I'll be writing a lot more about the role of an artist, and invite you on my journey on becoming one! This blog is a teaching tool, and a forum to discuss a return to progressive thinking as in the renaissance for the arts!