Retrospective

I've been thinking a lot lately about my subject choices at College.. (By the way, did I mention I got into the Queensland College of Art AND that my credit transfers went through and all? I'm now officially a 2nd year Fine Arts student!). Anyway, looking back at last year, I should have definitely dropped Sculpture when I had the chance and taken Printmaking instead...because now I am stuck doing Sculpture (ok, not entirely true, the reasons for this will be explained shortly). I knew it then and I suppose I just assumed "It's a phase, in a couple weeks you'll totally hate Printmaking". Well, that didn't work out so well (which is funny, because that is generally how most things go for me...so that was odd).

Ok, so here's the deal.. I could do Printmaking, but because I did not do the introductory course last semester, I would have to do it this semester thus not entirely making me a 2nd year student and therefore causing my degree to go on a semester longer than it initially would have. No big deal, right? Wrong. For some reason, that is a very big deal for me...which warrants me putting myself through the torture of taking a Sculpture course as an elective that will take me through the rhythms of concept art for which I seem to have lost interest in circa 2008, (this is probably the phase, though..previous to that, all art was concept art, as far as I was concerned).. So I don't know what's up with that. This Interdisciplinary Sculpture class could possibly allow me to explore the realms of claymation (I love that stuff, but I am yet to muster up the patience to endure such a lengthy project), so that would be cool...Who knows, it might re-unite me with my lost love for Installation Art.

So, Printmaking, could this be my calling? (haha..cheeseball lines are a must). I don't know, only in the past few days have I thought that 'shit.....maybe I shouldn't major in Painting after all'...and should perhaps do Printmaking anyway, regardless of the fact that it will drag out my University studies to a point where I do not want them dragged out.... Or perhaps still major in Painting and take Printmaking as an elective (which has been my stress for the past...few months actually)... But I just realised, I don't think my University offers a Printmaking elective course...which would then prompt me to think I should perhaps do Printmaking as an elective major (and then drop my Drawing elective). Possible, but that would suck in third year if Printmaking clashed with Painting, thus causing me to have to finish up to a year later ANYWAY. So, that option I suppose was ruled out.. Because in all honesty, I would do the Honours program too, because I know I could easily get high enough grades to get into it, but the issue again being that I want to finish when I want to finish.. I don't see the point in dragging something out when it doesn't need to be.

In reality, I decided about 7 months ago that after I finish this degree, I was going to save up the money to send myself to that private art school that I've had my eye on since the 11th grade and study Illustration and then take Printmaking as an elective or minor or whatever. So I don't know why this is stressing me out so much, because I've already thought of all of this... Then I realised, I think the reason it bothers me is because Printmaking is something that interests me to the point where I want to be able to learn it and do it now....To which I said to myself "heck, why not teach yourself?". So, for the moment, until I am rolling in the $$$ in order to send myself to study the aforementioned in the place that I did actually not mention, I am going to teach myself the art (or is it craft?) of Printmaking.. I'm even considering getting an etching press, as crazy as that may sound. I already know how to do linocuts, and to my understanding woodcuts are very similar (please correct me if I am wrong!). So, this will be fun.. Now to get a second job so I can afford the equipment :P.