Right now I'm a 10th grade Hong Kong Student and this year is my 2nd year officially taking Visual Arts class. Recently something bad happened.

Before I talk about it, I should mention some things which is related to what happened recently.

In my class, like other classmates, I have horrible performance, I have no specific art skills, I have no actual creativity whatsoever and despite me working hard, I can't get the basics of art, hence why I get low grades in VA.

I think it is because, in our grade, in the past 2 years we were never taught about art history or any basic skills in painting or design. This year we were taught about them shortly, but it was too late for us to develop knowledge about it.

Nowadays other lower grades are taught with it because of the change in the education system, coincidentally our grade skipped a year of learning it as well. Hence why all of us are very very behind.

What happened was, our class delayed our very first project of the year for so long, even though some of us did hand in on time, it wasn't considered artistic to anyone at all, mostly is because we are lazy and inexperienced.

Our teacher is nice and she does teach us a lot, she meant well, she taught me some techniques such as make a painting with one color but with different tones, play with the background, play with fonts etc. since she knows that I'm bad at painting, so I do respect her a lot.

But that day she couldn't take it anymore, she scolded the whole class and she said she will officially give up on teaching us. I should point out, she is being easy on all of us this year, even crossed the line for us, so I can tell she's not one of those strict teachers for sure. I felt very sorry for her and I was terrified because I was thinking if it was all my fault for choosing the wrong career path.


Even worse, I wasn't sure whether what the teacher said is true or not, was she trying to motivate me by goading or was she telling the truth, telling me to give up because Arts is really not my path?

The truth is, I've always wanted to be an artist since elementary school, I've drawn a lot so I can at least gain advantage, then I realized those drawings are not what my teacher expected for. So I started over, nowadays I've used up most of my energy almost everyday just to finish my work, it is indeed tiring, although it's slightly better, I still get bad grades. And being unfortunately uneducated for one year, is it fate?

I am intent, but I lack creativity in drawing, should I give up on arts once I graduate high school for my own sake, or should I keep trying just to fulfill my dream?

You yourself admit you have no talent for art... some people don't have it and you can't teach someone to be Rembrandt if they struggle to draw stick figures no matter how long you try.

THe same with working with your hands... some people just aren't born with it... some are... the rest are somewhere between. While its nice to think anyone be wantever they want if they work hard enough... its simply not true for everyone. If you have always had shakey hands... you will never be a surgeon no matter have smart you might be. And a dream doesn't put food on the table... pay for an apartment or anything else unless you have a talent that others like enough to pay money to buy. There is nothing wrong with keeping it as a hobby if you enjoy it... in fact I would encourage it, but if you are not good at it... consider something else as a career to support yourself in life.

And also remember... Teachers are people too... they can and do get frustrated just like any of us do.

You are giving mixed messages here:
You admit to being lazy
You say you have no creativity at all, and no artistic skill
Then you say you have wanted to do this for years!
And I can't tell if your class is a general one or a career path one.

I'm not getting the impression at all that you have any real passion for art. I hope it isn't just something you thought would be easy, or if you drew little cartoon characters with big eyes, or Hello Kitty, and thought that was art.

Your teacher is fed up with the whole class. Talk to her after class to ask how she feels about you. If she did say that just to you, and you want to know if she's goading you or telling you to give up, my answer is that it's both - what matters is how you take it. You are the one in power of your work. She is the guide. If you really cared about a career in art, you would take it as a challenge.

All right, maybe I didn't say it clear enough, sorry. When I mention the "being lazy thing", I never said that, it's what the teacher thought. The career path is what I'm talking about, the class is the experience I'm having.

And also, I did give up on drawing cartoons, like I said, I started over and it's still not making much progress. The problem is that I am torn about it, is it that I'm just trying too hard and just wasted it, that's what I really want to know

What kind of art interests you? There are all kinds of ways to express yourself in art -- ink drawings or landscapes or portraits or graphic art or photography, etc. My son minored in studio art in college and is terrific with ink drawings and painting D&D miniature figures and web design but hates to do landscapes or portraits. In school you will learn a little of this and a little of that, but after graduation you can concentrate on your special art love (while using what you have learned to be the best you can be).

One can make time to follow ones dreams while having a path to feed and shelter yourself at the same time. Parallel paths if you will. A career shouldn't stop you from pursuing a hobby. I know many who have both. I certainly did. Maybe in the future you can turn a hobby into a career. Who knows.

You still must eat and feed babies(?), and support yourself, no matter what hobbies you pursue. Maybe your teach wants you to realistically get your priorities in order. The reality of real adult life requires you to work and eat, before you play, but you can dream in between too!

You never ever do artist work "like someone else likes" so you teacher may not like a certain type. I think some of the great works of art is nothing but high priced porn, most likely your art teacher would hate my opinion of some of it.


You draw, paint, make artwork that is from your heart, you do what makes you happy. Then it will be much better than trying to do what you think another wants.

I kind of agree with what smoothy said about some people just not having creativity skills to be good at art. However, I think some people can bring out their creativity when they have a focus. Do you feel that you work well only with particular mediums or drawing particular things? Perhaps you are learning a broad set of artistic techniques in class and not accustomed to using them in your work?
Maybe you just need to focus on what you are best at or have more confidence in your skills. If you keep telling yourself you are no good than you aren't going to have that positive mind-set to continue. Maybe your teacher can offer more advice on improving your skills.

Also, have you ever looked at any videos online about art? There are a lot of videos on YouTube that show how to draw certain things. It can be helpful to use their tips and look up-close while someone is drawing.

You are torn, you say, and your question to us (total strangers) is whether you are wasting your time?
We can't possibly know that. We don't know your talent, nor do we know if you have the passion.
You didn't really read what I said: you are in control of your art and career path, and your teacher is just your guide. If you care, you will work and work and WORK at it. It isn't something you get from someone else. It isn't handed to you, and it's only taught to you in the sense of techniques. Most of it comes from within you.

I'm an artist, I work in oils, have started learning about water colors because I love the look. Here's the thing, I didn't take art hoping to learn how to be an artist. I already had talent. I took art to learn the tricks so I could become a better artist.

You yourself said you don't have any talent as an artist:


In my class, like other classmates, I have horrible performance, I have no specific art skills, I have no actual creativity whatsoever and despite me working hard, I can't get the basics of art, hence why I get low grades in VA.

You have no creativity (your words), you have no art skills (your words). Art can't be taught. You can teach someone with a natural skill to become a better artist, but if you have no skills when it comes to art, which you don't according to you, there's no way any teacher can make you an artist.

You may want this as a career, but as with any other career choice you do have to have some talent for it. Just like not everyone can be a doctor, or a teacher, or a lawyer, or a ballet dancer, not everyone can be an artist. If you don't have a talent for it, you won't succeed in it, no matter how many classes you take or how wonderful your teacher is. You can't turn a rock into a diamond.