You Got Rejected from Art School. Now What?

Don't despair, it’s not the end.
Schools provide a guided, structured path for learning. Doing it outside of that system just means you’ll need to get a grip on that structure yourself—and that’s absolutely possible.

What matters is what you do next, check these three steps:

1. Rejection ≠ failure
Didn’t get in? That probably means your portfolio didn’t show what they wanted. That’s fixable. Skill is built, not granted.

2. Learn what matters
Strong art starts with fundamentals: shapes and forms (line), values, colour, and anatomy. That’s why I’ve structured my process like this here on Patreon—to make it easier to follow.
Don’t focus on style. Style is a by-product of understanding, sometimes a conscious choice, sometimes an accident.
You can learn from the best online, often for free or cheap. The information is out there.

3. Make your own structure
Art school gives you order—you just follow the path. That can make things easier to grasp. But learning independently doesn’t mean you can’t progress. It just means you’ll have to build your own system.
Write down a plan that includes:

• Daily practice

• Weekly reviews

• Monthly goals

• Feedback from peers

This way, you can track your growth over time and keep yourself accountable.

What? You don’t know where to start?
Here’s a very basic idea considering traditional art teaching schools:

Term 1 – Foundation Skills

• Drawing Fundamentals: Focus on shapes, forms, and perspective.

• Value and Lighting: Study light and shadow to create depth.

• Color Theory: Understand color relationships and harmony.

• Basic Anatomy: Learn human and animal anatomy for accurate representations.

• Art History: Gain insights from past masters and movements.​

Term 2– Intermediate Techniques

• Figure Drawing: Practice drawing the human figure in various poses.

• Composition: Learn to arrange elements effectively within your artwork.

• Medium Exploration: Experiment with different materials and techniques.

• Concept Development: Start creating original pieces with personal themes.​

Tearm 3 – Advanced Application

• Portfolio Development: Compile your best works to showcase your skills.

• Specialization: Focus on a particular style or subject matter.

• Professional Practices: Learn about the business side of art, including marketing and networking.

• Critique and Feedback: Seek constructive criticism to refine your work.

How long should each term last? Up to you. I recommend researching how long it typically takes a student to understand these concepts, and based on that, set a realistic time frame for practice.

Use this as a guideline, template, foundation to build your learning structure on top. If you're still feeling insecure or lost, please share it with me and let’s take a look — or even post it in our Discord so others can help too.

Rejection hurts!
And that's fine. It means something matters to you. Having a direction is better than having nothing at all. Consider this a small change in the course of your journey—a detour that will require a stronger, more awake version of yourself.
It’s nothing but the opportunity to become formidable.
Don’t quit.

.

I can't believe there are only 16 days to go. Did you get your copy yet? If not, consider supporting this book. It contains all the ideas I've used to build my career as an artist. Do these ideas work? You tell me!
Honestly, I think they do. I'm extremely lucky—and stubborn—enough to fail so many times and still be here, making art on a daily basis.
Maybe I'm just incapable of doing anything else. But whether that’s relevant or not, the knowledge born from so many attempts is there, waiting for you to grasp it.
So what are you waiting for?

Signed book + exclusive print:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1906838062/the-art-of-ramonn90?secret_reward_token=5629261e

Unsigned book + exclusive print:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1906838062/the-art-of-ramonn90?secret_reward_token=89737f38