Student-to-Student Tips

Emily P's advice...Struggling to find YOUR style? Here are some tips.

Finding a style is something we are all trying to continuing working on as we grow and develop as artists. But finding a style on your own is challenging and often an up hill battle. I have some tips that helped me find my way, though I am still continuously developing and trying to push my style. My first tip is to find a couple of artists that you want your art style to mimic, whether thats for how they use their line weight, rendering style, dynamic compositions, lighting scenario, etc. Then start tracing, but don't just trace, really observe how they use their lines or shapes to make the character, prop, or environment. After you feel you have a general understanding on how they did something, mimic a piece they have done or the piece you have been tracing to test how well your understanding is. Then after a few more practice rounds of mimicking you are ready to implement it to your own work. After doing this with a few artists and combining them and your own style, you should have developed a style that you like. This has worked for me, but may not work for everyone, either way I hope it helps. Good luck on finding your style!

Laney's sound suggestion...Keep Organized!

One of my biggest issues academically is keeping track of all of my classes. Especially with how different professors want things submitted in different ways, I've definitely gotten some missing assignments that I'd completed but never submitted. My advice to start out this spring semester is to jot down where your professor wants work submitted, whether on Google drive, Canvas, or a combination of the two. It never hurts to stay organized and double check!

Dana's advice on...World-Building Through Projects 

If you are someone planning to create media involving your original characters and/or an original world, try to work in world-building into the projects you have to complete for the semester. Even in FYE, which I am in right now, there have been many projects I was able to better understand the world I was trying to create or my characters. For example, when I had to create an audio collage for Digital 4D, I made one about what I think my character's spaceship would sound like to walk around in. 

Dana's advice for everyone who's busy on...staying up-to-date with schoolwork

Sometimes, it may be hard to understand what a teacher is asking of you in a certain project, which can make you worried to or uninterested in starting the assignment at all. I recommend asking your teachers a lot of questions! Most are very willing to help you understand, and would rather answer a lot of questions and receive well-thought out work than receive nothing and have no idea why or how they could have helped you. If they wrote the assignment details and/or teach them, they probably know exactly what it means and how to rephrase it in order to aid your understanding! 

Melody's Timely Tip for...Typography!

Type is extremely important! Working with type can be scary but it's always amazing to experiment and find ways to incorporate it into your work. Don't be intimidated, and try some cool fonts on your next project!

Laney's here to remind you...Friendship is everything!

As midterms roll around, stress and pressure start to ramp up. My tip for students out there is this: let your friends know you love them! You never know who really needs to hear it. Make time for yourself, protect your peace, and keep truckin' along. We're all getting through this together. 

Laney's suggestion if you're...missing home?

With the school year kicking back into full swing, it's normal to feel a little homesickness during this transitional period. My personal advice if you're feeling particularly down is to go out and explore more of Milwaukee! Getting to know your roommates and know more about your location is the fastest way to make this place feel more like home. 

Tamar's today to-do...go kiss the grass!

Even for just 5 minutes, taking a break outside can help ground your senses and get you jumpstarted for the day.

Emily's advice if you...need help on your cover letters: check out the Career Section of the Library!

The MIAD Library is a great resource for research, and we have a special collection that can help with cover letter/ resumes in specific careers. These include books for concept art and game art, to the entrepreneurship of contemporary art, to fashion designs and children book illustrators, etc. These books can help with your cover letters and resume for your specific career choice. Their are also resources outside the MIAD library, like Duane Seidensticker, the Executive Director of Career Services, and Jason Orozco, the Career Services Coordinator, who can help you write your cover letter and resume for a specific job.  

Emily's got a favor to ask...Please visit the Periodical section!

If you have not visited the periodical section of the library I really recommend it! They have great topic's that are discussed from people in the field. A personal recommendation for Illustrators interested in concept design or book covers is any of the Imagine FX magazines. 

Ryan needs to know...How is every couch on the 4th floor occupied!?

Picture this: you're looking for a quiet place to work. You have an essay to finish and your current working environment seems intent to drive you up a wall, but you know just what to do! The fourth floor couches, surely at least one of those is empty--no one uses those!

Everyone is using them. They're all taken.

Don't despair, there's an option you haven't considered yet! The Library! Escpe the woes of crowded workspaces and retreat to the library to finish your essay and surive another day!

Emily's words of encouragement for...off days

If you ever feel like your art is off no matter what you do, take a break! It's important to step away from your work and center yourself. Whether that's watching your favorite movie or eating your favorite food, take your mind away from your work for a little bit!

Laney has some great tips for when you...miss your pets!

1) Ask your parents for pictures of them or do Facetime calls 

2) It's always okay to cry about missing your pets 

3) I miss my cat so bad 

4) Try visiting a cat cafe!

Ryan hopes that you...go outside!

With a long weekend coming up fast, and the next real break being a month away, take this opportunity to get outside. Let your body synthesize some last minute vitamin D before winter hits, take in the weather before it turns... Lakeside park is just a few blocks East, Catalano Square right outside MIAD's doors, and if you take the bus or the hop, practically all city parks are at your fingertips. 

Kelly wants to remind you to...take care of yourself!

Listen to your body. Don't overwork yourself. Make sure you're eating, getting enough sleep, and taking time to reset your brain. It can be super hard to not feel like doing these things isn't a waste of time and there's a million other things you "should" be working on. But, working on your own mental health is just as important as finishing an assignment. As long as you're doing your best, that's what's important.  

Ryan know's you're wondering...Wait...wasn't this here last year?

Did you wander into the library one day, ready to see your student tutors and saw a wooden barrier and a classroom instead? Did you rush to the second floor in the midst of a printing catastrophe only to find the tech desk replaced by a fibers "chill room"? Don't resign yourself to never fixing your tech issues or seeing a tutor again, they're still here! 

The ASC is located in the old admissions office- or the office on the right with the glass wall on the way to the library. The tech desk is in room 235A- go forth and know peace.

Tamar's got something to say about...Energy!

Make sure to eat, don't treat it like a reward you have to earn! If you're feeling hungry, let yourself be and grab a snack- it will help in the long run of focus on work and feeling generally better! You deserve to enjoy things, and seeing the sun at least once a day will also do some good. 

Wyatt has some encouragement about...Time management and work/life balance

It's still early in the semester but it's never too early to start thinking about time management! As students, we have to balance our academic, social and personal lives, which can become overwhelming quickly. If you're struggling with time management issues in your course-load, the Academic Success Center has tutors available to help you out! Schedule an appointment with the Calendly link on Canvas today!  

Kelly's insider info on...Class Registration!

Class registration for Fall 2023 is upon us! Something I've found if there are required classes I'm not looking forward to, it's better to get them out of the way Fall semester as opposed to Spring. Fall semester has more breaks, so it feels like an easier semester regardless AND you can look forward to your Spring semester!

Hannah's here to clue you in on...how awesome the library student clerks are!

The team of library student clerks is one of the best parts of the MIAD Library! Friendly, helpful, and knowledgable, they're here to help you find the resources you need, walk you through your first time printing or scanning, suggest their favorite books, and more! 

Kelly's here to help with...changing your class schedule

Feeling overwhelmed with your schedule? Too many classes for you to handle in one day? Consider switching out of one of your classes for one that fits the credit requirement while fitting better into your routine. You could even just drop the class all together and take it later on in your time at MIAD. Talk to your academic advisor to see what could work the best for you or talk to Jean Weimer about which classes have availability. You have until October 27th to change or drop your classes. 

Tamar's timely reminder...

Tackle your deadlines one by one- going from the closest to the farthest. By prioritizing certain days for specific projects, you can clear a task list of homework individually before it becomes overwhelming if they seem to meld together. And don't be afraid to communicate with your professor if problems arise!

Laney's ready to help...with organization in school!

My tip for students struggling with organization or losing track of time is keeping a to-do list of assignments and other tasks in your phone. While this is pretty obvious and basic advice, focusing on building up this habit will really help develop good time management skills, and it helps having all of the due dates together in one place! Even keeping one in my notes app and updating it when old assignments get complete and new ones get assigned has really helped me become more organized.

Wyatt wants you to know about...Research Guides!

Working on a paper and don't know where to look? Our library has a collection of research guides curated by our staff and clerks on various topics! All you need to do is look under the Resources tab, or click here!

Finn's got some encouragement for you...feeling burnt out?

By the middle or end of the semester, you're most likely feeling burnt out. To combat this, try creating something for yourself! Not for a project or another person, but do it for you! If you're burnt out creatively as well, pull up some of your favorite media and do some fan art! Draw something silly! Humor helps! Creating something without any pressure to do your absolute best gives you a chance to breathe with your art!

Wyatt's cheering you on as you're...working on Finals!

Finals can be stressful, so make sure to manage your time wisely! Don't sacrifice yourself for work!

Tamar checking in...remember to take breaks!

Remember to take breaks! Work can get stressful, especially when compounded with endless pursuit over hours. The best way to regain concentration or energy to make sure you don't feel sick afterwards is to take a break, and maybe even eat! Set aside some time between your work hours to have a snack or watch a video- that way you can feel motivated without completely draining yourself afterwards.

Kelly cares...need a mental health check-in?

This time of the semester can be tolling for some people (me). So why not take 15 minutes for a free mental health consultation from Marquettes Counseling Center? You can call (414) 288-7172 during their office hours (Monday - Friday 8:00a - 4:30p) to schedule a phone consultation with one of their trained mental health professionals!

Laney has a great resource...to help AVOID wrist and hand strain!

Draw a lot? Wrists or hands hurt? Draw a lot but your hands or wrists don't even hurt? Remember to do stretches! Wrist and hand stretches can do wonders to help avoid strains and injuries from repetitive movements. There are thousands of references and guides for stretches online, but I think this website is thorough, well illustrated, and easy to navigate. https://doncorgi.com/blog/hand-stretches-for-artists/

Reassurance from Thea...if you're worried or stressed

"Worrying does not take away tomorrow's troubles, it takes away today's peace." -Anonymous 

Kelly's got some wisdom for all you Seniors...Can't Think of What to Do for Thesis?

Me neither! But, we can both go to the new Lubar Innovation Center in room 455 for some help! We can also get advice about what we should do after graduation. 

Melody has some practical advice about...Cooking from the Heart

Cooking might be easier than you thought! It gets easier if you spend some time during your weekend preparing something for yourself to enjoy over the week. 

Finn's got the in on...printing at DigiCopy

Whether the printers are down at the school or you need a specific printing job done, printing at Digicopy is just that easy! For remote printing, you can just email Digicopy at milwaukee_erie@dcopy.net with your PDF file and detailed printing instructions and they'll email you when the job is finished to pick up. Digicopy also has computers that you can log into and print in house as well. Make sure you have your MIAD ID if you want to pay with your PaperCut account, otherwise you can pay with card or cash.

Ryan has the answer...What happened to the LRC?

It has been rebranded! Offering the same tutoring and guidance services as it always has, in the same library location, but the former LRC has donned a new name: the ASC, or Academic Success Center. 

Kelly's spilling the tea on...how to hack Reserve Textbooks

If you need to borrow a textbook for class that has a 2 hour check out limit and you need more time to use it, check it out around 2-4 pm on a Friday and make sure it's in the book drop off before 8 am on Monday. 

Ryan has the answer to your burning question...Need a book on a specific artist?

There are three rows of shelves in our library that can help! the 706 section is organized by last name, so all you have to do is know their last name, mosey on down to the section labelled 706, and go in alphabetical order to find them. You could also search on TOPCAT to see if we have any books on them, or request some from other schools if our collection is lacking. Happy searching!

Melody's excited about...MIAD's Animation Track!

Practice makes perfect! You don't have to start with the complicated things, go little by little focusing on the small details. 

Ryan has something to say about...requesting books!

Have a book you need on TOPCAT, and want to make sure no one else takes it before you get down to the library? Or maybe you found the perfect book, but it's at another school's library. Not to worry! While signed in to your MIAD account, you can request books directly from TOPCAT, and will get an email from the library when it's safe on our hold shelf, ready to be picked up!

Wyatt wants you to know about...MSAC

MIAD has recently created its very own Student Advisory Committee, with representatives from every major, as well as other on-campus organizations including the BSU, Somx Unidxs, and Student Housing. Go follow their Instagram (@miadstudentadvisory) to keep up to date on all of their plans!

Thea has some encouragement for you as the semester gets under way...Don't ever forget you are talented! You made it this far for a reason, nothing can stop you now.

Ryan has the cure for your PDF fatigue! If you've reached your limit for the number of .pdf copies of books that you can read for this semester, try the library! We have physical copies of many of the course books you need, and they have the added benefit of not coming in .pdf format.

Lee has some advice about...Reloading PaperCut/DigiCopy accounts

Need some more money on your DigiCopy/PaperCut account? Come down to the library with some physical cash and ask for a print card! Afterward, head to print.miad.edu and lick "redeem card," and input the code on the card (with dashes), submit, and voila! The value of the card has been added to your account. We can provide $1, $5, and $10 cards. 

You can also head over to DigiCopy and ask them to help, too. They can take credit/debit cards and put on any amount!