Art students choose between groceries and art supplies

The price of class is incredibly expensive for art majors. Most graphic design and fine arts courses require art supplies that can exceed the cost of textbooks.

Other majors have avenues for their materials, such as the First Day Complete program through the campus bookstore, Discount Textbooks or online downloads. But that’s not always the case for many art students.

Senior graphic design major Marcus Kelly spends $414 on average per semester on additional supplies alone, with variations in price depending on the course. Rising prices of

subscriptions and art supplies have made projects a challenge, according to art majors.

One of the tools for the major, Adobe Creative Cloud Suite, is provided on the school computers – however, art students have experienced complications with the current system.

“The computers do have Adobe subscription,” Kelly said. “They tell you you can use them, but you’re confined to working only in [Ophelia Parrish].”

Kelly said if working after hours, which art students often do, they are required to call the Department of Public Services to get the doors unlocked. Often, DPS is quick to unlock the rooms, but Kelly said that sometimes students have waited hours in order to get into their room.

Not only are school computers challenging to access, but obtaining art supplies also poses a problem, especially in a small town. Students said they are faced with two options: buy

from Hobby Lobby or buy online. Noah Bruning, Sculpture VI and Painting II student, has firsthand experience.

“Kirksville has one art store, super famous for overpricing everything,” Bruning said. “Or you can buy online, which is heavy, which adds pounds, which adds shipping. And shipping is so much money.”

Senior graphic design major Elisha Clayton understands the struggle, especially comparing her expenses from freshman to senior year. Clayton said the most challenging costs are the payments per project, rather than paying for all supplies through a loan at the beginning of the year.

“When [you are assigned] a project and it’s going to cost you $50, ‘Well, do I do that or go grocery shopping?’” Clayton said. “And that’s a really hard thing when you’re doing all of that.”

However, the restrictions lead to creativity in keeping costs low, as Kelly prints from Walgreens. Kelly said Walgreens offers faster turnaround times and sometimes cheaper prints when compared to the 15-20 price per print through the school.

Students also practice reusing materials. For painting courses, Bruning has repurposed old canvases from high school or previous semesters.

Some students see the restrictions in a positive light. Clayton said the restrictions are beneficial, as being able to work within parameters is an important skill to have as a lifelong artist.

Additionally, students said having a support system increases the chance of success. Assistant Professor of Art Danielle Yakle, who teaches the sculpture courses, has been encouraging to students.

“Everything costs so much money,” Bruning said. “Sculpture has been really good about it because Danielle [Yakle] is wonderful. Lower-level sculpture will supply [materials] when possible.”

The art department has funds reserved to help students struggling to pay for their supplies. The Support for Art Majors scholarship gives up to $200 to supplement the cost of supplies, which Clayton has been able to secure over the years.

Art Department Chair Aaron Neeley said the fund is flexible and changes based on the budget.

“It depends a lot on who applies, [the] loose amount of money that we have in our budget and we try to just divide it up to who [apply],” Neeley said.

Although the costs are challenging for students, Kelly said he doesn’t let it get in the way of enjoying the program.

“I don’t want to sound bitter,” Kelly said. “I’m not. I expect these things to happen – it’s college education, everything is expensive.”

Moving forward, Clayton said the hope is more clarity from the art department on what to expect in terms of cost, such as a clear and updated budget sheet.