How do I get back into Art!!?

PLEASE DON’T BE PUT OFF AT THE LENGTH OF MY QUESTION!!

My biggest talent is being good at art!

I’m really good at drawing and sketching etc. and am a very creative and visual person! I’ve always been proud of this and always thought it made me special. It has always been my kind of identity in a way and what people know me for! I’ve always known that I’d want a job in art after school,it was just a matter of deciding which area I would zone in on!

In Ireland,we have 2 major state exams that we take in Secondary school (high school!). I’m 16 and I did my first one this time last year and since I do art as a subject at school,I had to prepare a folder of different types of art for the state examination. It was very formal and exact and I had to work on it all year. It was very stressful and frustrating and really took all my enjoyment out of my favourite subject and hobby.

I used to really look forward to double art classes at school where I could just let my hands do the work and escape into my own little world and produce art at least one piece of beautiful praised art work by the end of the class. Even though I was a devoted artist at school,I rarely did at home,except for competitions. I’m very indecisive and really like being told what to draw,and making it my own.

I have just finished a year at school called Transition Year where we did other out of school activities besides the regular subjects and homework,but I still dread going to art class because I still haven’t found my love fro art again!

I have chosen Art as a subject for my final state examination and I start the course next year and I really want to know how to become enthusiastic and motivated with my art again. I still want to pursue a career in this field and have finally found the PERFECT college and course I want to do!!:)

My art teacher has tried talking to me and motivating me and I’ve sought advice from my boyfriends mom who is an art teacher,went to art college when she was young but left it and has returned now as a mature student.

I still don’t know what to do! Please help because I don’t want to give up on my dream and still appreciate art and reading about it etc. but don’t know if this is just a phase because I recently gave up violin because I just wasn’t motivated and lost interest and my teacher thinks it’s a phase I’m going through because I’m a teenager and I’m preoccupied with other stuff and dramas in my life!!

PLEASE HELP ME!!!