Networking/Promoting Yourself

This task was set almost two months ago...but due to the stress of COP I had honestly forgotten about it until now. Perhaps now is the best sort of time to start thinking about my professional practice more seriously now that I don't have the pressure of a massive essay hanging over me.

Networking

What do you see as the main 'indicators' to your practice and your 'motivation' to produce the work you find rewarding?

I guess that in my practice I mostly focus on things that interest me. Two main themes tend to be society and history, which has recently urged me to build on more of a reportage tone of voice due to paying attention to changing and developing surroundings. People and places are the two things that make me tick at the moment; I am really interested in individual stories and anecdotes that people have to share about life experiences.

What are you 'passionate' about in your life?

I am passionate about creativity in general, and the positive impact it can have on individuals and community. I love up keeping a creative practice myself and think that it is so important to share and encourage it with others, especially as it is so condemned by the government. I'm also passionate about dancing. Dancing is amazing and people should do it more. It's important to express yourself physically to as well as through visual art.

How would you describe 'you' in a story? As a character?

Probably a really clumsy, but loveable protagonist heading out on some sort of crazy adventure.

What in your memory was the best 'holiday' you had?

Going exploring in Rome with my Mum and Brother. We were really lucky to be able to go to such a beautiful and historic city for a long weekend, especially because we had all dreamed of going there for such a long time!

Give examples of advice given in life that you have found valuable?

'Do what makes you happy'

If I didn't do this, I'd probably be doing a really boring marketing degree because I thought its what would get me a good job, because thats how my sixth form tutors made me feel. Making a living from something you love doing comes with its risks, but is something I definitely wouldn't think twice about now, and would have really really regretted not doing.

'Don't be a people pleaser'

I can't stand the thought of annoying or upsetting other people, but many a time that has made me suffer. Its important to put yourself first sometimes, there is only so much you can give to others before completely burning out.

If you could 'interview' anyone in history, who and why?

Does it have to be in history? This is a hard question. Probably Sigmund Freud as I'd love to have a chat about his opinions and discoveries of the human psyche.

Promoting Yourself

List potential things to promote you and your practice:

• Going to creative events/conferences to learn new things and meet new people
• Say yes to as many live briefs as possible, especially local ones!
• Continue online promotion for my shop
• Start going to print fairs when I feel confident with my stock

How could you connect with potential clients, employers, collaboratives in daily life?:

Probably just being inquisitive and talking to people! Luckily I don't have a problem with going up to strangers and starting conversations and would hope that I am approachable and pleasant too? On a more formal basis, I would probably send an email or a letter with examples of work and my contact details to potential employers.

What do you want to tell them? Why?

I'd want to tell them that I am super fun and enthusiastic to work with and that they would be missing out if they didn't hire me...if only haha. Also that I have an empathetic approach and understanding towards visual work that connects directly to customers on both an informative and encouraging basis.

Try to list 10 people you could find to enhance your practice potential and find their contact details:

(I'm not quite sure about this yet... I'll come back to it when I'm ready)

Draft out a communication to each of them:

Would you answer your own approach? Why/why not?

What tone of voice would you use?

What do you see as important reasons for promoting yourself?

To get work! 


Summary:

The questions that I have left blank are those that I feel I am unable to answer at this stage in my practice, as I am stressing over them so much. I know that I'm going to have to at some point. I can't keep pushing it under the carpet. But I will do it!!!

Illustration for Learning: Workshop Day

Yesterday we delivered the workshops to a group of art teachers from in and around Leeds at Cockburn School, and it was a huge success!

We split into two groups and each had 45 minutes for the session, then swapped over. 

Session 1: Me and Sophie

First half: Pick three words (adjective, verb, noun) and create a character based on the above stimuli. 

Second half: Swap picture with partner and create a short story about the character you've been given.

Session 2: Alice and Tyler

First Half:

Split the paper into four. A verb and a noun is read out, participants have 30 seconds to depict this. Repeat until students have four drawings.

Second Half:

Make a six-frame storyboard with a beginning, middle and end based on one of the images.

The teachers responded really positively to the workshops with a great level of enthusiasm and curiosity, giving a large indication that it would be suited for younger children too. 

We then had a Q&A session where we each talked about the benefits of illustration in the classroom and beyond and the importance of creativity as an aid for child development. We spoke a little bit about our individual practices and talked them through our project sketchbooks. Some of the teachers actually asked us to come and run a few workshops at their schools! So hopefully that will be something to work towards.

Today has reinforced the importance of creative learning, and planted a seed into something I want to explore further in my illustrative career.

Here is some of the feedback from the teachers:

Commissions and Etsy Progress

Over the last few weeks and particularly over the Christmas period my shop has been pretty busy, yay! Mostly people have been requesting house portraits for Christmas presents which has been keeping me on my toes alongside COP. 

I haven't really been hot on updating the shop since third year started but its really positive to see it ticking away in the background like I hoped for (like a cash cow).

Towards the end of the course I aim to put more prints and applied items on here to make some sweet sweet dollar. In all seriousness though I really need to start saving for when I no longer have the luxury of a student loan!

Here's some of the house/pet portraits I've done for customers: