University of Huddersfield: Teacher Training Information

Yesterday I went along to an information session about post graduate teaching courses at the University of Huddersfield where I spoke to one of the tutors that taught on the Lifelong Learning qualification.

As I was unsure about what sort of age group I would potentially like to teach in the future, the Lifelong Learning sector is less restrictive in that sense. It focuses on learners that are 16+, which would give me more flexibility in terms of when and where I could work, as opposed to being restricted to 9-5 hours in a secondary school for example. 

The Course

The course itself is a Certificate in Education (CertEd) pre-service which takes place over 1 year full time, or two years part time for those already in a teaching role (which wouldn't apply to me). 

I explained to the tutor, Gwyneth that I was interested in leading art workshops for all ages which could include taking part in community projects, visiting schools and other institutions. She agreed that this would be a suitable qualification for me if I was interested in a teaching role, as it is a very practical and hands on based course. This being that placements are introduced very early on in the course, and are run intensively throughout with continuous assessment.

Thoughts

I came away from the session with my head spinning all over the place. Obviously this is something that I am really interested in, but I don't know when the best time to commit to a course like this would be. I don't want to be one of those teachers that come fresh out of uni with no life experience, and are just regurgitating their lives in education, back into education. But on the other hand, it depends what I am doing with my illustrative practice which is of course the priority. 

Luckily Gwyneth said that they take applications until a few weeks before the start date of the course, which would be next September which is good because I have plenty of time to decide whether it is something I would like to pursue straight after I graduate. As well, it is always something that I could come back to after a productive and enriching period of time working in the industry itself. 

So doing a teaching qualification is definitely something to consider in the future, but for now my creative practice is something that I am going to place a higher emphasis on rather than fretting about what time in my life I will be ready to preach about art.

Reply From Jenna!

Today I received a reply from my email to Jenna Alldread, which must have taken her ages to write out because it is jam packed full of info!

I found it really helpful to get a heads up in what type of teaching qualifications give you the most freedom in the age groups you are able to work with. The PGdipe sounds slightly more vocational from this first impression, which would be more tailored to my experience, interest and direction as opposed to the standard PGCE.

Unfortunately I don't really have a clue about graphic design, and I'm starting to notice that work experience in that field is more accessible and straight forward than requesting work experience for illustration in particular. This doesn't want to make me be a Graphic Designer, but I think it would be helpful if I read up on the principles just so that I have a basic knowledge of the field. 

Jenna's working week sounds exciting, busy and very stimulating with the constant change of environment with multiple projects on the go, which is the kind of career frame I would aim to build myself. 

Steps to take from reading this email:

• Research into PGdipe qualifications
• Write down a list of career goals; what do I want to achieve within my creative practice short term and long term?
• Have some bloody confidence in my work and stop being scared to draw things even if they aren't good!

Job Search: Illustration Graduate

One of my post-graduate options is to try and gain employment within a creative agency/design house. This option is a difficult one, going by the old chestnut of graduates not being able to get jobs, however, for me I think the best route would be to work among other creatives in a more structured environment. Recently I have come to realise that it will probably take some time for me to develop the confidence and knowledge of the trade to go freelance.

I tapped in a few searches into 'indeed', a job search engine and the results mostly showed vacancies for Junior Graphic Designers, but not specifically illustrators. There were a few job descriptions that I liked the sound of, however the majority insisted of having 'at least two years of in house experience', which is super annoying because THATS WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR!

Examples

Benefit UK - Junior Designer 

https://chp.tbe.taleo.net/chp03/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=BENEFITCOSMETICS&cws=47&rid=7435&source=Indeed.com

 Penguin Random House UK- Design Assistant

https://jobsearch.createyourowncareer.com/PRH_UK/job/London-Design-Assistant-Penguin-Random-House-Children's-LND-WC2R-0RL/326324101/?feedId=179501&utm_source=Indeed&utm_campaign=Bert_Indeed

The Creative Movement

There seems to be some sort of gap between graduating, and somehow gaining at least three years experience of working as an in house illustrator, which doesn't really make sense. This doesn't fill me with a lot of hope, but I will just have to contact other illustrators that have had this kind of experience and see what they have to share.

Other options:

Teaching/technician jobs

A friend of mine has recently graduated from her photography degree and is working as a student support/art technician as a sort of stop-gap job whilst she is having some time out thinking about what she wants to do career wise.
I think this is a great idea. She, like me struggles with the 'hobby becoming a chore' situation which can sometimes remove the fun and excitement from your creative drive when you have to start making a living from it. Working in a school would be suitable for me when I finish uni if I weren't in a position financially where I could move out of home and rent my own place, as well as if I had a bit of a creative downer (which happens quite a lot with me). Working with students who aspire to join the creative sector would be a refreshing and stimulating position for me to share my experiences and give advice to people who were once in my position.

This is just one example. It's only 22 hours per week, which would provide the opportunity to work freelance alongside this role, having the potential to work really well.

Bog standard day job and freelance in spare time

This is another option which could work, but I would probably find really difficult. Working full time in any job is pretty tiring without having to think of doing extra work in the evenings/weekends. If this were to be successful, I'd have to be in a busy place with lots of hustle and bustle and people to talk to in order to keep me on my toes and still hang on to my creative flare. 

Anyway this is stressing me out a bit now! It's good to have these things in mind but for now I just need to focus on what is happening right now, so today, this week etc. just so I don't wear myself out worrying before I even start third year.

Question Time

I still haven't messaged any illustrators, or companies and it's almost September. Why? Because I spend all of my time worrying, thats why!

This past few days I've been on my own at home trying to get on with work, and I have really struggled. I'm so annoying. Right before I go to bed I often get a surge of really cool ideas and want to do everything at once. So I sleep on it and then by the morning I am totally overwhelmed when I pick up my paint brush?

So then the worrying starts and thoughts to this affect circulate in my head:

• Am I going to go batshit crazy if I work from home? Probably.
• I hate all of my work
• Why can't I make some work that I like?
• No one has bought anything from my shop yet!
• Please buy things I am poor
• I had so many good ideas yesterday and they all look shit
• UGH
• Why did I decide to be an artist?
• Should I be doing something else?
• Oh god I picked the wrong degree.
• Why do people tell me I am good at art when I feel like I suck at it?
• Are they lying to me?
• EVERYONE IS TELLING ME LIES
• I AM going batshit crazy, as we speak
• Okay lets have a break and make some food
• Cry

Hahaha so thats me when I don't have proper human contact for more than 48 hours^^

Thinking about my personality type, I'm not a laid back, self driven introvert (perfect illustrator candidate?). Instead I am a sporadic extrovert who has no self confidence the attention span of a five year old. Which isn't always a bad thing, but I have realised that in order to thrive career wise, I need a balance of working with people and working alone. 

This is somewhat frustrating, as in an ideal world I will probably need to shape my ways of working with my state of being which isn't always the simplest of tasks. But hey ho what is life without a challenge...? 

Messaging Practitioners

Coming back to the topic of asking illustrators questions, I think it would be a good idea to contact practitioners who freelance as well as teach part time, as I'm thinking that this is the direction I would eventually like to go in! 

For example, Jenna Lee Alldread, whom I occasionally work with on the children's art school as part of my student ambassador job. Jenna freelances at Tigerprint as well as lecturing at Nottingham Trent University and leading workshops at LCA. Jenna is so friendly and easy to talk to, so I might ask her ,as well as other like minded practitioners, about their routes into teaching and juggling a busy creative schedule etc.

I also plan to contact agencies and studios for advice on how to promote myself, and what would be expected of a candidate wanting to work for them.

If you're reading this you're probably thinking that I say 'I plan to' a bit too much which I completely admit I do because I put things off for as long as possible if I am in any way worried about it. 

After writing out countless drafts, I started by sending two emails:

Lize Meddings

(founder of the Sad Ghost Club)

Jenna Alldread

I hope they are polite/professional enough without sounding weird?

But yay I have made a start!

I'm not going to go crazy emailing practitioners left right and centre, but I think I might try and send one email a day? Or when I see someones work I like, think of questions to ask and jot them down straight away. 

As for emailing agencies and other companies, I honestly don't feel ready yet. I know its only an email and I'm not introducing myself face to face, but I'd much rather wait until I'm in a better more confident place work wise, so if they ask to see my work I can be proud of it instead of hesitant and worried.

Tigerprint

As I am beginning to think about what types of companies I would like to work for in my illustrative career, I am edging towards an interest in working within a creative studio. I've heard Tigerprint being mentioned by Abby and Rosie from the year above, and also a few members from other courses within college; all with good reviews so I decided to check out the website.

I loved the welcome video!!

Tiger print have studios both in Bradford and in London, home to freelance and in house designers from a whole range of creative disciplines. They produce greetings cards, craft products, childrens toys, christmas decorations and so many more products sold at some of the UK's most well known retailers such as M&S, Waitrose, Amazon, Paperchase etc.

In a nutshell, Tiger Print looks like a really exciting, sociable studio filled with opportunities for creatives. It is the type of workplace that I could see myself fitting into quite well and flourishing in an environment filled with like minded people!

Placements

THEY DO PLACEMENTS! And open days too!

Here comes the predicament again; my portfolio isn't strong enough at the moment. I believe I would have a better chance at being awarded a placement if I had a few more elements relating to pattern design and greetings cards within my portfolio. Realistically,I could aim to apply for a two week placement before Easter as by then I will have had time to build on my portfolio (and confidence!)

I really admire how attentive and encouraging the company are towards new designers, shaping their creative directions and offering the best advice on working for different clients.

Although applying for a placement is something I'd definitely like to work towards, in the mean time I spotted an opportunity to sign up to their yearly competition briefs,'Gifted?'.

Then along came that dreaded question.

(i.e. a cue for trumpet blowing cringiness)

I thought that this was a reasonable attempt.

Something to work towards

Keeping in mind that I would like to start developing my portfolio in the directions of my current interests (greetings cards and pattern being one of them), I'm thinking of setting myself some kind of brief in accordance with this area of specialism as part of my extended practice. For example, 'Produce a greetings card per week'. I think that this would keep the ball rolling alongside other hefty projects, simultaneously up keeping my interest and building my portfolio.

Unpaid Work Dilemmas

My friend, Emily from home is currently doing an internship at Ordnance Survey (the people who make maps) writing articles to promote the great outdoors. I jokingly said to her, 'Hit me up if you need any editorials', and thought nothing of it.

The other day she messaged me saying that she had spoken to her manager, and was keen to ask me to produce some artwork for the articles Emily would be writing...BUT it would be unpaid, "but great for your CV", that old chestnut.

At first I thought, WOW! Ordnance Survey! Think about how many people could see my work?! After deliberating somewhat, I just had Lou Bones' speech on my conscience saying DO NOT EVER WORK FOR FREE, which was totally the right decision. Imagine if OS wanted me to work for them again and I would ask to be paid (as it is my job?) and they would be like "PFFT! well you did it for free last time". Also, with word of mouth, I would absolutely not want to get a reputation as working for free. No way. 

I was kind of worried about telling Emily I didn't want to work for free, as she had made the effort to enquire on my behalf, and she is my friend, but luckily she was totally understanding. She said to me "if the boot was on the other foot and I was asked to write the article for free, it wouldn't be fair". 

So this was my first proper experience of potentially undermining both myself and the industry, and although I could have potentially had some great exposure, it wouldn't have been worth it. I'm glad I took a step in the right direction of up keeping respect towards creative practitioners! 

Setting up an Etsy Shop

For a while now I've been keen to get an Etsy shop going to sell a few of my illustrative products; the idea coming from the success of my 'Positivity'' range a few months ago. I probably mentioned this in a previous blog post but if I am able to build a substantial online show with a steady inflow, this will act as a good cash cow for me when I begin to start my illustrative career.

Here is my progress so far; I've just put on some of the same products from the art market but photographing them properly (and re-thought the pricing of the cushions!)

Unfortunately the shop name 'EllieChappell' was taken, so I had to shorten it to 'ElChap', which I suppose is more catchy? I did think about whether or not it was worth coming up with an alternative name for my shop in which I could potentially develop into a stronger brand in the future, however I thought it may be wise to use my name for now in order to become more well known within the industry.

I've had one sale so far, which is great because I haven't properly promoted my shop via social media yet, so this a great start!

As I only have three types of product online so far, I hope to expand my product range further and potentially try out a few different, more craft-type products.

These include:

• General prints
• Clay insense holders
• Jewellery?
• Painted paper weights
• Painted plant pots
• Hand-decorated ceramic bowls/mugs
• Tea towels
• Personalised house portraits

I still have quite a bit to do; I was aiming to get set up by the end of July, but it has taken longer than I thought to order materials, think about prices and things.