Website

The advertising guys at Hanbury advised that having a website is kind of arbitrary.

Plus, I haven't actually needed one so far, as social media has been invaluable to me in terms of making contacts and messaging others. However, it's definitely worth having one, as a professional presence, even if it's not got as much traffic as Instagram.

This is what my website looks like right now:

I have a domain name and a website, it just at this point needs filling out properly.
 I'm definitely most excited to have an online shop , because I've had several requests for sales, and an online shop feels so much more professional than Instagram direct messages.I need to maintain an online presence well, as I am flaky with posting to Instagram and need to keep updating it as i keep doing interesting stuff! My own major downfall is thinking that people won't be interested in me and my work, however this isn't true- and the more I put myself out there, the more opportunities I get. That's imposter syndrome for you!

Hanbury- Advertising

The people I found most engaging at Hanbury were the people I thought wouldn't be relevant to me at all- the two guys from Advertising.

They spoke about the difference between building up presence and relationships in smaller companies, versus being a small fish in a big pond in a company in London. Working in a smaller company gives you more hands-on roles, and gives you sort of....mentors. And more of a role in lots of things, instead of something really specific and boring. Hands-on. More appreciated by clients.  BUT bigger agencies have people to look up to; scale and experience.
They urged freelancers to get their financial stuff sorted 'for peace of mind and creative freedom'.  Like, tax returns and stuff- get a legal advisor if you can, because its gonna make it so much easier and free up more time and energy.
They also talked about the importance of Behance and Dribble, where they find their clients. They stated that sometimes, a website is arbitrary. But to keep updating online presence, to stay relevant.

ADVICE-

Pick up the tools--->find passion in your day job ---> there will be rewarding moments--->but bear in mind we're in the business of rejection.

things i took from it!
work really hard
be as good as can be
uniqueness isn't everything
get early-on-face-to-face-experience
send stuff to agencies, send emails- you don't get if you don't ask
but stand out, send actual objects rather than boring business cards.
don't be arrogant, be a nice person!
be polite, no-one owes you anything
be there when people are looking for you.
do lots of little things instead of targeted stuff
there's no such thing as a bad brief- just a bad response!
it's a global business, it doesn't really matter where you live
learn to animate!
don't really fall for trends driven by brands- if you're multi-disciplinary=employable. Style but versatile. being yourself is timeless, though.

things i disagree with/am skeptical of/but what do I know
initilally you will be payed in experience rather than money- absorb all that you can!
get a good client/agency under your belt- sets you up for credibility and profile.

The Lovers Screenprint

It's just kinda struck me....

Incidentally, 'The Lovers' print being my most popular thing i've ever made so far, (being sold on opening night in Colours May Vary's 'Final1.jepg', and being what got me noticed for HPFC) wasn't my most successful uni project outcome at all. It stemmed from a place of little research, lack of motivation about the brief, and minimal effort was put into the concept. It was more like creating what I wanted to, rather than following the brief to a T. And people want to see it? What does this teach me? That success isn't always a set of rules that make up a uni grade. Rather, sometimes it is making work simply because I wanna make it, and kinda making it work that others want to buy... or just being lucky enough for this to happen organically.

good work is not always uni work is not always popular

NB- Does popularity matter?

I guess that all that matters is that your work is authentic, and not trying to follow trends, so... yes, if you're lucky enough to be popular. BUT also popularity ebbs and flows, trends change, whereas authenticity lasts. stay true:)

The...future?

It's the topic on everyone's lips, the question everyone's asking (but don't want to be asked). What are you doing next?

I have put a lot of pressure on myself,  having watched my peers decide to move in together, put down deposits to rent a place in Leeds as a professional. Staying in Leeds seems the most natural step for a lot of people. Surely there'll be loads of opportunities! Hahaha!!!! 

Every day I have been in Leeds has been spent trying to find a way out of it. Everyone I speak to about it says it's a great city, but in true Marie Kondo fashion, it absolutely does NOT spark joy in me at all. Every day feels like wading through thick tar, the bleakness makes me feel like i'm constantly wearing cold wet socks. I am positive and glad I haven't chosen a path for next year, and not out down any firm roots. I'm in two minds about staying- having never liked it, what's the point, when there's adventure out there? However,  all my friends are here... am I brave enough to go, and be without them, start new? 

Career wise, I know that I need a structured role. My self discipline and motivation to work as a freelancer is weak, and from where I'm sitting, freelance illustration looks like a lonely, unreliable place. especially for someone who finds no joy in tax returns, networking and editorial briefs. 

I know I want a PAYE job, but have massive commitment issues. I want to use my skills,  and not give up my practice entirely, but find a way I can balance that work/play love of creating, but without the pressure of paying bills and food attached. I have such a desire to collaborate in a creative, non-exhausting, hands-on role, but in what is the question? 

I've always considered going into Art Therapy/Play Therapy. It looks fulfilling, there are plenty of job openings, and I think it's a role where I could actually make a difference. However, it takes 2 more years of education, which not only can i not afford, but also I genuinely can't be bothered right now. I am so done with education for the time being, and I want to really get to grips with working life- any change will be refreshing after spending the last 18 years in full-time education. Also, note, that someone said that it is a role which is so mentally draining/causes instability, that people generally only last 2 years (ish) in that job anyway. So if it takes 2 years to train, and 2 more to drop out of it... not really a long term plan with a happy ending. 

I have considered teaching, however, as above, I don't want to spend more time re-training for a new role. I would like to work with younger children ideally, maybe in a play-group? however this feels a lot like settling down, which i'm not ready for either. Plus you need an Early Years EYE Level 3 qualification, which can be accessed online for £340, and takes up to a year to complete. And, I Really Don't Want To. 

The other option is moving to a big city like London or Edinburgh, and getting a role in a creative industry there. Starting somewhere new. Perhaps get a part time job (that doesn't zap my happy energy) and be a freelancer part time, so i'm not too worried about the financial aspect but still grow and develop my practice. 

Right now, all I want to do is travel, or live and work abroad. I am looking forward to the opportunity to explore while I can, before families and babies and houses tie me down. I wanna do something that seems worthwhile, whilst doing it though. There are many schemes where you can love abroad volunteering/working for your keep, which seem like an opportunity, because why not? but, am I brave enough? I've been looking at schemes which help you set up abroad, help get you visa's and travel, and set you up to look for jobs. Even doing something like grape-picking would be a much appreciated change of lifestyle/scenery, and making new friends. I feel like it's valid to want, if not need, to take a little break from the creative industries. At the moment it all seems so serious, and I need some headspace away from it for a while so I can really come back to it with a fresh mind, new experiences and new stories to tell: so I remember why I love doing it, and find the joy in it again.  

I would love to keep stocking work in shops, selling work online, doing craft and print fairs, making work for passion projects and not feel the pressure. And also (mid-term goals) have a PAYE job that doesn't consume me, my time, me freedom or my creative juices whole. Slurrrrrp. 

Hyde Park Flower Club

Since September 2019, I have stocked my work in Hyde Park Flower Club by Dottie's.

They are a new florist and plant shop, that were just setting up stock and expanding in Hyde Park Book Club. They reached out to me after coming across my Instagram page, following a print fair I was involved in in Hyde Park Flower Club. They were looking to stock a small amount of local artists for their launch, and they really loved my work- the tarot card prints especially! I went for an informal chat with them, where I showed them a collection of my work that i had left-over as stock, and we discussed payment, commission, style and stocking.

They gave me the choice between taking 20% commission, or paying £20 a month's rent, and keeping all my profits. I opted for the 20% commission, as I wasn't sure i'd be making £20 a month to tide me over in the shop, so I bumped up my prices a little bit to compensate. I can rearrange, change and organise what i choose to stock there- and I have sold out several times! my biggest sellers have been Freddie Mercury t-shirts and 'The Lovers' print, by far.

I need to stock up again, actually. It's been not only a very useful source of regular income, it's helped me make connections with the owners and other artists, and been a great source of validation when I've felt low about my practice- people want to, consistently, buy my work! Madness.

I aim to continue to create work to sell- I want to get involved with more print fairs and contact more independent shops that might want to stock my work, as well as having my own work online to buy. These are my mid-term-goals!

Digital Portfolio

Instagram

This is an instagram grid of images I feel are most relevant to my practice right now- I’m developing my sense of colour and broadening my understanding of how to use it, in line with composition and texture. I still rely heavily on my roots in line drawing, yet these are all digital drawings- which is a recent development in my work and something I’ve been hesitant but looking forward to trying. All in all, I’m happy with the way my style is developing and the content I’m creating, for both university and personal use.  I feel the style is really doing along and is true to me, despite exploring things that are fresh and new to me.