Last year I did a foundation year in art and design - these programmes are designed to prepare you for art school, and our college has the reputation of it being a similar experience to the first year of art school. I signed up wanting to develop my creative working practices, but wasn't really thinking about doing a degree.
Part of the way through, when the art school interview process started, it was hard. It was tempting to get in a victim headspace, whining about not being able to go to art school, listing the barriers. And yes, there are barriers, but they are not insurmountable. The truth is, I hadn't had any intention of going, I don't think it's the right thing for me at this point, and the choice is mine. It is easy to get caught up in things, whether the excitement of others or the sad stories you spin yourself when you're tired, stressed or otherwise low.
What I did instead was resolve to keep my creative practice going rather than collapsing in a heap at the end of the year. Well, I did that first! And I applied for a course run by the same college, called professional practice for artists. It's part-time, two days a week, with an expected full day a week of independent work. It should be pretty interesting. Fridays will be creative, studio or field based work; yesterday we took sketchbooks of mixed and reclaimed, repurposed papers to the British Museum. Saturdays focus on the professional side, the business really; things like websites, showing work to galleries, organising exhibitions, etc.
I have to head out in 15 minutes for that, so think of me while you have a lazy Saturday morning. I'll share some British Museum drawings later on.
