1,2,3

Over the course of my second year of studies, we have had many fantastic guest speakers who have informed us on the contemporary practice of illustration and have given us advice on how to take our first steps in to the industry.

One of these visitors was Nicola Slater. I knew and recognized her work from the covers of books such as The Princess Diaries and Nina Fairy Ballerina. She gave me my first REAL insight in to how the industry works. She told me truths about particular job opportunities for example; Advertising, and how it paid very well yet the chance to be creative was pretty much non-existent. And that book covers can be an amazing opportunity for you to take control and help you to be successful (particularly if you can write your own.) 

The one thing Nicola mentioned that really stuck in my mind was about getting yourself noticed by potential clients after graduating. She said that "it is always important to have something tangible". I often get lost in the world of computers; emails seem to be the main source of communication. Yet people still appreciate something they can hold on to and perhaps pin up on their wall, so why not send out postcards? They can hold on to them for as long as they like and one day they might just look at that piece of card and think 'They would work for this brief'.

I must spread these postcards everywhere, even the local pub, I just don't know who will pick one up.

The second piece of memorable advice this year was from John Hill, the design editor for The Times. So what did the guy with the job we would all dream to have say to us...."take anything you can,

Whether it be an album cover for a small local band or a flyer for a shop". I have no idea who might see it, or how successful the people I do the work for may become for that matter. I need to see everything as a platform to start my illustration career and just get my work out there!

And Finally, one of many useful pieces of advice given to me from Ross VonRosenburg, 

"It is important to have a sense of self, and visual style and opinions that constitute your brand as an artist. I think if we don't hold that dear to at least some degree then we will all be turned into, for lack of a better term 'art robots' that lack personality. One thing I think is important, is that you may now work for a specific brief for paying work, that you still need to do art for the sake of itself and for your personal expression on your own"

I do not want the job I have dreamed of to ever become tedious. If I sell my work as a brand of ideas as well as style then it will encourage people to pay me for being me. It is important that I never lose sight of what I am about, especially when trying to create work as fast and as cheap as possible. I always want to be able to explore.