Learning Log

Learning Log:

  

 
My personal relationship with art goes back a long way. When I was a teenager, I worked on a market to pay for drawing lessons. I went to an art school for two years. Later, I studied studio pottery and worked, self-employed until I became a mother.  I went to adult education classes in painting regularly.  There, my tutor, David McAllister, an illustrator, encouraged me to take it further, and I joined the OCA. 

     It took me a long time to complete the course, first I used to find it practically impossible to work when my children were at home or during school holidays.  Also, my first tutor disappeared and I had to wait for the OCA to allocate another one, which was lengthy and discouraging, I stopped working until I was given a second tutor. Unfortunately she resigned. Christian Lloyd has been my tutor for the rest of the course, and I met him during a Gallery/Museum visit. At the end of the course I was delayed by a variety of small events,  but the OCA gave me a bit more time and I finished my last assignment in a rush.

     I was challenged because I had studied by distance learning with the Open University, and initially expected the same level of student support (which I now call "babysitting"!). I found it difficult to be more pro-active as I had to be, until I found new ways to organise myself.
     Noticing that I missed discussions and quick feedback,  I discussed ideas and work in progress with friends, painting tutor, and on forums. I was not discouraged anymore, and could very well work without a need for validation.
     Finding 'exhibition buddies' means I go regularly too.

     I was very happy with the coursework. Christian Lloyd said "you seem to work best when there are elements of caricature, humour, or strong visual dynamics at play". That's true, but I did attempt illustrations in so many different areas, that it challenged me and stretched me too.

     My tutor also said that I had "strong visual work, less developed sense of visual solving". 
"Visual Problem-Solving…what is it?It can be creating a video or a diagram that explains how to do something or training you to learn how to turn SEEING into SHOWING.", Dean Meyers.
I'm still working on improving on this, but after all the assignments, I now know I am more interested in making images that may tell a story, but not so much giving instructions, making leaflets, packaging designs, and find no interest in graphic design. 

 In conclusion, on completing this course I have explored and learnt new techniques, but more importantly, on a personal level I now feel stronger and better equipped to move forward on my art journey.