This month has been very educational!
Last night I attended a talk organised by the Friends of the RSA at ECA, Let’s Talk About … establishing a career in the Visual Arts – challenges and rewards. This involved a 5 strong panel of emerging and established artists in Scotland who graciously shared their experiences and tips on making your way, how to weather the storms and enjoy the success of a career or’ journey’ in the arts world. Some of the artists eschewed the idea that their artistic work is a career… It was very inspiring, I took notes and it helped me to feel that I may be heading in the right direction, and gave me a few further pointers which I will examine.
Earlier in the month in a complete ‘turn about’ I gave the talk to students. I went to a creative Careers lunch at my old School (MES & DSMC) to talk to S5 students interested in pursing a career in the arts. It was a great experience, apart from being the oldest speaker and thus having a longer career history than any one else – eek… I spoke to some lovely and very inspiring students and answered a few of their questions, it’s great to be asked to that kind of thing and to be able to participate.
I begin work as a tutor on the Online Certificate in Botanical Illustration this week! I am exciting to be working with RBGE and their amazing education staff, and am really looking forward to guiding my students through their Certificate course. I think its a fantastic course and I can’t wait to see their work.
When I had to get a picture done for the OCBI course my amazing friend Nancy MacDonald came to the rescue, in the nick of time literally! I do not love the selfie and I am not thaaat comfortable having my photo taken, I can handle it but its not my favourite thing, I have to get over myself and then its ok… So I mentioned to Nancy, who happens to be a fantastic professional photographer that I needed a headshot and what a headshot I got, Nancy suggested and approved a couple of outfits and put me at my ease with encouragement and a lot of laughs. I love it! See below… Thanks so much Nancy you are a super duper star!
I’ve been listening to Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, Digging up Mother by Doug Stanhope, which has made me laugh and totally grue as well! A bit of early Bruce Springsteen! Some Florence & the Machine, the Kiss Me Kate film soundtrack, ahhh Howard Keel and Katherine Grayson… So in Love…
Here are a couple of pieces that will probably be on sale at the Pittenweem Arts Festival in August… watch this space…
Moi!
More MOI!