How did working in the Art School for five days a week shape your practice?
When I started the Foundation course at City & Guilds of London Art School, I was progressing from a part-time art & design BTEC and was concerned about committing to the full-time courseload. However, I quickly saw that using the full 5 days of studio time allowed me to focus on making lots of work. Not all of it was successful but it was important to have all that time to develop my ideas in a dedicated space alongside other student artists. You’re expected to be mature and take charge of your own learning: the first few weeks help establish best practises and how you might structure your day, but it’s up to you to maintain a good rhythm.
How did your tutors support your learning?
Tutors are ever-present and generous with their time. All staff are practitioners with their own specialisms, covering many skill areas and interests between them. I’ve always found tutors are very interested in what you’re doing, whether you’re working with more traditional skills or–in my case–an unusual mix of processes. I began knitting in a fine art context; by the end of the course I had programmed a game, and my tutors were open-minded and encouraging throughout. You’ll always find useful guidance and constructive suggestions for how to move your ideas forward and what shows or artists to research if you get stuck.
How did our facilities and resources help extend your skills?
My work was nourished by free, open access to workshops, life drawing sessions, and the wonderful school library. We were also encouraged to make the most of London’s art through weekly group gallery visits in the Autumn term. This provided a framework for independently seeking out interesting exhibitions, workshops, and talks that sustained me creatively throughout the course.
All these resources meant that my academic interests from my first BA in History of Art extended into visual practice in a completely organic way, going in directions I had never anticipated. Any self-consciousness about being a mature student was quickly subsumed by my desire to make the best of my time at a unique art school.
How did the Art School’s community influence you?
City & Guilds of London Art School provides an immersive environment where it feels natural to consider art as a serious lifelong pursuit. Glimpsing the range of creative activities going on all around me, from historic carving just beyond the pigment garden and BA and MA fine art in the studios, helped me feel I was part of a lively little community.
