How I fell in Love with Making Art

In 1990 I signed up to a National Diploma in Graphic Design at Bournemouth College of Art & Design. I had previously worked in a couple of design studios in London, and although I generally enjoyed those experiences, I was pursuing a career in graphic design because I didn’t really know what else to do. Basically graphic design seemed like the best option for me, but it certainly wasn’t my passion.

I enjoyed the first year of the course, and I enjoyed student life. But, by the second year I was getting very bored. I did however enjoy our Wednesdays, when an artist would come in and give us more artistic projects to do. I fell in love with life drawing, not immediately as I found it really difficult at first, but once I got the hang of it, I started loving it. But it was when we did a project, copying a piece of art, that something started to stir in me. 

I chose a piece by the Swiss/German abstract painted, Paul Klee. We were instructed to observe the work deeply, to see the brush strokes and to get a feel for how the piece was created. I still have my interpretation, it’s on my fridge. The original was in oils but my version was in inks. I remember the enthusiasm I had for doing that exercise because it was a stark contrast to how I was working on the graphic design projects.

The week after we were asked to do life drawing in the style of the artist we chose. If I had studied Klee’s work in more depth I would have done a better job but I had only looked at his abstract work and so my life drawing attempt was not great. But I sat next to my friend Stuart and he had chosen Joan Miró as his artist and his life drawing was hilarious. 

I was like, “Who is this artist, I need to know more.” I subsequently searched the library for everything on him. I found his work delightful and so funny. But what really hit me was the realisation that I could do that! I had never had the thought that I could be an artist before. But seeing his work made me think that being an artist was possible for me.

And for the next two terms of my course I tried to add as much artistic expression into my work. It didn’t go down particularly well with my tutors but I started to enjoy the course again.

The college, seeing that I was moving in a different direction, offered me a place on the second year of a Nation Diploma in Art & Design. I took it. It was in Shelly Park, a beautiful house in Boscombe that was once the home of Mary Shelly, the writer of Frankenstein. 

There I was put in a studio with an easel, canvas, paint and brushes, and a few other students. The tutor addressed us. He said he hoped we would have a great term and he’ll see us at the end of it for a crit (where he will critique our work). 

I remember the panic I felt as I didn’t know what to do. I was used to working from briefs. I was not used to directing myself. I asked the other students what to do as I felt I needed directing. They told me to go to the library and find as much work that I liked, copy it and I will find my path. 

I did that. I looked at artists such as Kandinsky, Hundertwasser, and a whole load of incredible painters. I did my own versions of their work and I soon found and unleashed my inner artist. I became totally obsessed with painting, to the point that I would not eat, even though I was hungry, until I got something done right. 

And even before finishing a painting I was getting the inspiration to do another. Once I knew I could explore whatever I wanted to, and I got over the fear of what others thought about it, I started to explore explore who I am as a painter. 

It is a beautiful journey to go on. I have not lost my passion for creating art, and I have been on this journey of self discovery through artistic expression for over 35 years, and now, I am ready to help others find and unleash their inner artist.

If you are curious to get to know your inner artist and want a course that will help you, then I have just the thing for you. It is a 6 week cohort live course that gives you all the basics like color theory, composition, perspective, shading, form, character creation and more, then contact for more information. I would love to help you find and unleash your inner artist.