Two years ago I wrote this post… and now I read this, as I sit here, still in that corporate bubble…

10 years in in the corporate world to pay for my Fine Arts degree has made me only employable within that corporate bubble.

G.R.E.A.T.

The thing is, I popped that bubble and I’m not blowing another one.

So now, 2months out… 10years of working experience, Degree in hand – what am I doing? Applying for traineeships… yup, thats right… Traineeships.

Unfortunately society seems unable to see the benefit of ‘transferring skills’ from one industry to another. The possibilities are endless of what a business could get out of so many graduates like myself who worked hard, built a career to pay for their education and succeeded in doing so, but now that University is over, they actually want to work within the industry they studied and incorporate the skills they have developed within their working career so far.

But, like that corporate bubble, most businesses these days (I say most, not all because I do still hold hope that there are some open minded employers out there), like you to fit into a box. They decided what sort of ‘box’ they would like, if you fit their description of said box, you’re in. If you fit 3 or 4 boxes, well no no no, that will not do and you’re out. Just like that.

Recently, I was told that having too many skills is not a good thing.

If you, like me, have a wide range of skills, then the best thing to do (so I’ve been told) is to pick one, put yourself in a box and forget about everything else.
That was the advice I received from a recruitment consultant of all people.
Safe to say, I did not take her advice.

So, that takes me back to the current situation. Internships, Traineeships and whatever will pay the rent. Anything that will support your passion and your dream, is actually OK.

It is important not to lose hope. Know that this is temporary… that one person will take a chance on you and see the benefit in employing someone who is multi skilled, BUT that means you have to keep looking. Be open to new opportunities and make sure you always have an open mind.
On the other hand, all of that time and energy you have to put into your passion (now that you escaped that mind numbing bubble) will pay off and you, yourself will be a success on your own. No corporate. No bubble. No box.

Change can take time, success doesn’t always happen over night,but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen.

Be who YOU want to be.
Do what YOU want to do.
Trust YOUR judgement.
Choose YOU.

The image below is a creative response to that bubble, in which I am still within, however slowly breaking free.

Where do we even begin? A quick Google search comes up with everything you don’t want to see… “state of the art offices”, “do you have the fine art of closing a deal&#…

Source: HOW TO FIND A JOB IN THE ARTS

Where do we even begin? A quick Google search comes up with everything you don’t want to see… “state of the art offices”, “do you have the fine art of closing a deal” – hmm…. not quite what I was meaning. Thanks Google, you tried.

Completing any sort of creative degree can leave you in a tricky position when your work history doesn’t fall within the creative sector at all. There are many of us out there facing this troublesome predicament. You’ve built up your career to a reasonably high position, but its just not right. Its not what you wanted to do with your life. Hell… its not what you spent all those years (and money) studying.

So what now? How do we make that move?

We have a couple of options here people…

1. Start again… literally drop back down to an entry level position and (hopefully) try and build yourself up quickly to progress in the business (and help the $$ increase)
2. Start up your own business… now this does take capital and time. If you are lucky enough to have these two things then what are you waiting for?!
   STOP READING THIS AND GO AND DO IT!
3. Have a couple of Part time gigs… one job doing whatever it is that you have been doing that pays the $$ and one job that you are passionate about. Gain some experience doing what you love, so it can become your full time job and you can still pay your bills.

Now there are obviously more options, if you have any you think would top these three, let me know! Would love your thoughts. These are the options I have given myself, who knows what will come of my creative career from here… looks like you will have to keep reading to find out!

Its a strange and wonderful world out there people, finding your place can be an adventure in itself.

Enjoy!
xx

As a visual artist I find so much to be beautiful, it could be the way in which I see a line, the texture of a brick, the rawness of the ground or it could be a person.

Now, to find a person beautiful or interesting in an artistic sense can be different to that of sexual nature. The two can cross over sometimes, but it is important to remember that it can just be one or the other too.

The awkward part for any artist (well, me at least), is having that want, that need, that interest to draw, paint or photograph someone… especially when it is someone you don’t really know. There is a fine line between innocent creativity and being plain old creepy. Now, if that person is a creative they are most likely to understand your intentions when it comes to wanting to illustrate them, others perhaps, may be the ones who find the idea of you wanting to create an image of them to be yes, that’s right, creepy. You then find yourself over explaining your intentions and your creative process, which instead of helping them to understand turns them from thinking you are a bit creepy to them thinking you are a full on creeper, and there goes your muse!

I have drawn and painted many people over the years, some I knew, some I didn’t. Every now and then you do need to talk to that person, especially when you will be exhibiting a piece of work which features them. Its not so bad if its just a illustration you have done of someone you don’t know at all, someone you may have observed at a park, or on the bus. But when it is someone you know, or kind of know, then that’s when the awkward conversation starts. ESPECIALLY if you have already created the work.

As an artist you are not always going to understand why you have such interest in a person, why you find their features so intriguing, the reason why they make you feel slightly uncomfortable, and why with this, you feel the need to create an image of them.

My advice is just to be honest, if you want to create an image of someone just talk to them about it, reach out in some way, its going to be awkward. Even when you know someone its going to be awkward, keep that in mind. I find it easier to just be upfront with people, if you aren’t sure exactly why you want to create an image of them there is nothing wrong with admitting that. We don’t always know why we create, why certain people or things inspire us, but to be true to yourself and your creativity, just go with it. Create that image, have that awkward conversation, but just remember to be honest with your intentions.

At the end of the day have fun with it. Its just art after all.

I will be showcasing a couple of these images that required an awkward conversation at RAW: SYDNEY PRESENTS FUTURES on 19th February at Manning Bar [Manning Road, University of Sydney, Camperdown]

Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.rawartists.org/tickets/purchase/1909/293366

Works based on and inspired by Orto Trading co. in Surry Hills (http://www.ortotradingco.com/)
Tickets are $20 and should be an entertaining night!

Hopefully see you there!

Every day I go to the same café, order the same coffee and have my regular spots to sit. I like it. I like that I know the coffee is going to taste the same, the staff are (mostly) going to stay the same and the feeling within the space, the energy that fills the air, is going to stay the same. The only thing that changes are the flowers. The flowers are never the same.

The same flowers may sit there on the table from the day before, but they are not the same. The life of the flowers ever so slightly fading away, changing the way in which they sit, the colour of the petals, the richness of the leaves, and strength of the stems. They are not the same.

The subtle changes in the flowers is all I need. That is enough for me. The consistency in everything else around me creates the right energy for me to create. For me to be there. Present.

That is the creative energy I need.

Graduation day. It all feels so surreal, like it’s not going to happen. The drive to Uni, you feel like you are pretending it’s your day, but really you’re not supposed to be there at all. Not even to watch. Lining up for registration in 32degree heat at 7.30am, you’re still not supposed to be there. Taking that little white envelope with your name on and guest tickets inside. You’re still not supposed to be there. The moment the kind lady drapes your gown over you and the young man places the cap on your head. You’re still not supposed to be there. How does something so real and so meaningful feel so empty and fake? As your name is called and you walk up on stage, the Chancellor waiting to shake your hand and hand you your degree, it still feels like you’re not supposed to be there.

After working tirelessly for years, spending an obscene amount of money and working towards a qualification you always knew you wanted, why is it in that moment you have achieved the one thing you have worked so hard for, you can’t accept that yes, in fact you do deserve it. You earned this…and after all of that, you are supposed to be there.

Remember… you are supposed to be there.

But what comes next? You have graduated. You have your Degree. You go back to your same old office job (that yes, paid for your degree) but has nothing to do with what you have studied. Nothing to do with what you are passionate about. Nothing to do with who you truly are. You go back to work with this empty feeling, this huge gap in your soul. You are no longer required to do what you are passionate about, only what is currently paying the bills. You have this sinking feeling of having to start all over again. 10years building a career that you aren’t passionate about.

Empty.

The trick is figuring out how to turn that empty feeling into one of opportunity. A feeling of starting again can be exciting, starting to work in something that you feel passionate about, something you have spent years working towards, learning your craft. That emptiness is but the greatest opportunity you will have to start again, flourish in what you love.

Post graduation emptiness is the best gift you will receive. Use it wisely.

People always ask me, “How you decide what to paint”, the simple answer is, I don’t.

‘Deciding’ to do something creative means you are limiting yourself, your creativity and the possibilities that come along with that before you have even picked up your pen (I tend to draw with an Ink pen). Personally, I’m not much of a planner, but in saying that I do draw every day and, I plan to draw every day.  So, subconsciously I am probably planning, or at least influencing what I will create by drawing what’s around me.

lately I have moved away from drawing in bars to drawing in cafe’s which has formed the beginnings of a ‘Café Collection’.
I tend to draw what interests me, in a space in which I feel both comfortable and uncomfortable. There is always some interest, something or someone I find intriguing. That uncertainty and interest in a person or an environment creates that slight feeling of unease which, for me, blows my mind creatively.

The following drawings have been created at Orto Trading Co. In Surry Hills, which is where I currently find myself having that slight feeling of unease whilst being comfortable enough to create. – The excellent coffee along with the bright, fresh, perfectly connected indoor/outdoor flow and relaxed vibe defiantly helps too.

http://www.ortotradingco.com/