Interview with a practitioner part 2

I guess it’s good for you because you do lots of observational drawings of people in Manchester?

Yeah, and I also work part time as well. I’m not at a stage right now where I can live off what I earn so if I recommend getting a part time job try and base it in an area where your going to spend a lot of time, so I work at Fred Aldous (a massive art shop), you’ve got to think of your outgoings so I get a good staff discount on my materials and the other thing is you’ll get other creatives coming in there which is also good for networking. So last Thursday I was at a talk at the Whitworth and then on Thursday, the guy who was running the event came into the shop and I said to him I went to your event the other day and we just got talking and he asked for my name and followed me on Instagram and I’d done a drawing at the event of all the people sat down drawing and then he was like can I used this on my page so I said yeah, fine, no problem and then that directs more traffic of people in Manchester looking at my work. Even though they haven’t commissioned it you don’t who those people coming to your site are they might be great contacts. I wouldn’t worry so much about the social media aspect its more about getting out there and talking to people. This is just a selection of the questions I asked and topic we discussed! It was really interesting to speaker to Ian Morris and the advice was brilliant, something I will definitely be taking on board! He also recommended a really good book to me which I then went and brought straight away from Fred Aldous which was next door! The book in question is called “How to be an Illustrator” by Darrel Rees.

While I was in Manchester waiting to meet with Ian Morris I explored the northern quarter as I had only explore the galleries a week prior. I stumbled upon Manchester Craft and design centre, a Victorian style artist studios and shops. I was so shocked to find an illustrator whose style is so similar to my own there! It is called Ink Inc and owned by 2 friends who collaborate on the pieces. It was so refreshing to see there working because as soon as I walked into their studio I knew that that’s what I want to do and achieve. I asked the illustrator that was in their studio at the time whether she has a minute to do a little interview, but she had a big deadline coming up so couldn’t. However, she passed me their business card and said I’m more than welcome to message them on Instagram or email them some questions and they will get back to me! Below is an image of their business card with the backdrop of the stress art in the northern quarter!

Action plan

Ø Read “How to be an illustrator”

Ø Continue to talk to Ian Morris, take up his very kind offer of getting his feedback on my work if I’m not sure about something!

Ø Think about getting a space in Banks Mills studios and make sure I look at it online and prepare questions to ask about their studio spaces in the lecture we will have about it.

Ø Make full use of networking events

Ø Like Morris advises, make postcards and business cards with your designs on to give out and hope people remember me!

Ø Continue to network, go to event and show willing!

Ø Maintain contacts

Ø Continue being proactive and share work!

Ø Message Ink Inc with some more questions!