Creative Futures week (Pt 2) March 2014

Life as a professional artist after University

Bex Raven

"Bex completed her MA in Fine Art in 2011 in Engaging the Public with Art and uses this as the foundation of the ethos for the Art Centres she has created. With a background in management and teaching she has a broad range of skills and experience and as a  practising Artist she understands both sides of the profession."

Bex has had various jobs after graduating from university 12 years ago. She left thecountry,rana kite surfing school for 7 years and went into night club management.After re-evaluating her path in life she followed her dream of becoming a teacher and went on to gain her qualifications forthis in Bangor.Teaching jobs in Art and Design were hard to find which then brought her to Glyndwr University where she studied her M.A.

The idea for Funky Ardvark came from Bex realizing that for professional artists there are not many opportunities unless you make them yourself.The drive was also to help students to help not to fall into the situation of having spent years at university studying and then feel stuck because of not knowing where to go next.

We were then told about things students should be thinking about while studying. There are 4 options when completed studies.

1. Come back and study some more 

2. Go on to a degree Management scheme

3. Do some kind of work that is unrelated to what you have spent time studying

4. Go professional in your own field

Motivation plays a large part when getting you where you want to be -  working at getting your name and work reconsidered, having exhibitions, "Self employed means self motivated" -deadlines are now  those that you create yourself.

What can you can do to make a start.

1. Create links by networking
2.  Exhibitions of your work, helps to create opportunities 
3.  Find ways to sell your work 
4.  Having a creative space to suit your discipline also helps, Think about what equipment you need and cost, research what is available as equipment can be expensive.
5.  Decide if you want to work on your own or with others, both have pros and cons.Creative   input can be a great way to be able to have input and ideas and it may even lead to collaboration.      
6.  Marketing yourself - have a profesional online presence, a website so that others can view your work (There are free sites out there). Email address,name of yourself or buisness - be aware of what name you use as others may have the same name or  other areas you may not want to be associated with. 

http://www.funkyaardvark.co.uk/

http://www.funkyaardvark.co.uk/AtticArtists/BexRaven.htm

Summary :  10 /10

This was a great talk and very informative  with lots of advice for us to take away and think about. It was good to hear about how the Funky Aardvark had  first came about. I have visited the shop in Chester and was really impressed to see so much merchandise on display that had been produced by many current and ex students from Glyndwr. Funky Aardvark has so many opportunities within its environment and is a great way to network, rebound ideas off others and have a starting block to get your name out in the public domain.     

 A life as a media photographer

Melissa Cross

"Melissa has been a freelance and media Photographer for 7 years. She works at NWM Media Ltd"

Mel is a senor photographer for the Leader and started there full time in 2008 previous to that she worked in Northwich  for another paper.Within the Leader there is 3 additions Flintshire,Cheshire and Wrexham where there is a photographer in each area.Images are placed on to an i-pad and then sent to the office,an on line diary is used to check what jobs they have.

We were introduced to a slideshow to accompany the talk,Some areas covered are schools and within that many category's such as Eisteddfods, Award ceremonies, fun days. GCSE and A Level results are very busy days as 4 have to be covered in an hour. In September every year all new reception starters are photographed, every class is done and  can amount to 65 schools, some schools have 2 or 3 classes having to be done.These are popular with the parents to buy and are a big seller.Other areas that Mel has covered is Gigs such as Delamere Forrest and Chester Rocks,Funerals if family's have given permission.Mel can also have call out jobs such as Going to an area that there may of been a fire of a road traffic accident and even emergency.As long as you are on a public road it is also allowed but not going to say anybody's garden as this can be trespassing.

Features and business pages can be a double page spread and 4 or 5 images maybe needed more time can be had in this area to take images.Many action shots are taken for this category Training of Police sniffer dogs, a new climbing school, Kellogs cornflakes celebrating its 35 years. Sport pages consist of Chester and Wrexham F.C which also have there own photographers such as  Les Evans. Kids football is covered every weekend the photograph editor also gets involved in some areas of this.Cricket and charity sport are also covered.

Sometimes Melissa can find herself feeling quite vulnerable in places and situations, sometimes she has been accompanied by a reporter but at the moment there is only 5 and rarely get a chance to get out of the office except for emergencies.One good aspect of the job is that it supplies a camera which will will be repaired and equipment replaced if breaks.

Summary :  10 /10

Unfortunately I had a prior arrangement when this talk was being held but despite this I was able to leave my Dictaphone and hear the talk. I really enjoyed the talk but had missed out on the slide show aspect. Mel gave me a great insight into her job with The Leader and what aspects are covered within her work. I had originally  no idea as to what was expected of a media photographer and hadn't released that there can be such emotions attached to gaining images for the public. Areas such as attending funerals, road traffic accidents and sometimes fundraising for sick children.  

Melissa Cross Photography - Photography Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/melissacrossphotography