Since leaving school at 18, until 2015 when I retired, I gained three main qualifications and did a variety of jobs. I am qualified as a teacher (1974), an art therapist (1980), and a counsellor (2006). I worked for three years as a teacher, but quickly discovered it was the wrong career for me. I worked for two years as an art therapist within a psychiatric hospital, then moved into working within the mental health field in the community, which is where most of my working life was spent. Retirement has proved to be a challenge, and I have struggled to find a direction. I have always thrived on having a focus and a goal – something to work towards.
Apart from my work life, I also had a long career as a track & field athlete. Athletics, and subsequently counselling had been my two main areas of focus for many years, so when I decided recently to retire from counselling as well, it left a void, and a feeling of loss and endings, but no new beginnings.
Ever since A level, Art has been in the background of my life, and has felt like an unexplored planet. Since retirement I’ve been feeling that I want to ‘get into art’ but haven’t known how to. I’ve tried a variety of adult education classes which, whilst they have been enjoyable, have left me feeling unsatisfied – mainly because I haven’t understood what I was doing or why – even though it was enjoyable! I stumbled upon the OCA during an online search for printmaking courses. It seemed to be what I’ve been looking for. I am hoping to explore my potential, challenge my comfort zones, learn a lot, and hopefully, enjoy it as well! I am looking forward to getting started.
Sept 2nd 2019. I completed the Foundations Drawing course in June 2019, so have had almost three months' break. I have tried to keep some sketchbook work going, but have felt a bit directionless during this time. I enjoyed the Foundation course, and learned a lot, but one of the biggest problems I experienced was my tendency to be too perfectionist, which led to spending more time than I wanted to spend on the work. I have enrolled on the first part of the Drawing degree course with OCA: 'Drawing 1: Drawing Skills', and am looking forward to getting started. I am hoping to achieve a better balance between the course and the rest of my life with this course, and will take the following with me from the Foundation course:1) Be experimental. 2) Don't be preoccupied with getting everything 'right', and don't be too 'fussy', 3) Enjoy it!