The great thing about the internet is that you have a window into worlds that you otherwise may not have known existed and its possible to build professional relationships with people on the other side of the globe, leading to unexpected opportunities.
When I started the Drawing and Painting Course I had no idea what would follow. Not only was I receiving great feedback and becoming more confident in my work, but I was also engaging with other students and learning about ways I could progress with my art. Because the D&P diploma gives you the opportunity to experiment with lots of different mediums you really get a feel for which you prefer and for me that was coloured pencils. Having worked with graphite for many years but loving playing with colour it was a no brainer to move onto using coloured pencil more so I could combine my love of drawing and sketching with colour.
Upon finishing the diploma I plucked up the courage to join the UK Coloured pencil society after receiving some encouraging words from another LAC student, this allowed me to enter drawings into exhibitions and to my amazement they were accepted! It was at this point I thought it would be a good idea to enrol on the colour pencil certificate course and build myself a little studio in the loft so there was a dedicated space I could use, free from the distractions of every-day life.
Fast forward a year and I have had my work shown in magazines, have been invited to write some step-by-step drawings, the first of these was published in Ann Kullberg’s Color Magazine Feb 2022 with the next one coming later in the year and had drawings in exhibitions, the last one being the UKCPS 20th anniversary gala exhibition, I even had some cards printed over Christmas which all sold out!
Without the guidance and support from both LAC and UKCPS I don’t think I would have ever achieved what I have, whilst still working a day job and dealing with the ups and downs of life. That one decision to get back to what I love doing and enrol on the D&P diploma has opened doors that I didn’t realise were there to begin with.
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