Hello again! We called upon some wise people to share the advice they wish they'd had as a student, we hope you find some useful tips in amongst it all!
Liz Lyons Simple advice but always helps: When visiting galleries, going to talks / lectures, or using a workshop to make work - make sure you eat first, switch your phone off, put your coat, bags and heavy stuff in a locker so your not carrying it everywhere or worrying about it*. Read the recommended books, even if they drive you mad, it doesn't matter if you love them or hate them there will be something in those pages that will help you.
Rachel McMahon Also some simple advice, but... Look after yourself. I've seen too many students push themselves when they're ill and rundown, simply because they're scared of getting a bad mark. Stress is the worst thing for you, mentally and physically so taking time to take care of yourself is better than burning yourself to the ground. Your work will never be the best you can produce if you're always running on fumes, so take time to eat a good meal every day, get a good night's sleep (pulling all nighters to get work done is rarely a good long term strategy for success), and have some wind-down 'you' time even if you feel like you don't have time (you do!). I took up taichi in my final year, despite thinking I didn't have the time, but that social hour every week helped to clear my mind and then afterwards I could focus on the tasks I needed to get done. Your mental and physical health is the most important thing, and if you're ever struggling there is always help available; talk to your friends, your GP, the GTAs, the tutors, or student support services. You'll find that if you take care of yourself and find a work/life balance, your work will also improve.
Bethany Turner Balance your time from the very start! Learn your limits - tiredness doesn't produce great work but after a good night off and a clear head you can achieve anything.
Bethany Turner Also, never think anything is wrong, allow for mistakes and learn from them because they are the most developmental part of art school. And don't ever think because you haven't done much work that you're not good enough or are too scared to go to tutorials - always attend everything no matter how much or little you have done because you learn something new everyday
Jessica Lampit Definitely agree - always turn up to tutorials and group crits! I realised throughout uni that not going to them will always leave you a lot worse off- your situation is never as bad as you think it is and your tutor will always be on your side!
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| Molly: Make sure you drink plenty! #winewednesday |
Rhiannon Wood Don't try to please everyone because ultimately all of your tutors will have different opinions and want you to do different things. Take their opinions into consideration but at the end of the day, only follow the advice you feel will get your work to where YOU want it. I spent the best part of three years trying to please everyone and it stretches you too thin. It's impossible to do. I was a lot happier when I realised that.
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