Student’s Thought From Free Range Exhibition: Artupdate Learning talks to Louise Wyatt
How would you rate your course ?
I would recommend the Arts University College at Bournemouth to anyone. As an arts university there is a sense of community because we all appreciate the arts in one form or another. Students can collaborate with other courses, bounce ideas off each other and share their experiences.
When I came to the university 4 years ago on an open day as soon as I walked onto the campus I knew I wanted to study there. It had a creative, welcoming atmosphere. An extra bonus was that it was a university by the sea. On the course itself we learned a multitude of techniques from screen printing to animation which allowed us to see true potential illustration.
Where do you see yourself this time next year?
I am currently living on a farm in Somerset. I love the countryside, being in an open, quiet space allows me to think. Although it can be too quiet and I long for different culture such as the theatre, museums and art galleries, so by next year I may be living in Brighton, Bath or Bristol. I need to be somewhere that is constantly inspiring me. I hope by next year to be on the way to finishing writing and designing my own cook book of sorts.
Proudest moment?
When I was 15 I was diagnosed with juvenile dermatomyositis, an illness which causes muscle weakness and even though for years this meant I couldn’t do the easiest of tasks with out help, I was determined to get to university and study illustration, I never let it hold me back. Studying art was one of the things that helped me get through it. I am proud of how I got to where I am today and that I did not let my illness stop my creativity and determination to get to university, graduate with all my classmates and show my work at our exhibition Feral, in Free Range, London.
What can’t you work without?
Inspirational surroundings, tea or coffee, biscuits, natural light (everything seems better in the daylight) enthusiasm for the subject and all my materials in front of me ready to grab when I require them.
Vital skills you feel you’ve gained from the course?
The most important skills I have learned is a sense of professionalism and to be confident in myself and my work. In a technical aspect I now have a greater understanding in numerous techniques from printing methods to skills in creative software, but mostly the course has pushed my skills in drawing to get the best out of my illustrations.
How do you approach a brief?
As my style of illustration is very detailed, I just keep going until I feel there is enough life in the object I have drawn. When it is an illustration for a piece of writing such as a book or article I enjoy absorbing the words to connect the dots and discover the hidden meaning, the stories within stories and emotions that were not fully described. I like every illustration to be accurate to the description, therefore I must have a full understanding of the amounts, scales, colours and eras. This is when I start researching via books, museums and by being on location.
Visit Louise Wyatt to see more works. Email louwyart@live.co.uk to offer a job in food illustration.
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