I didn't really know what I was signing for, but painting and portraiture sounded like a great place to start. I had the pleasure of meeting wonderful tutors who introduced me to many different ways to approach portraiture. Working from life, with wonderful models, was such a chance. Here's a few examples of work I've produced throughout my diploma. 

In my second year I took an etching class and loved it so much. I really enjoy the alternation between creative and technical tasks. As well as the magic of the unknown: no matter how much one can plan there's also a need/call for letting go. It also encouraged me to give form to my drawings, to take them out of the sketchbook and further on a plate. 

I also got the chance to take a few sculpture classes, and this too resonated with me a lot. From a ten-week long observational sculpture, to mould making or stone carving, I felt very lucky to explore new mediums and start finding my own language, process and mark making.

Beside the skills, one wonderful part of this diploma was the humans I’ve met. Tutors, staff and peers, I'm only too grateful for the conversations we had, the friendships we made. We were also supported in developing the professional side of our practice, and that proves to be invaluable. It encouraged me to start putting myself 'out there', to dare applying to open calls, dare putting on my own shows, dare running my own workshops... And inspired me to start this newsletter! 

Throughout it I also got to find out what were 'my themes', what was the work I aspired to create. It's funny to see how my initial responses in the first term feeds into my Grad Show work. I was already looking at perceptions, and how those evolve over time. At the impossibility for two individuals to really know each other, the distance and blur that ultimately remains.