Creating Art in a Digital Age

I finished uni roughly four years ago now, spent the first two years working on a solo exhibition and going to India for a residency, then the second half mostly in lock down in which I unsuccessfully tried to get an illustration agent. I moved out of the city I studied in and have now found myself back in it again, having joined a new print studio in the centre. I’m very fortunate to be living with one of the girls I studied and lived with in third year. Sophie is a tattoo artist and has developed an insane body of work since we finished our illustration degree.

The other night we were sat on my bed and I was showing her my most recent prints I’ve been working on. We started to discuss how we enjoy working and what we appreciate in other artists processes. It was a really interesting conversation because it made me reflect on my time at uni and the mindset it gave me. I never wanted to work digitally but I had reluctantly learnt the basics as it was deemed ‘invaluable’, the fastest way of producing work.

It is something I have stepped away from recently. When I was applying to agencies throughout lock down I created a portfolio of drawings/textures that I scanned in and worked on digitally. Looking back at them I see the effort put in and elements of my style but don’t feel they are entirely mine. There is something flat about digital work that you can’t bring to life. The touch or process of working directly onto paper is gone.

In my last blog I mentioned visiting the faculty of arts in Vadodara, India. The studios were old school with paint splattered wooden desks, easels, drawing donkeys and beautiful print presses. There were no computers in sight and I was truly in awe of all the students' prints scattered around their desk spaces. Undoubtedly some of the best work I’ve ever seen.

It’s so easy to become wrapped up in this whirlwind of imagery we see through social media every day. Art can be produced faster than ever before. I used to enjoy instagram for finding other artists but now its a chaotic feed of adverts with the occasional post of a profile you actually follow. It no longer seems to be a platform which connects artists but more a fight to get your work seen.

In a professional practice module at university we were told to post every day and I couldn’t disagree more. Post when you want to post and feel you have something of value to put back out, otherwise your work becomes watered down. So much of our time is dedicated to having an online presence, think of the work that could be made if you spent that time solely on making and gathering ideas.

Having that chat with Sophie really made me want to pursue my printmaking. I’m not going to discard working digitally completely, it most definitely has its place (especially if commissioned/client based) but I have decided that the most valuable and rewarding form of practice is to create pieces you really feel are your own and not done for the sake of reeling out more media.

I can’t preach about making money from illustration because I rely on a day job for my living, money I get from illustration is sporadic and currently just helps me along here and there. However, only just feeling as though I’ve found my feet; I know that if you’re good at what you do and can find the time for it you will reap the rewards. Friends of mine who know where they stand with their art work and have poured all of their efforts into doing what they want are doing well for themselves.

What I miss the most about university is having the studio space and being surrounded by other illustrators. Joining a print studio has given some of that back to me. It’s so valuable if you want to take your practice seriously to be part of a community of creatives,engage with others and question your work. Saying that, don't forget to have fun with it, experiment with materials and be weird with your work. Because everyone likes a bit of weird.

Me and Sarah Martin are working towards an exhibition together (all print based!) which will be in November 2022 at The Printery Studio in Plymouth. Keep an eye out for it, it will be a mixture of prints based around our recent travels so will hopefully bring some sunshine into the autumn.