The Gold Arts Award is certainly full of exciting and useful workshops. We had a session with Watershed staff Paddy and Grace, giving us an insight into techniques that will fulfil the interview criteria for our award. It was helpful to remind myself of the methods I’d learnt as a Media student, and acquaint myself with the specific film products and software that is on offer in the Pervasive Media Studio. We executed this workshop in a creative and fun way, where we all had a chance to film, capture sound, interview and be interviewed. It certainly provided us with plenty of giggles.

The workshop got me thinking about who I wanted to interview. Afterwards, in my one to one with Claire, I shared my thoughts on what I wanted to embark on with the Gold Award. I am keen to get in touch with a professional illustrator which may be possible due to my wriggling into an illustrator’s circle on Facebook. As for work experience, I would quite like to keep it in line with my direction for the CineKids artwork and work alongside an animation team. I am currently discussing the opportunity to work within Aardman with Hannah, although I am open to the idea of setting my sights slightly lower and realistically and am preparing to get in touch with The Cube or Parlour Showrooms should the former fall through.

As for the attending an exhibition, I’m less worried about this one as I’m sure there will be multiple opportunities to do this in the coming months. I am keeping a close ear to the successes of my old illustration student friends who regularly share the information about exhibitions they are included in on social media.

I am a bit worried I’ve taken on a bit too much having just been offered a new job and doubting my abilities to succeed creatively, but in trying to catch-up I am forming a more solid understanding of the work I have to do to gain a qualification.