MA Children's Book Illustration Personal Statement

Since I came straight from college to university, I've never had to make a personal statement. I've made a rough version in the past but it wasn't catered to a specific course and didn't include any recent opportunities that I've worked on. Over the past few weeks, I've been getting everything sorted to apply for the Children's Book Illustration MA in Cambridge. I want to make a longer post to talk about why I'm applying and everything I have sorted out in preparation but this post is about making my personal statement. 

I struggled to figure out how personal it needed to be; how much you talked about your experiences against the actual course and whether you needed to talk about what you wanted to do after graduating. This was difficult as I'm still unsure of what I want to do in the future, but after some research, I realised it would work best being split into sections to make sure everything was covered. These included: achievements and current practice, what inspires me and the mediums I use, all related to how the course will benefit me as an illustrator. 

After a few alterations and talks with my tutor, I got it to a good stage where it maintained a level of professionalism while showing my passion for illustration and adoration for learning new processes. I wanted it to come across like I was passionate while not sounding too generic. My friend studies English Literature at Loughborough University so she offered some good advice on how to rephrase certain sentences and how to avoid using 'I' as much. It was great to have this help as I could see it from different perspectives when she picked up on things I hadn't realised. I wanted to include this on my blog as I'm happy with the final version and feel it showcases my strengths while showing how good the opportunity would be. Here it is!

MA Personal Statement

Storytelling will forever be an important part of human nature. We rely on stories to believe in and challenge our imagination, bringing us together when life may seem overwhelming. Authors and illustrators continue to influence me, making me question why I see the world in a certain way and how creativity can alter everyday life. Elements of storytelling are at the forefront of everything I create, as I've learnt incorporating a narrative is fundamental in creating links between an artist and their audience. 

I’m always drawing characters and thinking of the types of places they would live. One such project was a children’s book I wrote and produced entitled 'A Hermit's Home', following a hermit crabs struggle in finding a new shell while highlighting the importance of protecting our coastline. Through following some of my favourite illustrators, Oliver Jeffers and Jon Klassen, I’ve learnt the importance publishing has on spreading awareness of global matters in an understandable and creative way.

Recently my focus has shifted to composition and lighting, using influences from my experiences to give my work purpose and elements of personality that audiences can engage with. With a passion for photography, there is continuity between my work and influences from trips to Iceland, Portugal, and the Lake District; all with diverse landscapes and cultures that encourage my practice, prompting me to write storylines wherever I go. Experimentation plays a huge part in my creative process, finding pleasure in the process rather than the outcome. In a recent self-directed project entitled 'Edgelands and Ruins', I worked on a book about a boy travelling out of the city walls and into an unknown, industrial landscape. The book is a collection of monoprints, etchings and illustrations composed digitally then printed on the Risograph printer to achieve a handmade yet professional quality. Although there is a slight narrative running throughout, the imagery portrays emotions of leaving home and wondering whether they will be missed.

During my final year at University, I have worked on a live brief to create a mural for a shipping container at a local school, which will be the basis of an outdoor classroom for the community. After a few adaptations, my design was selected by the school and will come to fruition in the next few weeks. Alongside this, I'm currently working on a live project for Seven Stories, a renowned centre for Children's books based in Newcastle upon Tyne. They have commissioned a project to create a mural incorporating all plotlines into a landscape illustration for their Victorian windows that face out over the Ouseburn River.

After being selected for the Cheltenham Illustration Awards for both 2020 and 2021, I wasn’t surprised to find many of the other entries came from Anglia Ruskin University, a university that dominates the AOI World Illustration Awards among many other opportunities worldwide. From looking at the Present 2021 page to following many successful alumni on Instagram, it's evident that talent is nurtured and motivated during the MA and the opportunities that lie beyond it. Equally, I love the importance of observational drawing on the course and Cambridge is a historic city I'd like to explore further. Living in Cambridge will push me out of my comfort zone, and I would relish the chance to gain new experiences in this city.

Pioneering a new wave of creatives, I want to be part of the MA alongside artists I can share knowledge and practices with. Through 5 years of studying exclusively art courses, first my Level 3 Art and Design course of which I received a Distinction, to my Illustration degree where I have achieved a first in every module since starting in 2019. I've always been incredibly self-motivated with an adoration for learning new processes. My interest in traditional printing techniques led me to explore the print and letterpress rooms at the university when I visited in December. To me, the processes of etching or Risograph printing are so gratifying, making something that has a different outcome each time makes the print unique and distinguishable.

Capturing a moment in time and reimagining it in a creative form is in my opinion one of life’s most treasured occurrences. Last year I wrote an essay on 'How Print and Digital Coexist in the 21st Century', conveying how an ever-increasing digital world has altered the creative industry, while print continues to be at the forefront, evolved from the human's instinctive desire to understand the world. This is something I want to learn more about on the Children's Book Illustration MA.

As I'm naturally driven, I'll benefit from being around motivated people with similar aspirations. Through the MA, the development both personally and professionally will allow me to gain confidence in tackling all aspects of the creative industry. Once I graduate, I aspire to illustrate freelance and potentially join a publishing agency, enabling me to work on personal projects and sell artwork.

To conclude, I'd love the opportunity to develop as a creative. I believe it will enhance my skillset, developing my knowledge of observational drawing and the children’s book industry, while continuing to build an audience and my portfolio. 

Storytelling will forever be an important part of human nature. We rely on stories to believe in and challenge our imagination, bringing us together when life may seem overwhelming. Authors and illustrators continue to influence me, making me question why I see the world in a certain way and how creativity can alter everyday life. Elements of storytelling are at the forefront of everything I create, as I've learnt incorporating a narrative is fundamental in creating links between an artist and their audience.