Five Lessons from an Art School Plus Artist

Author Kat Hudson

When I became a part of Art School Plus in the autumn of 2022, I was a recent BA Drawing graduate from UAL Camberwell, at the time, I knew I had a huge passion for continued learning and developing my creative practice, but I lacked experience outside of the education system. One year on I am now working as a freelance artist and have been involved in multiple exciting public realm commissions through Art School Plus. I have since run workshops with children, adults, and young people, seen projects I’ve been involved in up on billboards and I have grown in confidence hugely.

I have learnt A LOT during this time and hope by sharing some of these lessons I might be able to help other early career artists looking to work within the public realm. Where to go beyond art school graduation can be an overwhelming prospect, and for many of us all it takes is for a little help opening that first door so we can begin to build our own careers.

That all being said, here are the top five things that I have learnt from working on Art School Plus commissions: 

1.     GET ORGANISED…

I thought I was pretty organised, however I don’t know if I was truly prepared for some of the logistical problems you will face when working with multiple stakeholders across overlapping projects. I have found being an artist can sometimes look like a quiet couple of months to suddenly finding everything overlapping at once. So having a solid organisational system has really helped me keep my head above water, because you never know when someone will drop you an email asking for your availability.

2.     EVERY SINGLE PERSON YOU WORK WITH WILL TEACH YOU SOMETHING…

From the people I’ve collaborated with, to the community groups I’ve met, I have had the opportunity to grow as an artist and as a person.

Remain receptive and open to these lessons, share what you know and listen to what you don’t. Never stop learning.

3.     STOP DISCOUNTING YOURSELF…

It’s far too easy to look around the room and see all the things that others have achieved that you haven’t, the experience you lack and answers that seem to evade you. And from there it’s hard not to question the space you occupy in the room. Applications and proposals require confidence and self-assurance that isn’t always easy to find. But I have learnt (and continue to learn) that questioning your position doesn’t actually get you anywhere.

Don’t underestimate the power of being able to look at things from a new angle – no one else has had your experiences - your viewpoint is valuable.

You really can do more than you imagine, so stop undermining yourself and just accept that we ALL have something to bring to the table (including you!).

4.     FIND YOUR SUPPORTERS…

You won’t always be completely sure of what you’re doing or what the next steps are in any project. As I said before, stakeholders sometimes need you to be your most confident self, so you need people around you that you can let your guard down with. My fellow cohort of ASP artists have become these people for me, I am able to ask questions, share concerns and confusions, and I have found that often I’m not alone and that solutions are easier to find in a team. 

The people you let your guard down with often end up becoming your biggest supporters.

5.     ALWAYS MAKE TIME FOR YOUR PRACTICE…

This is one of the biggest things I have learnt from the artists I have worked alongside; you must set boundaries around your making time. Creative freelance work often blurs what would be considered ‘normal working hours’ – it’s rarely a 9 to 5 job and I love this about being an artist. BUT I am also learning to protect some of my time. It’s far too easy to over commit when a project is something that you are passionate about, but you need to look after your wellbeing, and as creatives a huge part of that is our personal art practice.

My best work comes out of that messy chaotic balance of working on projects and making my own art in every spare moment I have.

Remind yourself: I am in this position because I am an artist, first and foremost.