2007 update
After 6 years at Cleveland College of Art and Design (CCAD) studying part-time, 2006-07 was earmarked as time to redress the toll of neglect suffered by home and family. I had never intended becoming a professional artist but graduating with a first and selling a degree show painting to Hartlepool College of Further Education was such a high that my return to domesticity has been gradual and temporary. Emerging from the cocoon of the academic art world has been a sharp cultural surprise. My first encounter with that new world was mima’s ‘Make Your Own Damn Art World’ event last autumn where artists bravely manned market stalls in a gale to celebrate Middlesbrough’s magnificent new gallery. I was then asked to exhibit in a selling exhibition at Aske Hall, to which I wisely invited some CCAD graduates otherwise my work would have probably been unique in having no reference to waves, trees or furry creatures.
The shock of the commercial versus the academic art world registered reinforcing my conviction to pursue an MA, if only to buoy up self-confidence in my practice. I have been accepted on Newcastle University’s MFA next September – full-time – and with son at university and daughter driving, I’m hoping to cope. Next participation is a charity event, ‘Art for Youth UK North’ in April. Throughout, I have been conscious of the final show we part-timers planned in 2005 for May of last year. Then I was unconvinced, but now I recommend any graduating artist to do likewise and plan ahead. It focuses your attention, forcing you to make new work.
The first big shock post graduation is the realisation of how much work you need in order to submit to whatever: galleries, competitions, shows. I have been ‘ticking over’ but not doing enough, and with weakening conviction. I have a studio in a barn at my home near Scotch Corner that I will lose shortly for the summer due to building works, although the renovated buildings will make a fine new studio and possible exhibition space as well. Because of that, and a visit to artist Len Tabner, I am experimenting with work on paper, culminating recently in a couple of ‘refresher’ print-making courses with Peter Wray in York (if anyone out there has a table-top press to sell, please let me know). I now anticipate my return to academia with relish, but also trepidation. The summer will be devoted to ‘gearing up’ mentally and practically for the task ahead.
Tish Bloom graduated from Cleveland College of Art and Design in 2006.
