After ‘The Canon’ lecture last week I read the handbook and came across the suggested follow up work. I decided to answer the following questions: How did I end up studying design? Who influenced me? Who inspired me? Why do I like the things I like? And is taste and artistic ability genetic? This is because I quite often get asked why did I choose to do art at university. Another question that has come up on numerous occasions in the past is whether i get my artistic ability from my mum or dad.
Firstly how did I end up studying design?
I think I eventually got to study design because that is what I wanted to do and I got my own way in the end. When I first got to choose my subjects at school and I selected art my teachers told me not to, my friends told me not to and my parents weren’t so keen. My dad especially didn’t want me to do art as he thought ‘I could do so much better for myself’. But since I only saw my dad on weekends and he knew little about my school life I gave his opinion little consideration. I did what I wanted to do and my mum was supportive of my decision. I went to a grammar school and everyone was pretty intelligent. Having had to pass an exam or interview to get in. Only 11/120 in my year group did do art, it was sort of frowned upon. Mathematics and science were strongly encouraged with many students aiming to become lawyers, accountants, vets and doctors. The art department had little funding as a result of this and we spent most of our time drawing from life with basic medium, we also had the option to attend a life drawing class at a local school. I really enjoyed art but despite this I knew I had many other options and often worried I was making the wrong decision choosing to do art. I really don’t want to get stuck in a dead end job and that is what everyone kept saying would happen! I was ‘closing doors’. Despite this I chose to do Art because it is what I have always enjoyed more than anything else and I have always wanted a career that would make me happy, rather than rich and successful. Initially I wanted to go to Reading University to study fine art but I didn’t really know that fine art is what I wanted to do so it was my mum who helped me with the decision. She thought I would be better doing a foundation or general course so I chose to come to Duncan of Jordanstone to do the general course. I think that is probably one of the best decisions I made as I realized fine art is not for me! So here I am doing textile design and so far I love it!
I have already touched on Who influenced me? And Who inspired me?
I was influenced a lot by my family when I was younger and especially my mum. The compliments from friends, family, teachers and members of the public on open days for example inspired me as people appreciating my work made me realize that may be I was good enough for art school and why shouldn’t I do what I want and enjoy. ‘You only live once’ was a phrase I used a lot whilst arguing my case! My art teacher was also particularly inspirational always suggesting what I could do at university what I could do as a career, he sort of allowed me to dream of what I could do with my life. I was influenced by artists, particularly local artists from a very young age as my mum used to take me to the art mart at my first primary school every year, even then she said I used to tell everyone what I liked and what I didn’t like and why. My mum said she soon began to realize what things I would like. Many artists have inspired me over the years but there is no one name that particularly strikes me as most inspirational, I don’t really have many favorites. I don’t have a favourite song, a favourite colour, a favourite designer or a favourite film. Being a very indecisive person I have lots of favourites!
Why do I like the things I like?
I normally tend to like bright coloured things, things that are perhaps a little unusual, that not everyone else will like. For example my flat mate, Lisa, hates my clothes and I hate hers! Lisa wears mostly blue, black, green and grey. She wears heels for a night out and occasionally a dress or leggings and long top, but otherwise it’s always trainers, jeans and a t-shirt. Lisa doesn’t like my black ankle boots covered all over in brightly coloured flowers, my electric blue jeans with a black print on and my irregular choice shoes I just got as a present for my 20th birthday, which are probably 3 of my favourite items of clothing! Perhaps i like bright colours as my parents used to dress me in bright clashing colours rather than pastel colours when i was little. I also like to stand out a little but not too much. I don’t think my tastes are very unusual I dress quite similarly to most people I think, but even at school my friends used to say I dressed ‘arty’ because I perhaps did wear slightly more unusual shoes, scarves and jewellery to customise our otherwise dull smart trousers, shirt and jumper uniform. I think I am definitely drawn to bright colours and things a bit different but anything too way out makes me feel uncomfortable. I don’t like to be stared at walking down the street, I probably care a bit too much about what other people think to be honest. I like artists and designers whose work interests me and that I know the background behind, i don’t like to be told who is good or not good I like to make my own opinion of someone. In terms of music I like a lot of artists but I don’t buy much music, I tend to listen to the radio and what friends are listening to, I am probably quite greatly influenced by others and they influence what i like. I enjoy films I understand and those which I don’t get bored of half way through! I am willing to watch anything once, same with books I am happy to read any recommended book but I am not sure why I like the things I do.
Finally do I think taste and artistic ability are genetic?
I can definitely see some similarities in taste between my mum and grandma. They often have very similar clothes, in fact they once both bought the same dress, without knowing the other had bought it. I also think if it was solely up to my grandma her home would be very similarly decorated to ours, quite neutral and modern. Both my sister and me ‘borrow’ clothes, makeup and accessories from my mum so I guess we must in fact have similar taste. Although we all have our separate styles, I like colour, clothes that are practical but a little different, unusual scarves and shoes. My mum like reds and browns and good quality, my sister is very unpredictable she did the ‘goth’ look a few years back but she soon grew out of that. I think now she just tends to follow what’s in fashion. We share clothes now and again. We also have a very similar taste in music and my mum is always hovering in our doorways listening to what we are playing. When it comes to artistic ability my mum is adamant she cant draw and never has been able to and is not even slightly artistic, my dad thinks he is quite good although I have only even seen him doodle or draw a cartoon swan and he does think he can do anything! My sister I think does have the ability to be very good at art but she is just not interested. My grandma is however quite creative, she sews, knits makes lots of cards and decorative things inspired by the craft classes she goes to at the town hall. So may be she is quite artistic and I get that from her?
Answering these questions has made me think about how I dress, what I buy and what I like in comparison to my friends and family. Often I have been stuck for answers for example what is my favourite song?! If I don’t know how does anyone else? I think it is true to say I am a very indecisive person and what I like does vary and change over time as I imagine many peoples tastes do. I have found it interesting to think about how actually I did end up doing design. It would perhaps be interesting to find out why other people have chosen the same course at university, who influenced them? Was it an easy decision? I also like looking at what people wear and why they wear it.
