5 reasons why I embarked on an MA.

My first year at Cambridge school of Art.

Hello Friends,

I’ve been meaning to write to you sooner.

Life, kids, day jobs and uni have gotten in the way of my letters. But I’m happy to be writing to you now.

In September I started at Cambridge School of Art to study towards an MA in children's Book illustration.

Since starting I’ve been asked Why? quite a lot.

Particularly ;

Why do an MA in Children’s Book Illustration when you already illustrate children’s books?

The answer is ‘You don’t need to.’ I wanted to. And I’m so pleased I did.

Here are 5 reasons WHY?

• I was unhappy with my process of making books. I felt miserable and needed to rethink this process, experiment and learn new techniques.

• I have never been to university before. I wanted the experience, support and guidance from amazing tutors.

• I was fed up with everything being ‘Online’, I wanted to be with real people again who love what I love.

• I wanted to use the amazing facilities, especially the print room.

• Deadlines and accountability push me to do my best work.

All of the above will hopefully allow me to make books I love in a process that I love.

I can already see some development in the way that I work which is exciting.

Who knows what the future holds? There is the fear that I will never get a book job again! But I have always been blindly optimistic about this career. I know that I am in the right place, doing the right thing, which is much more drawing than I’ve ever done. And I’m loving it!

---

Drowning in sketchbooks since September 23.

Below is a little look at my finished project from my second Uni module. ‘Down the Allotment’ A sequence reflecting the seasons. Full of joy and experiments.

More observational drawing is definitely on my list for the summer, and maybe slowing down a tad (I find that quite hard).

If you have any questions about the MA and my experience thus far, please ask away in the comments!

Thank you so much for reading,

Heidi x