Responce from Print Club London

YAYYY!!!!!!!!

Hepworth Print Fair - Chat with Lydia Mary.

Lydia Mary from Far North Film on Vimeo.
Lydia graduated from Manchester a few years ago and is starting to really astablish herself. So she was really good to speak to as this has been a recent transition for her. I love her work, and it is a perfect cross between illustration and textiles. I asked her about how she maganed the trasition between graduating and starting up her business. She bought her own print materials, so screens ect and made a makeshift exposer unit. she said that youtube is your best friend in this case, and she makes all the products such as the cushions herself, again youtube is your best friend. she has two part time jobs but one of which like Laura is working part time at manchester, but they are both for money and keep her balancing her buiness. Lydia said that the main thing is studio space. For print based work you need the space and its good to be able to leave the house and go to a place where you can work, makes it feel more like a job. She then told me a few good places to recurch into for graduate stuff. Craft councils hot house and design trust. I also asked how she deals with creative block. At uni it was worse but becuase now she is busy and has other things to foucus on it never really happens now. Also at uni you are slightly boxed in with what you can produce but once you leave you have complete creative freedom again. She also said similar to me that she found what she really wanted to do towards the end of her 3rd year and still wasnt complete sure when she left but she just kept making. Also it is a bit dauting coming out of education for the first time since the age of 4 but you find your feet soon enough. Pricing work too is somthing you learn whilst you go. Her advice for just after graduation was don't spend your student loan all at once , take advatage of graduate oppertuinites and keepmaking. I told her at the beginging that I was terrified about going freelance but she said dont be scared becuase you soon get to grips with it. We got on really well and I will be keeping in contact with her. I also bought one of her happy bug prints which I love!!!

Hepworth Print Fair - chat with James Green

Had quick chat printmaker James Green. I wasn't really aware of him and his wokr till I was resurch the fair before hand but his practise reveols around lino print , so thought it would be worth talking to him. He said that he originally graduated from fine art about 20 years ago and found it impossible to esablish himself. Mainly becuase there was no social media or internet. He only found lino printing a few years ago and since has become obsest with it. He dosn't class himself as a illustrator but his tip for a graduate of any creative course is network and keep on making. He mentioned that he is currently working on a commition for English Herritage and there site at stone henge but he much prefers working on his own work and selling it. The Donkey prints below are an example of this. He like making prints and pins to sell rather than physical products. Without the social media he also said it would be really hard to get commintions , there are a nesseity to get money. 

Hepworth print fair - chat with Laura Slater.

Laura Slater is a freelance textile designer and printmaker, based in Wakefield but she also teaches part-time on the printed textile course here. Have been a big fan of her work for a while now but been really nervous to go and have a chat with her about her practice in uni so the print fair was a brilliant opportunity to do this. Having pre-researched who was attending the fair I found that it was mainly freelance printmakers so the key thing that I wanted to find out was how they managed post-degree, specifically how they print without the resources of a facility in which to do this.
Don't know why I was so scared to talk to Laura because she was lovely. I asked her first about how she got started up? Printing facilities? she said that she went form her degree to a master. It was a good experience but she wished she of had a break in-between. But mainly used print studios that had drop-in facilities available. She recommended a few in Wakefield but also in Leeds, so the Leeds print workshop and West Yorkshire print workshop.  Next, I asked how she managed in the early stages of freelance? she said through attending print fairs, you meet other people and people get to see your work so it a proactive way of self-promotion and networking. Networking event too. We next had a quick chat about social media and how significant is this in getting commisions. Laura said it was really important as through Pinterest John Lewis saw her work and formed a collaboration on a collection. She then went into more detail about working for a massive company like john lewis. I asked whether it was harder compared to working with smaller brands. She said that John Lewis where actually really good and that it was a collaboration more a commision. She would design some sample prints, then go for a meeting with a design team and they would all decide which design would fit which garment etc. I also quickly asked her about studio space and she said that there were quite a few places in Leeds which would be good. East street arts and Lady beck. She then expanded on print fairs and said there were loads in York, Leeds and Sheffield. She also emphasised that doing smaller exhibitions helps with larger ones. The final question I asked was what would be one piece of advice you would give to a new graduate, KEEP MAKING WORK!

Action plan for easter break.

  To do :

• Write CV.
• Develop live website.
• Send and write prints, emails, letters.

AIM:

• Aim to research and contact 10 - 20 more people but the end of Easter break.  

Logo tests

 Current logo design is on the left. Below are the previous designs. Using block type definitely link well to my work. It looks more sophisticated that if I was to hand write it on the Wacom.

 

Image of Package sent out

I wanted to keep it simple for now as I really need to start getting contacts in but hopefully, with a bit more time towards in between submission and exhibition, I will be able to improve on it. But for now, this should hopefully work. The envelope contains the letter, typed out because my handwriting and spelling are not the greatest so to make sure it is legible this was the best option. The print with a business card in the back containing email, website and Instagram.

screen shots of website of live website so far

Keeping it really simple for now but it would be worth considering later on adding more decorative elements into the pages and changing the navigation bar type but this can be something I can develop on over the Easter break if I have time. But overall I think it is developing nicely. 

https://www.megannaylorwardleillustration.com

Letter sent to People of print

Dear People of Print.

Hello! My name is Megan Naylor – Wardle, currently in the final year of my degree at Leeds Arts University in BA (Hons) Illustration.

I am writing to you is to ask if I could get a placement or internship with you? (Or even pop in for a chat!) I have been following People of Print since the start of my degree. I love that you make print accessible through different platforms such as your website, events and publications, especially Print Isn’t Dead. In addition, offering not just a print studio for creative professionals to get top-notch prints whilst also promoting them, but for commercial brands and allowing political and social issues to be challenged within the work you publish and encouraging creative collaboration between designers. You’re keeping print alive and going! I am keen to learn more about how print can be used to educate and inform in a growing digital age.  

Throughout my degree, I have developed a very strong interest and knowledge of traditional printmaking methods. These include Screen (both paper and fabric), Lino, Mono, Etching. I was also recently given the title of key holder to the print room facility at the university, which entails being responsible for the equipment, machines and to print after normal opening hours, when the technicians leave for the day.

   

Alongside this, I have organised and run creative workshops for my current part-time job at the university as part of the ambassador tea­m for 3 years. As part of this role, I am often giving tours to large groups of people, explaining the different facilities we have at the university so I am confident in public speaking but the job has allowed me to work with a wide range of people. For ­­my final year dissertation, I decided to carry out a series of self-initiated workshops in collaboration with the British Refugee Council. As part of the 4-month collaboration I ran and organised several print based workshops for the Refugees and Asylum seekers, who use the councils services. It was fantastic to use print as a tool to create a positive impact and make it accessible to the individuals who took part and could try something new.

 When I graduate in July I would love to be a part of a positive creative environment like you have at People of Print, so would relish at the chance to get an experience of it. 

Thank you for your time. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me if you have any questions – megannaylorwardle@gmail.com

Hope you have a great day, and I enclose one of my prints for you.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes,

Megan !

Instagram  - @naylorwardle

Website – megannaylorwardleillustration.com

Letter sent to Print Club London

In the hope of getting a response back, I am going to use the approach of letter writing directly to them. I really really want an internship with Print Club London ! I also enclosed a limited edition screen print too. Below is the letter I have written to the studio director of Print Club London. Address to the specific person at the top then the following :

Hello! My name is Megan Naylor – Wardle, currently in the final year of my degree at Leeds Arts University in BA (Hons) Illustration.

I am writing to you is to ask if I could get a placement or internship with you? (Or even pop in for a chat!) I have been following Print Club London since very start of my degree.  I love that you make print accessible through workshops and allow people to gain a full and supportive print experience, enabling them to produce work they can be proud of and creating a space not only for beginners but for professionals to get top-notch prints whilst also promoting them. You’re keeping print alive and going because print is not dead!

Throughout my degree, I have developed a very strong interest and knowledge of traditional printmaking methods. These include Screen (both paper and fabric), Lino, Mono, Etching. I was also recently given the title of key holder to the print room facility at the university, which entails being responsible for the equipment, machines and to print after normal opening hours, when the technicians leave for the day.  

  

Alongside this, I have organised and run creative workshops for my current part-time job at the university as part of the ambassador tea­m for 3 years. As part of this role, I am often giving tours to large groups of people, explaining the different facilities we have at the university so I am confident in public speaking but the job has allowed me to work with a wide range of people. As part of my final year dissertation, I decided to carry out a series of self-initiated workshops in collaboration with the British Refugee Council. As part of the 4-month collaboration I ran and organised several print based workshops for the Refugees and Asylum seekers, who use the council's services. It was fantastic to use print as a tool to create a positive impact and make it accessible to the individuals who took part and could try something new.

When I graduate in July I would love to be a part of a positive creative environment like you have at Print Club London, so would relish at the chance to get an experience of it.    

Thank you for your time. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me if you have any questions – megannaylorwardle@gmail.com

Hope you have a great day, and I enclose one of my prints for you.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes,

Megan !

Instagram  - @naylorwardle

Website – megannaylorwardleillustration.com