Busy in the midst of her third year of BA Fine Art at Chelsea College of Arts, Ellie Booth paused to reflect on how the course has helped develop her practice and the learning the intricacies of time management.Describe your Chelsea experience in three words:
Inspiring, exciting and challenging.
What do you enjoy most about studying at Chelsea?
I enjoy the opportunities at Chelsea available for every student, as well as the wonderful studio spaces.
How do you enjoy living in London?
I commute in to Chelsea every day from Hastings on the coast outside London. I utilise my commuting time to write and experiment with ideas, whilst being able to get involved with the opportunities London has to offer.
What was your greatest challenge on the course and how did you overcome it?
My greatest challenge has been balancing dissertation writing with my practice. I love to become engrossed in my writing, but then find my practical work gets neglected. I then stop writing to focus on making work but then get so consumed by this that my dissertation starts to get left behind. I have overcome this vicious circle by managing my time properly. I designate equal time slots to both aspects of my practice to make sure both are being work on in equal amounts.
Image courtesy of the artist Eleanore Booth
What do you intend on doing after you finish the course?
I will continue creating work outside of an educational environment but I am also thinking about doing a Masters in the future.
And lastly, what do you want to tell people who are thinking about doing this course?
The course teaches you the value and importance of your own practice. Chelsea’s Fine Art course enables your own practice to develop in both approach and presentation. This isn’t handed to you – the tutors do not tell you what to do next or what not to pursue – but instead provide a platform for discussing development and creating exciting work.
Image courtesy of the artist Eleanore Booth