Erin Donohoe completed the Illustration short course in May 2019 and recently exhibited in our short course exhibition. Erin, who is based in Guildford, Surrey, worked as a fashion designer for 12 years prior to taking this course. We chatted to Erin about how the course benefited her - encouraging her to experiment and to find her artistic style. Illustration is the ideal course for those wishing to develop their graphic image-making skills, understanding the role illustration plays and feel confident to generate new imaginative ideas.
Which course did you study and why did you choose it?
Illustration short courses
What 3 words best describe your short course experience at Chelsea, Camberwell or Wimbledon?
Artistic freedom, unlimited self expression, Forever learning.
What did you enjoy most about your course?
What I enjoyed most from my illustration course, was experimenting with art materials that I stopped using because I thought they didn't work with my illustration style. But I learnt to love using oil pastels and charcoal again and these materials have become my go-to tool for all my practices.
How has this course benefitted your career and personal development?
The course has broadened my outlook on illustration and narrowed down what I need to do to achieve targeting clients, i.e: keeping colour palettes for branding, illustration style that is identifiable and using stories and articles to create supporting illustrations. All these things I have learnt will be applied to my portfolio.
What would you say to someone who is thinking about taking a short course Camberwell, Chelsea or Wimbledon Colleges of Arts?
You will learn a lot and the course will definitely provide you with the tools to continue your own work at home.
The space of the university is good and materials are offered if you come straight from work.
What do you believe is integral to the work of an artist or designer, in any discipline?
1. To draw everyday without self judgement and to continue adding to your portfolio.
2. Also the style of your artwork has to be strong to define who you are as an artist.
3. Self reflect, by looking at past sketchbook work and critic yourself, on how you could do better.
4. Create a space in your home and join a artists group to create artwork and have your work critiqued.
Anything else you would like to add?
I have really enjoyed the course and discovered my artistic style.
Erin Donohoe
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Erin Donohoe,
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Erin Donohoe,
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Erin Donohoe,
You can see more of Erin’s illustration work on her website and Instagram:
