Hato Press : 'Printernship'

Hato press are an independent print and publishers house, specialising in Risograph printing, based in London. They collaborate with contemporary practitioners, such as Jean Jullien and Atelier Bingo, to make illustrative products - limited edition prints, books and greetings cards. They also run a series of open workshops for both experienced and beginner creatives to experiment with risograph printing.

They run 'Printernships', preferring to take on students or recent graduates. This is a 3 month internship, in which one day a week you help in the workshop and use the facilities to produce your own prints or publications. (To apply - email a CV and portfolio of your work. If you are taken through to interview, take a small proposal of the work you would like to complete over that 3 month period.)

Unfortunately, however, they are not taking on any new applications at the moment - but something to keep an eye on?

Also a thing to consider is doing a workshop there - its an opportunity to both produce work but also network a little bit and get a feel for the place. Also at £45 a pop for 2.5hours its not too bad.

Online and Print Publications

I enjoy researching, writing about, discussing and art practice. Although so far this has mostly be on an academic level, I think working for a online or print publication could be a potential career path for after degree.

If not to approach these publications for internships to be part of the creative team or to contribute editorial content, I would also potentially send my portfolio to be considered as a freelance illustrator to contribute to an edition of the publication. 

Positives of working in online/print publications:

• Still engaging with artist practice through research, discussion. 
• Working within a studio environment with other creative people. 
• Experiencing a different side of the creative industries.
• A lot print/online publications also use other platforms that I can get involved in and gain more experience - e.g. Its Nice That have their creative events 'Nicer Tuesdays'.

Possible online/print publications to research further/pursue for internships:

Its Nice That

So Young Magazine 

Eye Magazine 

Oh Comely 

Varoom Magazine (AOI)

Creative Boom

Intern Mag 

Michael Driver Talk

Today I attended the Michael Driver talk, as well as having a one-on-one portfolio, and found he hard some really useful tips and tricks on being a freelance illustrator.

• Follow people you would like to work for on Instagram ie. Art directors. To find people, illustrators often tag who they have worked for in their posts. 
• The aim of following people like this if for them to  follow you back - your then more likely to slip into their eye-line and able to gain free promotion of your portfolio. 
• Mail outs : email people you would like to work saying why you want to work for them, recent projects of theirs you like and asking if you can send them a mail out as a introduction to your work. 
• If people do not get back to you straight away, do not be disheartened - unless they have told you outright they are not interested, they may probably just be waiting for a brief suitable to your work to come up. Keep sending them promo and updating them on your practice. (persistance pays off). 
• Don't sit on an email if you want a job - mostly likely there will be other people up for it and you do not want to miss your opportunity. 
• Companies, publications and agencies usually have a set way of formatting their work email addresses. Once you know the format you can email anyone. 
• Agencies are now often looking for people who are interested in advertising briefs. 
• When your approached by an agency, email artists on their current books to get a feeling of what they are like. 

Chat with Patrick

• Possible idea of working for online blogs/magazines writing content about art & design. 
• What kind of art & design are you interested in writing about? - find and do a mock article. 
• Look at magazines/online blogs you would like to work for - what kind of tone do they write in? e.g. Its Nice That are very informal. 
• Look at Eye magazine - editor possibly coming in for talk. They like using designers to write about content - if they like what you have written will coach you. 
• Keep up portrait commissions - good for income, but also enter into competitions e.g BP portrait award. 
• https://www.curatorspace.com/  - good for opportunities. 
• Maybe think about working in a gallery? - curation? 
• Like commenting/giving direction on peoples work. - possible talk to some art directors? find out what this job entails. Could be an art commissioner for a magazine? 

GOING FORWARD

• Research places you would like to work - online blogs, magazines, agencies, creative companies (mainly in London).
• Then email these people - asking if they have any internships available or even if they are just around to have a coffee. 
• Think about your skills and what you enjoy doing beyond just making illustrations - then what kind of jobs could fit this...
• Possible graduation plan - find a 9 to 5 job working within a creative environment (not just a retail job) and then use any free time to fuel your illustration/portraiture (even if this is just personal work). 
• Giving myself the opportunity to have some space from making illustrations day to day, will help reveal if this something I would like to pursue full - time or whether working in a creative environment, with creative people, is enough to bring me job fulfilment. 

Portraiture Business

I have never really mentioned this during my time on degree - but every summer holiday since being at university I have been taking on portraiture commissions. I started painting portraits, mainly working in oils on canvas, during my A level studies at school. When painting a portrait I enjoy using thick and textural applications of paint, mainly with a palette knife, and bold colour. I work hard to capture the unique personality of each subject, often meeting with them and taking a series of photographs before starting any commission.

Following on from degree I do not see it as something I would like pursue full-time, but it is useful as an extra source of income and I do enjoy doing it - even though it is so different to my illustration practice I have developed here on degree.

In light of this I have made a website that I am currently advertising on a number of different platforms. The website includes a short description of what I do, a gallery of images and relevant contact details - here is live link: https://www.emilychafferpaints.com/

Useful Advice from Its Nice That

This morning I visited Its Nice That's studio and had a coffee with Lucy Bourton - who gave a talk at the 'We Are Here' event at Hanbury Hall in January. The studio was a really inviting and open space, housing Its Nice That as well as Lecture in Progress and Anyways Creative Agency. Recently I have been going back and forth with the idea of either working freelance or pursuing a post-graduate job that is still creatively aligned but more 9 to 5. The studio did reflect the kind of working environment that I would like in the future - surrounded by creative people, everyone engaging with some form of art and design. Freelancing, in comparison, seems like it could be more creatively fulfilling on a personal level but limiting in terms of being at home and working alone - as I especially could not afford studio fees for a while. 

Speaking to Lucy about this she suggested a couple of different jobs within Its Nice That or that exist across studios in general: 

• A lot of illustrators she knows work as studio managers. Often this is only a 3 day week, leaving the rest to work on personal projects or client briefs. 
• Project Manager - commissioning and talking to illustrators/designers. Scouting out spaces for events. 
• Staff Writer (Lucy's job) - writing content for Its Nice That. 

Lucy mentioned that internships at Its Nice That may be coming up soon which I would be very interested in applying to - other possible places she suggested as well were: 

• Nowness
• Risotto
• Hato Press
• Dazed

In terms of getting my work out there and possibly gaining editorial work, she also suggested emailing a pdf portfolio to student-friendly magazines asking for advice:

• The Smudge (Clay Hixon)
• Shortlist
• Intern mag

After Hanbury Hall I was concerned that my portfolio of work does not have a clear sense of direction, both in terms of content and visual aesthetics. The trouble is I enjoy creating work that is highly shape-based and abstract, but also like dealing with editorial or research-based briefs that need more figurative illustrations to communicate with an audience. I am also constantly looking to expand my work - into animation or illustrative products like ceramics, weave or print. Lucy made the point that diversity in style or application is good, just that as a practitioner you need to demonstrate that there is a consistency within each of these aesthetics so that a client knows your reliable - angle and edit your portfolio towards your employer, if only one type of imagery is appropriate then that is what you should show them. Its Nice That also look for a series or collection of images - a passion project that can written about as a singular piece. 

Moving Forward:

• Keep an eye out on https://www.ifyoucouldjobs.com/ for internships. 
• Email Lucy inviting her to the end year show in London. 
• Create portfolios to send to different avenues of work - e.g. magazines (editorial), print studios.