After graduating from the BA Artist Designer: Maker programme I felt a whirlwind of emotions in regards to my practice. I exhibited at New Designers in London and it was one of the best experiences I’ve had. I was awarded a ‘One Year On’ certificate which highly recommends you apply for their exhibition next year. After this experience I knew I definitely shouldn’t give up making and Inc was the perfect space for me to start my journey from student to professional.
It was a kick start to my new venture, in an environment I was familiar and confident with. You can easily feel a bit lost after graduating, just coming into Inc and having a cup of tea with everyone who were in the same boat as you was incredibly comforting. I could easily balance the studio and my full-time job, there was never any pressure to produce something amazing, just to carry on making something.
We had monthly sessions with mentors who would guide us through the stressful world of tax and accounts (turns out it’s not that bad) and taught us about confidence, resilience and more. We also selected personal mentors who are professionals in the field we specialised in. Mine was Kirsty Patrick from Made by Kirsty who was able to advise me on pricing, stockists and fairs in Cardiff.
I’m now a member of Red Doors Studio which is based at Kings Road Yard in Pontcanna, pop in and say hello anytime!
Ar ôl graddio o’r rhaglen BA Artist Dylunydd: Gwneuthurwr, roeddwn i’n teimlo corwynt o emosiynau o ran fy ymarfer. Fe wnes i arddangos yn New Designers yn Llundain ac roedd yn un o’r profiadau gorau i mi ei gael. Dyfarnwyd tystysgrif ‘Blwyddyn Ymlaen’ i mi sy’n argymell yn gryf eich bod yn gwneud cais am eu harddangosfa’r flwyddyn nesaf. Ar ôl y profiad hwn roeddwn i’n gwybod na ddylwn i roi’r gorau i wneud yn bendant ac roedd Inc yn lle perffaith i mi gychwyn ar fy nhaith o’r myfyriwr i’r gweithiwr proffesiynol.
Roedd yn ddechrau da i’m menter newydd, mewn amgylchedd roeddwn i’n gyfarwydd ac yn hyderus ag ef. Gallwch chi yn hawdd deimlo ychydig ar goll ar ôl graddio, dim ond dod i mewn i Inc a chael paned gyda phawb a oedd yn yr un cwch ag yr oeddech chi’n hynod gysur. Fe allwn yn hawdd gydbwyso’r stiwdio a fy swydd amser llawn, ni fu erioed bwysau i gynhyrchu rhywbeth anhygoel, dim ond i barhau i wneud rhywbeth.
Cawsom sesiynau misol gyda mentoriaid a fyddai’n ein tywys trwy fyd dirdynnol treth a chyfrifon (yn troi allan nid yw mor ddrwg â hynny) ac yn ein dysgu am hyder, gwytnwch a mwy. Fe wnaethon ni hefyd ddewis mentoriaid personol sy’n weithwyr proffesiynol yn y maes rydyn ni’n arbenigo ynddo. Mine oedd Kirsty Patrick o Made by Kirsty a oedd yn gallu fy nghynghori ar brisio, stocwyr a ffeiriau yng Nghaerdydd.
Erbyn hyn, rydw i’n aelod o Red Doors Studio sydd wedi’i leoli yn Kings Road Yard ym Mhontcanna, galwch heibio a dweud helo unrhyw bryd!
