UAL MAVA Graduation Monday 14 July 2014

So I am officially a Master of Arts. Or Master of Arts, Visual Arts to be more precise. Specialising in illustration. Walked across that stage yesterday and now I'm a changed man. Check out my more illustrious hero and inspiration in the attached picture. I hope that I can inspire too by my words and deeds. Plus I added a few more for colour.

Thank you to my lovely wife Caroline all of this wouldn't have meant anything without her continued support and true love. Now for something completely different...

20 YEARS A TEACHER - My thank yous

I have been thinking on this for some time so it's probably best that I act upon it. I want to say thank you to some people without whom I would not be doing what I'm doing now. If I miss anyone out please forgive me. I also acknowledge the influence of Chauvet Caves, Leonardo Da Vinci, Albrecht Durer, William Blake and Saul Bass.

I will try to do this in chronological order and unfortunately some of these people are no longer with us.

Frank Hinds - Grandfather R.I.P.
Annette Hannaford - Auntie

Mrs Bull - Biology Teacher
Mr Eade - Art Teacher
Dave Beale - Friend
Karon Newell - Friend

Cathy Stocker - Friend
Lee Wright - Friend R.I.P.
John Dyke - Tutor
Phil Giggle - Tutor
Daphne Cousins - Tutor
Pam Dowson - Tutor
Thea Andrews - Tutor

Arvon Welling - Tutor
Alan Young - Tutor
Noel Meachin - Tutor R.I.P.
Charles Shearer - Tutor
Peter Knock - Tutor
Angus Mewse - Friend
Sophie O'Flynn - Friend
Robert Mason - Artist
Russell Mills - Artist
Liz Pyle - Artist
Paul Slater - Illustrator
Anne Howson - Artist

Chris Sharrock - Tutor
Gary Powell - Tutor
Mark Hudson - Friend
Dave Williams - Friend/ Tutor

Elaine Wedge - Friend
Dave Howarth - Friend
Roger Spencer - Teaching colleague
Alex Wingfield - Student
Caroline Tomlinson - Student
David Durrans - Teaching colleague R.I.P.
Fiona Durrans - Teaching colleague

Ian Storey - Former Line Manager
Clive Barron - Student
Sara Morrissey - Teaching colleague
Ian Barraclough - Teaching colleague
David Sowerby - Teaching colleague
Ian Noble - Teaching colleague R.I.P.
Neil Barnett - Teaching colleague
Peter Cannings - Teaching colleague R.I.P.
Darren Raven - Teaching colleague
Chris May - Teaching colleague
Jason Stavrou - Teaching mentee
Ana Vincente - Teaching mentee
Claire Lewis - Teaching mentee
Will Kay - Student
Obi Cambell - Student
Levi Freeman - Student
Jan Woolley - Tutor

And to the thousands of students who I've tried to help over the last 20 years, good luck and have a bright future. 

20 YEARS A TEACHER - final reflections

Well that was a great few days where I could actually stop and reflect on my unexpected career path. If you travelled back to 25 years ago and told me my life would be filled with teaching and learning I would have probably told you to get stuffed or worse (I would have punched your lights out). I could not imagine anything worse than being around teachers again. My degree experiences had put me off education for life or so I had thought.

I am an illustrator what else could I possibly need?

The choice of working for either Parcelforce, KP work, Lambeth Council or putting something back and getting paid in full brought my options into sharp focus. Life is filled with choices but do we always make the right ones?

I contacted my friend Angus Mewse who I knew was doing some lecturing and asked him to hook me up. When I went into Hertford Regional College at Ware to show my portfolio and talk about professional practice to a group of Foundation students I couldn't have guessed at what this small event would lead me to. I really enjoyed it and the students appeared to enjoy it also.

Working at Hertford Regional College (1994 - 1995) led to work at Barnfield College in Luton (1995 - 1998) on the National Diploma in Graphic Design and Illustration course. Thanks to Roger Spencer for all your support. This work in turn led me to Milton Keynes College (1998 - 2000). Fiona and David Durrans really gave me the opportunity to understand the mechanics of teaching. A short spell at Luton and Dunstable College (1999 - 2000) where I worked on FE and HE courses in Graphic Design teaching digital design. During this time I maintained my career as a freelance illustrator truly believing that teaching was only a passing phase.

It took a spell at Croydon College (1998 - 2000) and then my work at LCP/ LCC (1999 - Present) cemented my teaching and my realisation that this was my vocation now and the illustration work trailed off. In 2003 after 9 years of lecturing I gained my PGCE in Teaching and Learning Art, Design and Communication.

In 2013 I gained my MA in Visual Arts - Illustration.

In the 20 years I have worked alongside some of the finest people I've ever met and had the pleasure/ pain/ joy/ laughter/ anxiety of working with students. I estimate that more than 3000 students may have benefitted in some way due to my work with them. Using networks like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter appears to confirm this. Seeing or hearing Alumni good news makes me feel it was all worth it.

So as I look ahead to the next 20 or so years I really believe my best work is ahead of me. Doctorate here I come…

20 YEARS A TEACHER the celebration meal

Thanks to Caroline, Tamlyn, Paul, Cathy and Sian for making my celebration meal so wonderful. The (faux) old world surroundings of The Delaunay in Aldwych was a fitting venue to eat drink and be merry.

Here's to the next 20 years.


Karl

20 YEARS A TEACHER current students feedback

Words to describe my teaching 1.3.2014 and 2.3.2014

From my students on the FdA Design for Graphic Communication and BA (Hons) Design for Graphic Communication courses. It makes me blush to read some of these words and very, very humble. Thanks to my students who are the one’s who do the real work.

Karl

ACCESSIBLE

ANECDOTE

ARDOUR

CHARISMATIC

COMMITMENT

DEVOTED 

ENCOURAGING

ENGAGING

ENJOYABLE

ENTHUSIASM X 2

ENTHUSIASTIC

EXCITING

FRIENDLY

GENIAL

GENUINE

HONESTY

ILLUMINATING

IMAGINATIVE

INSIGHTFUL

INSPIRATIONAL

KNOWLEDGEABLE

PATIENCE

PASSION

PASSIONATE X 3

PERSONAL

RELAXED 

RELIABLE

RESOURCEFUL

SOUL

THOUGHTFUL

WILLING

and “If I would have to get together a PMI! I would say:

[+] likes discussion, makes jokes, story telling, stands up for the black people

[-] forgets the clock sometimes, can talk faster than me:)

[i] like illustration”

"20 Years thats is a whole life, every time I think about you many words come to my mind, but the one I can describe you is INSPIRATION. I think you have found your place in the universe and people like you can only help and help others, that is their role. You are devoted and passionate, looking for the obstacles and always doubt, which makes you a very special human being. 20 years are not career experience, that are 20 years of mission, keep going and never stop."

20 YEARS A TEACHER 01.03.1994 - 01.03.2014

My celebrations have begun this morning with a few words of support from my former students and teaching colleagues. More to follow.

Karl

Words to describe my teaching practice received on 1.3.2014

ALTERNATIVE

BATMAN

CREATIVE

C.R.E.A.T.I.V.E.T.H.A.N.K.Y.O.U.

CREATIVITY

CURIOUS

ELASTIC

ENTHUSIASTIC

FUN

FUNKY

GENEROSITY X 2

INTEGRITY

LIBERAL

MOVER

PASSIONATE

SMART

UNFORGETTABLE

VERBOSE

ZEAL

And later on these came through too on 1.3.2014 and 2.3.2014

DON'T FORGET TO ASK US IN ANOTHER 20 YEARS.

GENUINE

INSPIRATION

INSPIRING

ENCOURAGEMENT

ENTHUSIASM

ENTHUSIASM I HAVE LEARNT THAT WORK IS PLAY

ENTHUSIASM MOTIVATION

ENTHUSIASTIC. SUPPORTIVE. ALWAYS ENJOYED A GOOD CONVERSATION. KIND AND WITH A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOUR

NONSTOPGOBALOBCHATTERBOX

SUPER ENTHUSIASM

THE REALEST G IN THE GAME!

THUMBS UP

YOU GET LESS FOR MURDER

YOUR THE MAN KARL!!!

20 YEARS A TEACHER

On 1 March this year I have an anniversary that I will be celebrating on this blog. Watch out for a special announcement and artworks, interviews and reflections on my career in education and the impact this has had on myself and many others.

In the meantime here's a photo of me taken by my wife Caroline.