Be a creative freak
Written by Callum Ritchie
@ Callum Ritchie
This isn’t another mind-numbing how to guide that you can share on LinkedIn. Nor is it a self-help blog that you can read on the toilet. And this certainly isn’t me pretending I know what I’m talking about. What it is, is a kindred spirit talking about their weird and wonderful creative journey into an everchanging creative world.
I never liked being told what to do at school, that along with the fact that I was a relative outsider are what I now see as two of my most tenacious qualities. I grew to dislike art lessons as they became more and more about ticking boxes on a marking scheme and less about creative thinking and play. After bombing out of my A-Levels I joined a UAL art foundation course where I finally found some creative freedom. Suddenly nothing was off the cards and I was surrounded by all new people with new ideas that I’d never considered existed before. This was the first major step that really switched on some lights about the possibility of going to art school and forging a creative career for myself.
After taking a year out and working many a 12-hour shift as a chef to get some work ethic in my head, some money in my pocket and some Thai food in my belly, I was ready to go to university. I chose a BA in Illustration at Norwich University of the Arts because I knew I liked drawing, I liked the art school there and I knew I wouldn’t get too distracted in Norwich. When I arrived, I found myself fiercely proactive and independent in my approach to my studies and towards anything creative.
“This was the first major step that really switched on some lights about the possibility of going to art school and forging a creative career for myself.”
Despite making lots of great work and having even more fun I still didn’t really feel like an illustrator. At the time I also felt like very few people on the course were illustrators but rather called themselves that because it was easier than searching further creatively. I quite quickly realised I wanted to do something more as a creative and that I didn’t want to be put in a box. I definitely still had a lot of angst at this point but I also think it was perpetuated by the culture in illustration to choose a ‘style’ which I think isn’t a good way to educate creatives.
© Callum Ritchie
I very much felt like a mixed-disciplinary creative but I didn’t feel like I understood what that meant. I began seeing new bands, partying, writing lots, travelling and generally trying to have new experiences. This was by far the most valuable part of university for me, as it gave me the chance to be encouraged by the new people I’d met to fall deeper into myself, uninhibited by those who already knew me. This only made me hungrier for these new experiences.
I finished my undergraduate degree rather lost and once again slightly disillusioned with the idea of guided study. Despite this I decided to do the classic undergrad trope and give it one more shot by signing up for an MA in Communication Design. This was where I really started to work out what my work was about as I got encouraged to deeper explore my creativity.
At the same time as starting the MA I also founded a community events company called Site Collective, which focused on creating a community for graduates who shared that sense of loss. This helped me to begin to understand a purpose for my work which was about being playfully creative in a way that solves real life problems in communities. Throughout my MA I went on the research how design, illustration and writing could act positively on various social issues.
© Callum Ritchie
While studying my company’s work started picking up and we managed to get funding from the National Lottery Community Fund as well as a Lloyd’s Bank backed initiative. We decided to host a week-long programme of online events to kickstart young creatives careers as well as podcast and various other exciting grassroots projects.
Site Collective © Callum Ritchie
After graduating in January 2021, I set myself the goal of getting four internships within a year (I’m currently on three). I also went about taking on just about any freelance project I could get my teeth into, this included production roles on films, public relations for doom metal bands and even painting a giant dragon on a building above the skyline in Norwich. Here comes the preachy section (sorry)…I’m now going to list a few things that helped me stay creative and embrace an alternative creative career.
Mentoring
Mentoring is the single most important thing I think that you can do to get your foot in the door or your arm in the window. It taught me more in a month about the industry than I learnt in four years at university. The Arena themselves have a great mentoring programme as do Good Nugget.
Interning
This one is obvious, but interning at a diverse mix of places that maybe you wouldn’t initially consider has been great. And if you don’t like somewhere, it will only drive you harder to find something that you do like. Try to keep the ego in check and learn as much as possible at all times.
Imposter syndrome
Tell it to f*ck right off. Seriously, it has no place here but you do. To practically tackle this one, I’d say you need to consistently put yourself outside your comfort zone and also ask for feedback. Make sure you understand your imperfections while focusing on your strengths.
Say no
This comes with time but you need to know when enough is enough and something simply isn’t worth your while. Your time will become more limited the more creative and successful you become so make sure that you’re the one steering the ship.
Income streams
Now bear with me on this one because I know I’m going to sound like a dodgy internet ad. But having multiple income streams from freelancing in different fields, running a micro company and even working extra little side jobs can put you in a really strong position to control your creative live. Just make sure you still have the time to do so.
Hosting events
Events help give you purpose and something real to show for your work. They also allow you to make something happen in your community and meet lots more new creative people. Their power cannot be understated.
I’m constantly trying to describe what I do to my family and less creative friends but I’ve realised that ultimately it doesn’t really matter as long I’m enjoying it. At the moment I think I want to be an art director but in the next year I could have a massive career change.
It’s impossible to know what life will throw at you and I think there’s only so much control you have. Embrace being a creative freak.
About the author
I am a graduate with a BA in Illustration and an MA in Communication Design from Norwich University of the Arts. I love anything creative that brings an outside perspective to a new community in a socially engaged and playful way. Currently based in Bristol.
