Charlie Barrott – Animation
‘I joined the Arts Foundation Course after saving up some money from full-time employment. The reason I choose the AFY course was that I wanted to expand my knowledge and understanding of various principles of art, along with the effect they have on animation.
The most useful thing I have learnt on the Arts Foundation Course is how important it is to closely observe various aspects of the world around you, along with the different ways information about other artistic courses can have a massive impact on all forms of animation.’
Cole Williams – Architecture
‘I came onto the Arts Foundation Year after studying A-Level Art and Photography at sixth-form, I had a big ambition to become an Architect but no real knowledge on how to get there. Unfortunately, I was rejected from several University Architecture courses because of my grades however my life long dream of becoming an Architect wasn’t stopped because I stumbled across the Arts Foundation Course which would help me get there.
After the first few week of the Arts Foundation I quickly realised this was another year I didn’t realise I needed until I took it.
The Arts Foundation taught me a lot about myself and I learnt many new skills that I will continue to use throughout my life. It also helped me get more creative and experimental with my work as well as engaging my mind more with Architecture.
If it wasn’t for the Arts Foundation Course I would have never developed or know about about my passion for Brutalist Architecture.
The Arts Foundation Course was a great way to ease me onto my chosen degree without being overwhelmed whilst allowing me to learn more about myself and more skills that will definitely help me in my future degree programme and career.’
Wei Yan Ferrari – Fashion
I came to University as a mature student […] ‘The Arts Foundation Year helped me in the artistic area I wish to specialise in, along with other skills that I have developed a passion for through my course. It will serve as the basis for my degree. It has been challenging, but has given me confidence and independence in my way of working.’
Rebecca Hubber – Fashion
I came to foundation after taking a gap year. I knew I wanted to study fashion but didn’t feel confident in my design capabilities. The most useful thing I have learned on foundation is the freedom to experiment to create unique designs and pieces of work.
Sam Jacobs – Graphic Design
‘Not having taken graphic design in school meant that I had to take the foundation year before the course. I soon realised that this opened me up to a wider range of experimentation that I would not of had otherwise. I feel that this freedom to try new things has really helped me find what I’m good at, and what I want to avoid at all costs (cough painting cough)’
Jack Paterson – Graphic Design
‘After travelling around the world and volunteering I wanted to turn my experiences into a form of media. I studied Creative Media Production and from studying at Lincoln College – I realised I detested film and media studies because there was no creative freedom, and everything had to be done to somebody else’s specification for the sole purpose of making money.
So, once I left college I applied for Graphic Design as this was the only aspect of Creative Media I enjoyed. From being away and stuck in many difficult situations I didn’t have a solid portfolio, knowledge or confidence which hindered me getting straight onto BA Homs Graphic Design. But after meeting with the head of the Foundation Year (Heather) I was offered a year to find myself as a designer and build my own portfolio and knowledge.
From this year on foundation I have learned about several artists, processes and created various works that incorporate the ‘Mental Toolbox’ I have built up. My tutors were invaluable to breaking me out of a media mindset of ‘Start to finish and nothing but perfection’ and encouraged me to keep working towards bettering myself based on what I have seen, done and experienced as well as my beliefs and ideologies.’
Tom Faunt -O’Grady – Photography
“During a gap year after studying geography and biology at 6th form, I became interested in photography and decided to I wanted to study it at university. The arts foundation year provided the path I needed as I had never studied an arts subject before, and has given me experience with photography and visual arts as a whole.”
Matt Wouldham – Product Design
‘I came to foundation having struggled studied Maths, Physics and Product Design at A level. The most useful thing I have learned on Foundation is working experimentally and not always worrying about the end result, the process can be just as important.’
Abigail Wilson – Fashion
‘I came to foundation having studied at John Leggott College. I wasn’t sure which area that I wanted to study at Degree level so I thought this would be the best option for me!. After a few weeks into the course I knew fashion was the one for me!, the most useful thing I have learned on the Foundation Course was learning many skills – such as time management!, preparing me for the deadlines next year!’
Somi Pariyar – Architecture
“I came to Foundation to build up my confidence and skills, as a mature student who didn’t even take art at GSCE let alone A levels. The course and the tutors have really pushed me to further develop ideas and experiment with materials and mediums and I have enjoyed seeing how this has changed my work and way of thinking.’
Lauren Amer – Animation
‘I’m originally from Doncaster but moved to Lincoln after studying fine art and graphics during my A-levels. I guess I chose to do the foundation because I wanted some experience prior to starting my course in Animation. I think the most useful thing I’ve learned on foundation was how use programmes such as Adobe Premiere and Dragon Frame.’
William Underwood – Architecture
“During my time at sixth form, having studied Maths, Product Design and Geography, my goal was to reach a good Architecture programme that would allow me to receive my RIBA part 1. However, the Art foundation year at Lincoln University is a great way of easing students into university life but also in connecting students from a range of creative disciplines.
The programme has allowed me to investigate and experiment with a range of concepts, processes and disciplines that as a result have affected my work by producing more creative, unique and organic designs. Having received no artistic background, excluding my Product design A-level, the Art foundation year was a great way in learning and exploring modules that encourage an alternative design process by working closely with key elements including: perspective, form, colour, light, movement and transcription. Especially for Architecture, the programme is a great way to ease onto the Architecture course by having multiple opportunities to work with some of the architecture staff ”
Cathriona Donohue – Creative Advertising
‘I came to foundation having studied at college, I wasn’t sure about what I wanted to do as a degree but this year has helped me to figure that out, by experimenting with a range of creative materials which has helped me to explore a variety of challenging topics. I began the year thinking that interior architecture was what I wanted to do however after getting the support and guidance it has helped me realise that I am more suited for a degree in creative advertising. The art foundation year has really helped me to get creative in ways I have never before, which I will continue to use in the future ahead of me.’
Louis Hopgood – Fashion
“I came to foundation having never studied art, or any artistic subjects for that matter. The A levels I had taken were all science based. I had always had a passion for the world of fashion, and this is something I decided I wanted to pursue. The foundation year helped develop a wide range of skills, ways to plan and taught me how to push my work further. Having experienced a wide range of new skills on the foundation year, it really highlighted to me what I enjoy the most, and how I can continue developing these skills for a future career”
Alberto Milan – Fashion
‘I was born in Tokyo (Japan) and grew up in Vigevano and Milan (Italy). In my 20 years of living I have been able to face the difference between the two cultures which helped me to look at the world in two different perspectives. My works are based on what I see around myself and express my thoughts about what I think about a certain topic.’
Jake Brady – Fine Art
‘After studying Art, Design and Photography between 2011 and 2014, I took a break from formal education. In that time I have been around the block and spent the last few years working as a Personal Trainer in Edinburgh, which is where I decided I wanted to come back to studying through the Art Foundation at Lincoln. The decision to do Art Foundation was so I could grease the hinges and be fully prepared for degree level, and i think this year has achieved that very well. AFY has been an invaluable way of learning and exploring, aided by tutors who are supportive and experienced practitioners, my creative practice has developed enormously and I’m looking forward to implementing this at degree level.’
Tallulah Callan – Fine Art
‘The Arts Foundation Year provided an opportunity for me to return to formal education after a long break. The programme allowed me to build skills and knowledge in preparation for my degree, as well as discovering which onward course would suit me best. It was a challenging but worthwhile year!’
Jess Cotton – Fine Art
“I brought with me to the Arts Foundation Year the knowledge I wanted to study Fine Art, after studying social sciences at Franklin College, and Psychology at the University of Lincoln. This dissonance between where I wanted to be, and where I felt trapped, led me to AFY. I lacked the confidence to study art at A-level after struggling to ‘jump through the hoops’ of obtaining a grade at GCSE. Consequently, I believed higher education in the arts would be inaccessible to me. However, after meeting with Heather (head of AFY), it became clear that in HE you mould your own ‘hoops’ through your practice.
Letting go of prescribed outcomes, learning became a pursuit to find my own pace and rhythm. I found great comfort in Marina Abramovic’s advice to “do what you are most afraid of” – this, as well as encouragement from the tutors, gave me a kind of validation to unshackle myself from preconceptions of ‘perfection’, experiment freely, and embrace failure. Over the past nine months both myself and my work has evolved a great deal; I can recognize major shifts in working throughout my sketchbook. My understanding of how to question work has also grown significantly.
After realising the scarcity of contact time during my first year of Psychology, I immediately saw the course as an invaluable opportunity to receive copious amounts tailored support and individual feedback, allowing me to gain the confidence needed to progress onto first year. The breadth and depth of the tutors’ knowledge, as well as their empathy and understanding to life circumstances, has enabled me to expand my perception of what art is, and what it can be.”
Ellie Davies – Graphic Design
‘I came to foundation having studied computer games design at college before taking 2 years break from education. I wanted to study graphic design at degree level but wasn’t confident With my ability to do so. The most useful thing I’ve learnt on foundation is opening up my mind to lots of different skills. For example talking to tutors and students about what path I can choose for projects and using different media and materials that I was not familiar with before.’
Hannah Smith – Photography
‘I arrived onto foundation having studied at Sir Robert Pattinson Academy; I had recently developed a keen interest in Photography and saw Foundation as a catalyst towards my creative career. The most useful thing that I have learned in my time on Foundation is that mistakes and experimentation are welcomed in the creative careers and to not fear ‘failure’.’
Jack Scrace
Before the Arts foundation year, I studied Maths, Physics and product design A-Levels, with an original interest in engineering, however I was soon leaning towards more creative approaches to work and quickly became less engaged in Maths and physics. The AFY gave me an opportunity to experiment with my creativity in new ways and gave me the confidence in my work that I had lost after my A-Levels. I have learned valuable skills which will help me on my degree and beyond.