Luna
Valentine

Can you tell us about your project?

My project is based around creating my own brand of stationery products (that will hopefully be environmentally sustainable). My initial idea came from the moment I spilled soy sauce on my favourite diary.

As a freelancer I can’t emotionally deal with the amount of deadlines and projects I’m working on at once without a comfortable, fun way of organising my time so in that way my MA project is a little selfish endeavour. Through connecting with other self-employed creatives I realised that I’m not the only one who absolutely loves paper goods and organisation tools (and doesn’t quite get on with google calendars) I realised that there’s a gap in the market for stationery that’s both fun/colourful and environmentally friendly so I decided to take this tiny little idea and turn it into a business plan.

A reoccurring theme in a lot of my illustrations is the supernatural (witchcraft, folk tales, magical imagery). I’m also very interested in feminism.  During this MA project I used the framework of creating female positive/female centric art to develop a few little smaller projects which all link together as my MA. This way the stationery idea as become just one part of it. Additionally, I have illustrated a middle grade novel featuring a fantastic roster of forest superheroes lead by the heroine Eagriel who protects the forest and her friends from the evil arsonist Forest Fierra. I’m also currently working on a graphic novel for a client about a young scientist called Clara who explores the galaxy in search of alien life forms and arrives on a planet of cats. I’ve been very fortunate to combine my personal projects and professional illustration work under this academic framework of female empowerment and have been able to explore the full range of my personal creative practice (as I’m fully expecting to go on illustrating books and running my own business once I graduate).

What do you enjoy most about your course at NTU?

I love the faculty who are incredible and generous with their time. I can’t imagine I would have been able to get this far without their support.

What made you choose to study at NTU?

I’ve studied my BA at NTU during which I got to know some of the Masters teachers and got really positive vibes from them. Also getting a discount by being a returning student was a massive positive.

Did you attend an open event?

Yes! It was really useful to ask lots of questions about the course: some relevant, others not so much. The open day in fact was what eventually made me decide to bother with higher education at all. I don’t regret it one bit.

How do you find the course staff?

They’re all awesome!

What do you think about the facilities available to you?

I’m really grateful for a lot of the facilities available to us; especially certain things that I would not otherwise had the chance to try out. At NTU I discovered my love for screen printing and paper treatments among many others. It’s also important to mention we have some really great technicians who are always there to help with projects and advise cool things to do that we may not have thought of otherwise.

What do you like about studying and living in Nottingham?

Nottingham has an awesome arts community. Since I work internationally as a freelance illustrator - mostly over the internet - it’s nice to have my local community to be able to touch base with and connect. You don’t realise how important a community of like-minded people is until you’ve spent a full month working at home alone...

Why would you recommend your course to someone thinking of studying it?

Definitely! Especially if you’re interested in working as a professional illustrator or designer but don’t quite know how to get started.

How do you think the course, and having a postgraduate qualification, will help you to progress your career?

It’s a safetynet for me as a freelancer. Event though I love freelance illustration work, it can be scary due to the many challenges it poses and with the economy as it is. Having a post-grad qualification allows me to be braver in pursuing what I love doing with the knowledge that if for whatever reason I can’t make a living as a freelancer, I always have other doors open to me.