What are my future plans?
After I graduate, I intend to study on a PGCE course in Primary Education with the intention of being a primary school teacher. With respect to illustration, I intend to keep up my illustration work as a hobby/side career. I will always be drawing and creating new pieces and with my work I design it to lend itself to being used (for t-shirts, pillows, posters, prints, bags etc) and intend to keep up and develop my social media presence to gain interest and followers for my work and products. Selling my artwork in this way will make some extra money alongside my career in education.
As well as this, I'd hope to join an illustration agency as I will have my own full-time career. I think joining an agency, who will help promote and find work for me, is the viable option for my future plans as I can work around my career. I can also turn work down if I'm too busy as I will have my full-time job to fall back on. I think my illustration style and portfolio lends itself to any brief or job and as an illustrator I am adaptable.
As I am unsure at present if I am going straight into the PGCE from my degree or deferring for a year and taking a year out will change how far I can develop my illustration practise before embarking on my career in education. If I do take a year out I can use this year to develop my skills, style and work on my social media presence, products and wesbite and try to get my self somewhat established as an illustrator, perhaps join an agency. I will also always be open to commissions.