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Let's try this again 🙃@opencollegearts Fine Art student @juliegayle.balliu image that was submitted for our Encounters issue of edge zine.

"This particular photo was taken whilst visiting my husband's home town in Albania, one which is emptying every year due to people emigrating for economic reasons. This shot appealed to me as the protesting & political graffiti seemed a fitting backdrop to the young boys sitting by the roadside, awaiting their own futures."

You can spot Julia on our insta a couple of squares to the right and find out more! The edge zine issue can be found in our bio.

Thanks again for sharing Julia!

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #Degree #OCAFineArt #FineArt #OCAFriends #Creativity #LifelongLearning #Encounters #Zine #edgezin

Pride Month is an annual celebration of the many contributions made by the LGBTQIA+ community to history, society and cultures worldwide. In most places, Pride is celebrated throughout the month of June each year in commemoration of its roots in the Stonewall Riots of June 1969.

This artwork was submitted as part of our EDI Calendar 2025 by @opencollegearts student Evie. Thanks for sharing! Find the calendar in our bio.

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #Pride #LGBTQIA+ #Equity #Diversity #Inclusion #OnlineLearning #Safety #Creativity #PrideMonth #Allyship #OCAFriends

As a mature student of a BA Fine Art, I'm enjoying every moment of the journey. With a graphic design background and an evolving artistic future, I observe my surroundings every day. This includes taking photos, especially of everyday life here and abroad.

This particular photo was taken whilst visiting my husband's home town in Albania, one which is emptying every year due to people emigrating for economic reasons. This shot appealed to me as the protesting & political graffiti seemed a fitting backdrop to the young boys sitting by the roadside, awaiting their own futures.

My husband is Albanian and we have been married for 25 years. My first visit to the country was in 2002, and although the essence of the country was visible, it was clear that the revolution had ripped it apart. Over the years, I watched the people reclaiming their lands from the government (in Communism it was confiscated), businesses start up, infrastructure put in place and the slow road to tourism. Unfortunately, after many years, the opposite has happened, half the population has emigrated, the elderly have passed away taking traditions and skills with them. There is little interest in working the land and most families are moving to countries for economic progress and education.

As I walked through the town of Burrel, the nearest town for supplies to my husband's rural village, this photographic opportunity appealed to me. Young boys from the town, sat together on a Saturday afternoon talking, precariously perched on the kerb way underneath political graffiti. Were they to stay and force the country's future or were they going to leave looking for a better life further away and leave their country in the hands of organisations who want to rip it apart for the wealth of natural resources?

Thanks to @opencollegearts student @juliegayle.balliu for submitting this work for our Encounters edge zine edition - link in our bio.

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #Degree #OCAFineArt #FineArt #OCAFriends #Creativity #LifelongLearning #Encounters #Zine #edgezine #Photography #Travel

Rab Ferguson

@opencollegearts Creative Writing Tutor Rab Ferguson talks to us about his journey to publication, finding an audience, and receiving a national award for his children’s writing.

“Make a decision around what your aims are, who you’re trying to reach, and what you’re trying to achieve.

For everyone reading this and thinking about getting their own books out into the world, I’d encourage you to think about these three questions for your own work – and let that direction drive you!”

Read the post on the WeAreOCA blog, link in our bio.

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #Degree #OCACreativeWriting #Writing #OCAFriends #Creativity #LifelongLearning #Publishing #Book

OCA Student Stories

“Music was an important part of my life growing up. I initially played the piano, then the oboe and my school and the local authority provided plenty of opportunities to play in bands and orchestras. After school I studied French and Russian at Leeds University, and subsequently qualified as an accountant. Having achieved grade 8 on the oboe at school, I took a break for some 30 years before returning to playing the oboe 10 years ago and I now play regularly with a number of ensembles in the area. When I entered semi-retirement I decided to explore my passion for music further through the OCA Foundation course before starting on the degree course in 2024.”

Read @opencollegearts Music Student Helen’s learning journey on our blog - link in our bio.

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #Degree #OCAMusic #Music #OCAFriends #Creativity #LifelongLearning

Thanks to @opencollegearts student @annapikestudio for sharing her work with us for our Encounters edition of edge zine. Find it in our bio.

“I am currently a level 3 painting student. A biologist by training, much of my art practice has grown out of my interest in biological materials and the processes by which they change. I am a self-confessed natural history hoarder and I often work with found forms I encounter in my surroundings. Throughout level 3 I have been closely examining my relationship with this natural history collection and my desire to use them in my work.

My current practice is an inquiry into my relationship with my collection of found natural history objects and my desire to use them in my work. My studio is full of 'natural stuff' that has, usually through form or texture, caught my attention in some way and compelled me to carry it home. This includes a large collection of animal skulls found in my surroundings. Sometimes I happen across a life-less form yet to decay, allowing me to photograph it before collecting it, placing it in a secluded spot, returning to collect the skull at a later point.

Throughout my work there is a sense of a deep, intimate connection with the natural environment and its never-ending cycle of life, death and rebirth. I paint dead things and present them to the living, examining the thin line between the two and inviting conversations around such material transformations. The intimate views and fragile nature of my subjects create contemplative works instigating mediation between presence and absence; between the known and the unknown; between beauty and aversion. My choice of subjects reflects my desire to challenge our disconnect with the physical natural world and to show life as it really is: decay, entropy and chaos are quotidian but there is a hidden beauty, revealed to those prepared to stop and look. However, in painting these close encounters I reveal something of my own vulnerability, an uncomfortableness of being in my own skin, and yet, I continue to do it anyway.”

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #Degree #OCAPainting #OCAFriends #Painting #Encounters #Zine #edgezine #NaturalHistory

"I live and work between Estonia and the Cayman Islands. I'm a mother, a wife, and a visual artist. I like sculpture, sculptural painting, working with found objects and large installations. I also volunteer at the local community theatre as a creative director. I am deeply passionate about environmentalism and promote sustainability through my daily life and artwork. I believe in the interconnectedness of our shared home, planet Earth, and am curious about the socio-cultural shifts taking place around the world."

Read about Stage 3 @opencollegearts Fine Art student @e.a.tofte learning journey on out blog, link in our bio.

Thanks for sharing E.A!

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #Degree #Creativity #FineArt #StudentStories #Environment #ClimateChange #Sustainability #Social #Cultural

It's Mental Health Awareness Week: 12 - 18 May 2025.

As a student, supporting your health and wellbeing is important to ensure that you are able to study effectively.

OCA students have access to a support network of tutors, and staff who are there to look out for your wellbeing. All OCA staff are trained in Mental Health First Aid, and the Learner Support team have additional specialist training. Don't forget OCA also have a Wellbeing App which you can access.

Thank you to @opencollegearts student Maya who submitted this digital collage for our EDI calendar callout.

"It symbolises the path to overcoming hardship finding purpose and meaning in one’s life."

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #Degree #MentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #Mind #Wellbeing #Collage #Equity #Diversity #Inclusion

“I’m rediscovering my creative side as I pursue a photography degree. I’m passionate about capturing light, emotion, and stories through my work and I’m interested in finding my creative vision.

I’ve always been drawn to film, art, and music—they fuel my imagination and influence how I see the world. I love David Lynch, Italian and 1970’s Horror and everything vintage. As a mum of two, I’m constantly balancing family life with my artistic journey, and my experiences often shape the way I create. For me, creativity is about growth, connection, and embracing the beauty in everyday life.

I feel these ‘untitled encounters’ invite the viewer into a dialogue between the fleeting and the permanent, the natural and the human-made, and the external world and inner emotions.”

Thanks to @opencollegearts student @_sarah_louisa for submitting this work for our Encounters edition of edge - check it out via the link in our bio.

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #Degree #Photography #OCAPhotography #Creativity #Encounters #Zine #edgezine

“My paintings feature everyday objects chosen for their personal significance and nostalgic value. These items hold layers of meaning that go beyond their practical use, evoking memories of people, places, and events, while also helping to preserve a cognitive sense of self. By repeatedly engaging with the same objects, I am able to explore the relationship between objects and the act of painting and how each informs the other. This can uncover new perspectives and meanings over time, allowing these items to evolve within the context of my work and deepen my understanding of the object’s emotional resonance.”

Work submitted by @rogerrowleyart for our Home edition of edge zine. Do check out this issue and out latest release - Encounters - via the link in our bio.

Thanks for sharing Roger!

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #Degree #Zine #Home #Encounters #Creativity #Nostalgia #Painting

We are very pleased to launch issue 14 of edge zine - Encounters!

An Encounter is a multi-layered concept. It is a moment of dynamic interplay that sparks something new, shifts perspective, or deepens understanding within the creative process itself.

Thank you to everyone who submitted their work for this edition of edge. We love the variety of responses to the theme and the range of work submitted; from painting, drawing, photography, video, illustration, music and creative writing.

Our gratitude also extends to our selection team of @opencollegearts student volunteers.

Check it out via the link in our bio.

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #Degree #Zine #edgezine #Encounters #Creativity #Arts #Design

"What have I learnt from 18 years at the OCA, tutoring hundreds of students?

Like many of OCA’s students, I studied late in life. I didn’t do a degree after school, working for 16 years in computing. However, I increasingly felt drawn to the arts. I got absorbed in thought through creative projects, partly as an antidote to work and everyday life."

Read @opencollegearts Tutor Derek Trillo's retirement post on WeAreOCA. Link in our bio.

Best wishes for the future Derek!

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #Degree #Tutor #OCAPhotography #Photography #LifeLongLearning #Creativity #SustainingPractice #Artist #Exhibition

This Diptych was submitted by @opencollegearts Painting student Alison Lessen for our edge zine Home issue.

“I am a painting student nearing the end of my degree. I am about to embark on preparing for my graduation exhibition and have finally come home in respect of finding my practice and where I feel comfortable and living happily with my creative choices. I have always wanted to make colourful and joyful painting which links my enjoyment of layers and pattern with the mindfulness of walking and celebration of nature's forms.

My current works are painted in oil on canvas and are reimaginings of common less noticed spaces. Regular, daily walking in one area leads you to notice areas that are usually overlooked. When visiting a forest or any open space as a one off visit or first time experience the tendency is to notice the greater landscape as a whole. When that space becomes familiar, over repeated visits, curiosity leads the eye elsewhere. I like to look into spaces that are more tricky to access. There I appreciate the patterns and shapes created by the irregular crossing and overlapping of the flora.

The benefits of regular outdoor time are well documented. I paint with a fluid medium that makes the contact with the canvas surface rhythmic and meditative as it is applied. This echoes the pace and feel of a solitary walk in nature.

My colours are a celebration. An indicator of the cheer nature brings to our senses. Nature embraces disparity and in the chaos of the undergrowth multiple types of species live together.”

Thanks for sharing @alison7614

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #Degree #Painting #OCAPainting #OCAFriends #Creativity #edgezine #Zine #Home #Nature #Landscape #Flora #Joy

"I am a musician based in North Yorkshire, with a career behind me of teaching, performing and composing. I am currently studying Music BA Hons Level 3.

My life has been nomadic, born in Shetland to a Methodist Minister father, meant that we moved frequently, and I continued to move a great deal in adult life! I am very interested and inspired by art and all things creative, love being in nature, walking, reading, and am finally settled here in beautiful countryside. Although now in official retirement years, I continue working as an organist, have a scaled down teaching practice, and am concentrating on composing."

Read about @opencollegearts Music student Fionagh Bennet's learning journey on our blog - link in the bio.

Are you an OCA student or Alumni? Share your story with us, find the form in our bio.

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #OCAMusic #Music #Composition #Creativity #OCAFriends #Degree #Organist #Musician

What is Artist Research?

The word 'research' is bandied about in course documents and is prevalent when artists speak but what does that really mean? Do all artists think about research in the same terms?

This lecture and subsequent discussion will be a chance to think radically about what 'artist research' really is without getting bogged down in examples that might not be relevant to you.

Join @opencollegearts Tutor @bryaneccleshall online tonight at 6pm BST for this lecture. Events link in our bio.

#WeAreOCA #OnlineLearning #OCAStudentAssociation #OCAFriends #Degree #Research #Artist #Lecture #Creativity

“I'm on Foundation Textiles and really enjoying the course. My background is a lifetime of sewing, dressmaking and generally messing about with fabrics! I am always sewing something. During lockdown I taught myself to knit. Once lockdown was over, along with a friend, I set up a local community stitch group which I am so pleased we did. Our members range from the super talented to the total beginner. It's a very relaxed, no pressure environment where you can just come along and stitch something.

When I saw the invitation for submissions and the theme, I thought of our home, it is full of quilts. I have made them all, over many years, using up leftover fabrics.

My submission is not a new piece but a very old quilt made about 25 years ago. At the time I used denim scraps and old jeans. It was used and loved, taken on every holiday , picnic, trip etc. Today it is still loved but in need of repair. A few months ago I started mending it by sewing running stitches to re-attach the denim circles. My idea is to do this on every worn part of the quilt as I don't want to throw this away.

I thought of letters laid out like a crossword. I hand stitched scraps of blue fabrics using the technique of boro, Japanese stitching/ repairing. The fabrics are laid over each other and sewn with simple running stitches. Its really basic but I think really effective. The dark blue fabrics are probably close to the original colour of this quilt.

The only challenge is the poor state it's in, there are holes and some denim has worn away. I have had to patch over some areas and then lay the blue fabrics on top of this. I like the effect of this layering though.

The act of repairing and slow stitching is extremely relaxing and rewarding. Its a comfort in many ways: the physical warmth of the item and the mindful sewing. I need this quilt to stay in our house so I will keep on repairing it.”

Thanks to @cathysewsstuff for her contribution to edge zine Home.

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #Degree #OCATextiles #Textiles #Creativity #OCAFriends #Home #edgezine #Zine #Quilt #QuiltMaking #Sewing

April is Autism Acceptance Month. This image was submitted to our @opencollegearts EDI Calendar by student Alix Brown.

"My illustration connects with April, which is Autism Acceptance Month and is based on a knitted snake sensory toy mixed with the rainbow infinity symbol, which is a symbol of autism. My primary inspiration for this piece is needing to lie low and blend in, like a snake in the grass, when I was a child."

Thanks for sharing Alix!

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #Degree #Illustration #AutismAwareness #Neuroinclusion #Equity #Diversity #Inclusion #Creativity

Object based learning simply means using objects to stimulate thinking. American sociologist Sherry Turkle describes objects as companions to our life experiences, this means they have the potential to provoke an experiential and multisensory learning experience.

We are looking to build an OCA Museum of People (more on this later…) and we are going to start with our very own Cabinet of Curiosity which we will launch in July during our Student Voice Festival 2025.

Open to all across @opencollegearts, students, staff and alumni, we want you to choose and photograph a personal artifact and tell its story in under 200 words. These will be curated in a bespoke online gallery to tell our collective stories.

Find out more via the link in our bio.

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #Degree #CreativeArts #CabinetOfCuriosity #ObjectBasedLearning #Museum #Exhibition #Creativity #StudentVoice #Collaboration #Stories

"This song was commissioned by Viv Gordon Company for Zebra Day 2025 (31st Jan.) The topic for the commission was “community”. Zebra Day got its name from a survivor of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) who said that they felt like a zebra in a world of giraffes.

It’s an unfortunate truth that survivors usually feel silenced by our society which adds to shame which we carry, but is not our own. The shame belongs to the perpetrators, yet they can hide behind the silence.

For more information, please see Viv Gordon’s TED talk about being a survivor activist."

Visit our blog to read @opencollegearts Music student Laura Iseley Music Student on their commission for Viv Gordon Company for Zebra Day 2025 - Dazzling. Scan the QR code to listen to the track or hear it on our blog, link in the bio.

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #Degree #Music #OCAMusic #Dazzling #CSASurvivor #Creativity

@opencollegearts Photography student @burnsmeister submitted these works for our Home edition of edge zine. “Clare with the pig”

“I am a Level 2 photography student based in Glasgow. My work mainly explores the family using archive and created images.

My mother was diagnosed with dementia in December 2019. In June 2022 she moved out of her house and into a local care home. I subsequently emptied and sold her house. Her remaining belongings were put in a box. The project combined family photos and images created during my mother's illness and subsequent relocation to a local care home.

I did not have a great relationship with my mother and so creating the work was a difficult process because it forced me to confront not only the unfolding situation with her illness but also my relationship with her. There was a significant ethical aspect to the project because I was effectively my mother's carer and therefore conflicted in what I could photograph. Ultimately this process was therapeutic and I believe I did not present my mother's character in a negative way.”

Thanks for sharing John.

The next edition of edge; Encounters, will be coming your way towards the end of April.

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #Degree #OCAPhotography #Photography #Zine #Home #edgeZine #Archive #Family #Memores #DementiaAwarenesss

@opencollegearts Photography student @allan.oneill2081 is on the final stage of his degree, he shares his learning journey with us on our blog - link in our bio.

"For me, it has been a very long and slowly winding pathway requiring lots of hard work, and ultimately, resilience to just keep pushing through the deeply difficult periods and learning to trust the process and believe in myself. Also, during this period, I have come to terms with my diagnosis of ADHD which helped me to properly understand myself and how my brain / body works. This enabled me to develop new ways of working and studying which are really beginning to pay off. Studying with the OCA has also helped me to explore and learn to love and accept my mixed-race heritage, which again, has been extremely challenging but ultimately a hugely rewarding experience."

Thanks for sharing Allan!

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #OCAFriends #Degree #OCAPhotography #Photography #NeurodiversityCelebrationWeek #Neurodiversity #Inclusion #Creativity #StudentStories

@opencollegearts Drawing student Ben submitted some examples of their drawings as part of our Neurodiversity Celebration Week campaign.

What is Neurodivergence? The NHS states that there are four key terms when discussing this topic. Firstly, neurodiversity describes the population as a whole and recognises the diversity of different brains. Secondly, neurotypical describes the majority group that perceives the world, learns and expresses themselves in ways that are seen as the societal norm. Thirdly, neurodivergent describes the minority group that diverts from said norm. Finally, neurotype (or neurominorities) is the term for a person’s type of neurodivergence, e.g. ADHD, dyslexia, etc.

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #neurodiversitycelebrationweek #Inclusion #Neurodiversity #Degree #Drawing #Creativity

It's Neurodiversity Celebration Week 17-23 March 2025. Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a worldwide initiative that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences. We asked our OCA community to help us celebrate the strengths, talents, and raise awareness of lived experiences of neurodivergent individuals. @opencollegearts student Alix shared their experience with us.

"For me, neurodiversity and creativity go hand in hand: My flavour of neurodiversity involves unusually sensitive senses, which in turn influences how I experience the world. Studying with OCA means a lot to me because for the first time in my educational career, I’m working alongside people who not only know about neurodiversity, but don’t see it as the be-all and end-all for me."

Read more about Alix's creative journey with OCA on our blog, link in our bio.

If you want to learn more about Neuro-inclusion there are lots of online events happening on the @neurodiversityweek website.

#WeAreOCA #OnlineLearning #OCAStudentAssociation #OCAFriends #Creativity #Degree #Neurodiversity #Inclusion #neurodiversitycelebrationweek

@opencollegearts student Annalisa is a scientist and she’s studying for a BA(Hons) in Painting. Her art, deeply influenced by her scientific background, transforms data into visual narratives that explore social issues and evoke emotional responses. She has pursued art courses across Europe and Japan, continuously expanding her practice. Annalisa's work has been featured in prestigious exhibitions and is part of notable collections, including the Lake District Holocaust Project. Based in Verona, Italy, she draws inspiration from nature, memory, and the human experience.

"This work is inspired by an early Summer morning walk along the river banks, just few meters across from where I live. As I was walking, I took notice of the variety of plants and flowers spontaneously growing along the river. I thought about their fragile existence along the river banks, often submerged by the river as it becomes engrossed by rains. Rains that have become torrential due to climate change. The work consists of cyanotype prints of the flora growing along the river during my walk, made on Narushima washi provided by Japanese artist Eriko Fujita for an exchange, collaborative project and exhibition."

Submitted for our Home edition of edge zine. Thanks for participating @evianuk_i

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #Degree #OCAPainting #Painting #Creativity #OCAFriends #Home #edgezine #Zine #Scientist #ArtAndScience #SocialJustice #ClimateCrisis #Cyanotype #Printmaking

Check out @opencollegearts new Study Tips in 5 series. These micro instalments have so far covered; organising your study, prioritising study tasks and notetaking. Link is in our bio and there's lots more to come!

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #Degree #Creativity #StudyTips #Notetaking #Organisation #OCAFriends

Today, March 8, is International Women's Day.

Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge gender equality. Collectively for #IWD2025 we can all #AccelerateAction.

Showcased here are some of the wonderful women of OCA who have been featured across the 'Meet the Team' feature on @opencollegearts insta. Bookended by amazing artwork submitted for our EDI calendar by Frances Marcellin and Evie Godfrey.

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #OCAFriends #IWD2025 #AccelerateAction #Degree #Creativity #Diversity #Inclusion #Equity #Women #University

@opencollegearts Visual Communications student @bethany_illustrates shared this work as part of our Home edge zine edition.

“I am Bethany Gale, an illustrator and designer in the UK. I like to work in mixed media, mostly using inks, collage and paints. I love making book illustrations, pattern designs, illustrative typography and paper sculptures. I am usually inspired by nature.

I was inspired by how every home is different both in its look and because of the people who live there, together making up a beautiful varied community, like a patchwork quilt with each piece contributing to what our society looks like. For me this raises the question do we make homes, or do homes make us who we are? Every family has its own traditions, culture and stories. I think ‘home’ is more about people than a place. Home is where you find yourself and the people you love. A house is still important, it is where memories are made and gives you a space to create your own personal world.

This is a colour ink drawing made over brown card, created in 2024. I made it because I have an interest in illustrative patterns. I wanted to try and create a drawing that could be layered and used as a pattern. I hope one day to sell collections of patterns like this once I graduate for fabric and home décor collections.”

Thanks for sharing Bethany!

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #Degree #OCAVisualCommunications #VisualCommunications #Illustration #GraphicDesign #Creativity #Home #edgezine #zine

What does studying with OCA mean to you?

"It means an opportunity to develop myself as a person and as a musician, and to meet people and their work and hopefully to be able to collaborate with them."

@opencollegearts Music student Pyrene Pelayo Domingo shares her student story with us, find it via the link in our bio.

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #Degree #Music #OCAMusic #Composition #Violin #Musician #Creativity

"As part of my final unit in Stage 3, I staged an exhibition of my major project. Over four weekends in January 2025 I exhibited my work in a building adjacent to my house. Entitled ‘Hjemkomst – Returning Home’, the exhibition was the curation of a project I conducted in August 2024 when I brought my grandad home to a small coastal town in Norway. Through a series of site-specific artworks, his spirit was reunited with his hometown, his ancestors and the landscape he had left behind 60 years before. The project was an exploration of place, belonging, forgiveness, memory and intergenerational trauma, themes I explored in the exhibition through photographs, printed textiles, text, installation and film."

Find out more about @opencollegearts Creative Arts student @trinemw_art work and exhibition on our WeAreOCA blog - link in our bio.

Congratulations Trine!

#WeAreOCA #StudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #Degree #CreativeArts #OCACreativeArts #Exhibition #Installation #Creativity #Home #Belonging

“I’m Iro, originally from Greece and now living in London since 2016. I hold a degree in Architecture and am currently studying for a BA (Hons) in Painting with @opencollegearts. I am drawn to the interplay of light and the illusions it creates, which have the power to transform the ordinary into something magical through the alchemy of painting. Sometimes, I feel that each painting generates a universe of its own. Currently, my work aims to capture these moments in time while allowing space for alternative narratives to emerge.

This still life painting is inspired by everyday home life. It features a combination of objects typically found in a hallway, where people seldom stay for longer than a few minutes. It may evoke those fleeting moments when we mechanically pick up our bags, take off our shoes, or say ‘goodbye’.”

Thanks for sharing Iro!

There’s still time to submit for the next edge issue - Encounters, find the link in the bio, deadline is 28 February 2025.

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #Degree #Painting #Home #edgezine #zine #StillLife #Creativity

"Distance learning can be challenging. Many of us return to our studies after half a lifetime away when other things were more important, such as family or careers. Formal learning after so long away can be tough.

Yet, if we understand the limitations of distance learning, we can start to plan for a better outcome and put in place mechanisms to help us."

Read @opencollegearts recent graduand @dalgleish.richard piece on balancing wellbeing and study on our blog - link in the bio.

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #Degree #Wellbeing #MentalHealth #Creativity #Photography #OCAPhotography #OCAFriends

@opencollegearts Visual Communications Student Jill Chant shared this work ‘Corporate Colonialism’ as part of our Summer of Sustainability 2024 callout.

“I am a first year Visual Communications student, who has been out of the creative space for a long time. I became unable to work at the end of 2022 and decided in 2023 to enrol on the Visual Communications Honours Degree Pathway with OCA .

I started work on this as part of an Assignment for project 2 and it was inspired by the WEE man at the Eden Project, which used waste electronics to build a sculpture. I had some broken waste electronics which I wanted to repurpose into art. I dismantled all the items into component parts as much as I could and reassembled them into the shape of an ant. Ants communicate using body language as well as pheromones and work in large cooperative groups to solve problems, they also live in Colonies, with a distinct hierarchy.

I then took a photo and manipulated the size and colour in photoshop, adding a circuit board and a map of the great lakes region of Africa. Most of the cobalt and most of the tantalum used in the electronics industry is mined in this region, and the majority of the mines in DRC are owned by Chinese companies.

These minerals are used in many things but primarily the manufacture of capacitors for electronics, metal alloys that are some of the strongest known to man and EV batteries. China is also one the largest producers of EV batteries, which is also one of the reasons they are one of the largest polluters on the planet.

I wanted to used technology waste to highlight the use of conflict minerals, child labour , radioactive waste and illegal trade in the manufacture of EV batteries for corporate greed at the expense of the environment.

Thanks for sharing Jill!

Watch this space for our 2025 Arts, Environment and Sustainability callout.

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #OCAFriends #Degree #Sustainability #ArtsAndEnvironment #ClimateCrisis #SocialJustice #Colonialism #CorporateGreed #VisualCommunications #Design

Join the wonderful writer, editor and curator @annamcnay to learn about a selection of better - and lesser - well known women artists. Tonight, our 7th session - is Marina Abramovic - 6pm GMT, events link is in our bio. We hope to see you there!

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #Degree #OCAFriends #WomenArtists #Lecture #ArtCritic #Creativity #ArtAndDesign

@opencollegearts student @joetymkow submitted this work for our Home edition of edge zine - link in the bio.

The piece is called 12 Sleeps.

“I am a multidisciplinary artist and have recently started the Painting Foundation course as a mature student.

I bought a new pillow from @IKEA. Intriguingly it was curled up like s Swiss Roll in a polythene bag. I unwrapped it at home and it sorted itself out/acquired a pillow shape straight away.

Each morning I took a photo on my phone, to record the marks that had been left in the bedding overnight. Visual evidence that my body continued to function independently, despite my being completely oblivious. Safe and comfortable in my own home; but what had I been thinking?”

Thanks for sharing Joe! Find the zine in our bio and submission guidelines for the next edition.

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #Degree #Foundations #Drawing #CreativeArts #Interdisciplinary #Photography #Home #Zine #edgezine #IkeaPillow #Sleep #Documentary

Can Constraints Improve Our Creativity?

If you were asked to picture an archetype of an artist, what would you see? Perhaps someone living a free and bohemian life, who spends hours watching clouds rolling by, waiting for the muse to strike? Is artistic inspiration something that arrives on a breeze, or is it something that can be induced?

The romantic idea of the divine nature of artistic inspiration still commonly influences the way artists are perceived today but has very little to do with how most creativity happens. Most of us have jobs and personal commitments that make living a life of artistic freedom impossible. The 2024 CREATe survey of UK visual artists’ earnings and contracts found that 51% have other jobs in order to support their practice, with 46% of those roles being in non-creative fields.

How about instead of seeing these things as frustrating roadblocks, we start to frame those constraints as positive influences on our creativity?

Read @opencollegearts tutor Robyn's blog on the WeAreOCA site - link in our bio.

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #OCAFriends #Degree #Creativity #Constraints #Motivation #Inspiration #Art #Design #Music #CreativeWriting

Yesterday, 6 February, was Time to Talk Day. @opencollegearts student Katherine Pilling submitted this work as part of our EDI Calendar Callout - link in our bio.

"One in four of us will experience a mental health problem. Time to talk day encourages everyone to be more open about mental health, to talk, to listen and to change lives.

Mental health problems can be a weight of heavy, dark, tangled weight on our shoulders. There is hope out there, no matter how small that is and little moments of hope can help ease some of the weight and let it fall from our shoulders.

This is a piece made from knitted samples, crochet chains and paper hope stars. All materials are recycled and unusual materials which are given a new life."

Thanks for sharing Katherine. As we go into the weekend remember to find time to talk.

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #Degree #Textiles #MentalHealth #OCAFriends #Equity #Diversity #Inclusion #EDICalendar #TimeToTalk #Wellbeing

@opencollegearts Fine Art student @vickywhitefineart submitted this series of work ‘Home Displacement - Washed Out’ for our Home edition of edge zine.

“Currently living in Nottingham, I work as a year 6 teacher to ensure financial stability, but my real passion is studying fine art with the OCA, having just finished my 2nd year. I am interested in considering material processes and themes that have a social context.

Home is such a strange term to define as one may shift and move from place to place or sometimes disaster to safety numerous times if one is lucky enough to have a long and fruitful life. Perhaps the term home resides in my head – if I don’t feel threatened or violated within a particular space, for a period the space in question is home. Yes, that’s my thoughts, home is a place where I can shut down knowing that I will wake albeit perhaps weary but intact tomorrow.

It occurs to me that I cannot possibly understand what those fleeing their homeland have endured or how their experiences have tilted their life path in a new direction. And yet I am drawn to exploring their plight through art. I have tried to make sense of how this global crisis has affected me within my parallel project for Investigating Drawing 2. I feel helpless and wonder too whether the news reports that reach the UK are loaded with propaganda and untruths. All I realise is that there is a blackness in their stories that is juxtaposed with the beauty of the oceanic ecosystem and the vibrance of life that dwells under the waves.

Working with oil paint and fluid mediums on glass I used various implements including my hands. Working this way allowed fluidity in mark making and the ability to make rapid changes. Although I investigated the potential of using colour and different media, for me the glossiness of the oil and the blackened marks created signified the richness of the ocean and indeed the depth of the home displacement crisis."

Thanks for sharing Victoria!

Submission are now open for the next edition of edge - Encounters. Link in our bio.

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #Degree #edgezine #Zine #FineArt #Drawing #Home #Creativity

For our Summer of Sustainability 2024 @opencollegearts student @sarah_davis_art sent us her collages.

“I explore space and depth by collage using old magazines, catalogues, flyers, packaging, envelopes and old drawings.”

Thanks for sharing Sarah!

Watch this space for our 2025 callout and series of events.

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #Degree #Creativity #Collage #Environment #Recycle #Reuse #Upcycle #Sustainability #ClimateChange #ClimateJustice #ArtsAndEnvironment

This work was submitted by @opencollegearts student Mirjam Lorek as part of our EDI Calendar callout.

Today, 27 January, is Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) and it marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration camp complex, and the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Bosnia.

"History is part of our cultural identity. This also includes continually having to deal with the atrocities of humanity and being reminded of them. Maybe one day people will learn..."

Thanks for your contribution Mirjam.

You can find our EDI Calendar in the link in our bio.

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #Degree #CreativeArts #EDICalendar #Equity #Diversity #Inclusion #Remembrance #LightTheDarkness #HolocaustMemorialDay

Around 20 @opencollegearts students gathered in Doncaster last week to view and discuss @lesmonaghanphoto exhibition Aspirations 10. This event was part of an OCASA x OCA Creative Conversations collaboration and we live streamed Les' presentation on the day to an online audience too.

@allan.oneill2081 who was present on the day shares his reflections on our blog - link in our bio.

"OCA study days are always enjoyable and productive affairs that enable us to meet up face to face with our peers, which is great to develop new contacts and learn new things. I always come away feeling that I have regenerated my motivation and come up with lots of fresh ideas, and this event was no different."

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #Degree #OCAPhotography #Photography #SocialPractice #Portrait #Creativity #SocialJustice #Exhibition #Engagement #OCAFriends

@opencollegearts Illustration student @jennyh_illustration submitted her work for the ‘Home’ edition of edge zine.

“I’ve been studying for my BA in Illustration since 2020, after a 20 year break from creativity. Getting back into art has been a really transformative experience, and has been invaluable in helping me deal with chronic health problems.

Originally from Yorkshire, I live in Liverpool with my partner and our three cats, who often provide sketchbook inspiration. I enjoy experimenting with different media, particular collage, but love line drawing the most, aiming to capture character and expression. I’m inspired by life drawing, people, landscapes, nature and animals. My two all time favourite artists are David Hockney and Egon Schiele.

These images are from two sketchbooks I drew in every day in the three weeks after hip replacement surgery at the beginning of July this year. During this time I was obviously pretty immobile, so my day consisted of getting up and heading downstairs on my crutches to the chair in our back room, enjoying the Olympics on TV. I only had a limited number of materials at hand, but they are most of my favourite ones - fineliners and fountain pens, markers, brush pens, watercolour and Posca pens. All these drawings were quite meditative to make, and I feel peaceful looking back on them. They represent a moment of calm on my journey to full recovery, and the privilege of having a peaceful, safe home I love to be in, full of objects I appreciate (plus my partner and cats of course!)”

Thanks so much for sharing Jenny! Find the link to edge zine on our bio.

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #OCAFriends #Degree #Creativity #OCAIllustration #Illustration #Home #Zine #edgezine #Multimedia #Drawing

Submissions are now open for Issue 14 of edge zine. The theme is ‘Encounters’.

We welcome ideas, sketches, works-in progress, writing, images and music. @opencollegearts students, alumni and staff are encouraged to submit work to be published in our digital zine. Submissions Close: 28 February 2025. Link in our bio with more info on how to submit. We hope you get involved!

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #Degree #OCAFriends #edge #zine #OnlineMagazine #Collaboration #Creativity

@Rhianna_jonesss submitted this image for Issue 13 of edge ‘Home’.

“I took this image ‘Digital Harmony' as part of a portrait shoot for my university work. I wanted to take photographs of the same person in different locations. This image was taken in the person's bedroom. He was getting his gaming PC set up and I decided to take the photograph. The challenges with this image were the lighting and composition but I managed to overcome this by adjusting the camera settings and taking a variety of images, landscape and portrait until I found a composition I thought worked well, whilst also capturing the person themselves.

My interests lie in photography, specifically film. I tend to shoot with my 35mm camera but have been using digital more recently. I took this image as part of a portraiture micro-course and find the business of it intimate and authentic. The subject within my image is at his home, spending some down-time on his PC.”

Thanks for sharing Rhianna!

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OnlineLearning #OCAFriends #edgezine #zine #Home #Photography #Creativity #Portrait #OCAPhotography

@rachaelbarns.art submitted a body of work titled The Four Elements for our Summer of Sustainability 2024 callout.

“This work is an installation using the theme of the classical four elements; air, earth, fire and water, believed by the Ancient Greeks to be the basis of all matter in the world.

The project is inspired by research into the psychological, physiological and cognitive benefits of connecting to nature and was installed in the wild gardens of Raveningham Sculpture Trail in South Norfolk during summer 2024.

The work is predominantly made from waste materials, incorporating food packaging, worn-out clothing, dead leaves and scrap car parts. Using materials that would otherwise be discarded acts as a reminder that there is a huge worldwide problem caused by human waste, relating to eco-psychological ideas around protection of nature through connection with nature.

The installation consists of four hanging spheres and corresponding collections of sculptural texts, each representing one of the elements. The words used have been contributed by student peers and friends with texts evoking ideas around environmental concerns, nature and magic.

Thanks for sharing Rachael!

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OCAFriends #OnlineLearning #Degree #SummerOfSustainability #Sustainability #Environment #Installation #ClimateJustice #ClimateChange

@opencollegearts Programme Leader for BA (Hons) Painting, Emma Drye presents this fantastic digital exhibition of student work from across the annual assessment events at OCA in the Painting Department.

Many congratulations to all undergraduates in Painting who completed a unit in 2024, special congratulations to those who completed their whole degree and are now graduates!

Featured Image: Andrea Black Thompson.

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OCAFriends #OCAPainting #OnlineLearning #Degree #Exhibition #Painting #Creativity #SustainingPractice #Showcase

In December the OCA North student group led by tutor Joanna Whittle visited the CBP Prize in Sheffield. An opportunity for learning, discussion and a social get together, the day was a success for all involved. Here is some of the feedback from attendees.

"I Really enjoyed the variety of paintings and mediums used in the exhibition. It was good to meet other students and discuss the paintings between us during the judging activity."

"As I study painting, seeing work of a high standard with different approaches to painting gives me ideas and confidence to try things myself."

"It made me want to experiment with different processes, also that it is ok to keep working in my own way rather than trying to follow other artists."

"The company, the discussion, the teaching and the art were all excellent. I learnt a lot and thoroughly enjoyed the day."

"I’ve reflected on how to find or place meaning in my own painting. Historically, my painting has been simply: oh, that’s a nice view! The range of different techniques and how they were being used was stimulating."

"I Always enjoy these get-togethers, nice to meet some new people."

Thank you to everyone for sharing their thoughts, we look forward to helping @opencollegearts students connect online and in person over 2025!

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OCAFriends #OnlineLearning #StudyEvent #Degree #Creativity #Exhibition

@opencollegearts & @ocastudentassociation believe in building an inclusive and respectful community. We collected submissions of work to illustrate and highlight some of the awareness days and events of 2025. We encouraged students to reflect on their own identity and cultural experiences whilst choosing a celebration or observance to base their submission on. We are now pleased to launch our 2025 Equity, Diversity and Inclusion calendar.

Thank you to all the students who submitted a piece for consideration. We hope you enjoy the diverse range of events and creative mediums displayed. You can find it via the link in our bio.

#WeAreOCA #OCAStudentAssociation #OCAFriends #OnlineLearning #Degree #Creativity #Equity #Diversity #Inclusion #EDICalendar

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Women Artists Through Their Words - 13. Angelica Kauffman
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02 Jul 2025, 18:00 – 20:00
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Tue 15 Jul
Kahlo Collective
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15 Jul 2025, 17:00 – 18:00
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The Kahlo Collective is a group for students at all levels who are living with long term health conditions and/or chronic pain. Sessions are supported by Drawing Programme Tutor, Helen Rousseau .
Mon 21 Jul
Women Artists Through Their Words - Zanele Muholi
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21 Jul 2025, 18:00 – 20:00
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Wed 27 Aug
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27 Aug 2025, 19:00 – 20:00
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Wed 29 Oct
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29 Oct 2025, 19:00 – 20:00
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