Student Stories: Alistair McIntyre

Alistair is culminating his OCA Painting degree with a forthcoming exhibition in Edinburgh.

"I am a community development worker/artist/poet/song writer and 60 year old husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather. I studied theology, mycology, psychology and believe in life long learning, I come from a working class background and still hold fast to the principles of true socialism, I'm union member, hard worker and supporter of helping those who are disadvantaged and marginalized. I am an ex radio presenter of a classic blues show, a lover of the simple things like rain and natural beauty and hopefully friendly!"

Find out more about his experience as a student of OCA below.

What is your previous educational experiences and what drew you to OCA?

I was discouraged from studying from a young age and left school with no qualifications. I worked as a painter and decorator. I then was converted to Christianity where I was so desperate to find out what the bible said, I read everyday and attended Bible college in Wales for 3 years. I then got mentally Ill and delved into psychology as a subject to try and work things out. Occasionally I would do a watercolour or a drawing. I studied Mycology as a hobby.

I then went on to do a series of short courses and retrained as a community development worker. I studied art for the first time when I moved to my current home in 2018. I did a watercolour course then a portrait course and then heard about the OCA. I didn't have the money for the deposit for my first OCA course so I sold my American Fender 50th Anniversary Telecaster and Blues Junior Amplifier to get the money and now I'm almost finished my degree.

Can you describe your OCA journey?

I felt like giving up a couple of times. Once when I was in level one I thought I didn't know enough and wasn't ever going to make it as an artist. The end of the degree seemed so far away and sometimes I was exhausted with working all night studying to meet deadlines. I convinced myself I would just finish the current course then I got feedback for one of my paintings from my tutor and it was so encouraging it pushed me onwards. Again when my dad died I struggled and again when my mum died but that kind tutor who believed in me and my ability kept me going. I've had to face many comments from family and friends like "why would you want a degree?" to "you'll never use your degree" In the early days my work has been laughed at and dismissed but I have a compulsion to keep going. my marks at first were in the 40% category but have been steadily rising, so much so I'm hoping for a 2.1 for my degree just need to keep going. I have listened to my tutors and at first thought they knew everything about art but came to realize that their encouragement and critical comments were not always what I thought and we discussed why and I realized that my thoughts were also valid and the subject is so vast no one knows it all. I hope I'm more patient now too.

What was the Tutor and/or Peer Support like on your course?

I've had so much support from all my tutors from my very first conversation on the phone with my first tutor to the current tutor I have who is really encouraging but the best was a comment in my feedback about a painting I did of my chair by Programme Leader Emma Drye who said it was really good painting, which kept me going throughout my studies during the times I almost gave up.

What does studying with OCA mean to you?

It gives me validation from being considered as a hobbyist to a professional.

What's next?

I intend to continue to promote my practice and use the invaluable skills I've acquired. I paint every day I think and read about art and many other subjects now that I incorporate into my artwork my whole world is about art and it is much richer for it.

Any advice?

Be patient the grades will come, your tutor will get back to you, you will develop if you put in the work, keep going, it is worth it.

---

Follow Alistair -

Instagram: @specky.al1

Website: https://www.speckyal.art/