Dugald Muir has recently completed OCA's Photography as Language short course.
"Having seen my children leave for university I left a career as a project manager, and stared a business as a photographer, hoping it will sustain me until retirement over the ten years. When not photographing I campaign for climate change where you might see me standing for political office for the Green Party."
Find out more about his experience as a student of OCA below.
What is your previous educational experiences and what drew you to OCA?
Although arts subjects were available at my grammar school, we were encouraged to study core subjects. My university degree was in management science, and although my career was about creative solutions to problems my artistic side was rarely required. When choosing a different career pathway, I was looking for short courses to peak my interest and provide a grounding for the leap I was intending to make.
Can you describe your OCA journey?
I studied the Photography as a Language course, and had to learn to think differently, at work I had often reprogrammed computers, on this course I had to reprogramme my thinking. Since completing the course I have completed a Masters in Fine Art, and had my work exhibited galleries across the UK. Having started my own Photography business I can say its not all plain sailing, but if you believe in it, the rewards from making far outweighs any struggles you have on the journey.
What was the Tutor and/or Peer Support like on your course?
As part of the course, I had to create a pictorial presentation of my learnings, I found I was able to articulate my findings but was encouraged to realise that I was not describing the images but describing myself. Without this prompt from Ariadne (tutor) I perhaps wouldn’t have reflected on how I now saw my art, and how I could communicate it.
What does studying with OCA mean to you?
Without the Photography and Language course, I would still be making images, but I would still not have the intention, and without that they would just be images and never art. This knowledge was the first step on retraining and building a career in the arts.
What's next?
I will be working hard to create a successful business, having completed my Masters in Fine Art. I am working on projects that I hope to exhibit, but there is an itch I can’t seem to scratch, I have a research project I want to follow, so maybe in the next year I will embark on a PhD. But whatever happens I know I won’t stop making art.
Any advice?
Making art is hard, you have to give a lot of yourself. Sometimes you are faced with an idea you can’t complete. Studying can give you the tools and the building blocks, but it can also give you the inspiration to keep making however hard it is. Overcoming struggle, is a very powerful route to creativity.
Follow Dugald
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dugald_muir/
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