How did I become a Visual Note-taker??
How did you start doing this? That’s a question I’m asked a lot, because it’s not like you can study Visual Note-taking in college (not yet anyway…) and it combines lot’s of different skills. So come with me as I take you on my journey to becoming a Visual Note-taker (aka Graphic Recorder, Live Scriber, Live Illustrator etc. etc.)
I had the privilege of growing up with an artist in my house, my mom is first and foremost a Potter, but through the years she got her Ba in Visual Arts and a HDip in Art Education. So being creative and getting to play with all sorts of art materials was pretty much standard.
When I got to secondary school I LOVED art class, I got along really well with my teachers and found it easy and even fun to get good grades. However, sometimes my love of art would get in the way of other subjects and my grades didn’t do too well…
With ambitions of getting more points than my big brother in my Leaving Cert (for no other reason than to taunt him), I realised I’d have to find a way to ‘trick’ myself into studying the subjects I didn’t like as much as art. And so, I began creating Visual Notes, without even knowing that’s what I was doing. I would doodle my notes, use colourful markers for hand-lettering and colour co-ordinate bits of info to help me memorise information. It worked especially well for Geography and Biology, both of which I got high honors marks in.
And yes, I did get more points than my brother in my Leaving Cert!! (Woohoo)
But it wasn’t enough points to do the course I wanted, (Noooooooo). In a scramble to do something (Anything) after finishing school, I enrolled in a one year, Level 5, Art, Craft & Design course. This was hands down the most fun I had ever - I learned so many new skills, immersed myself in the world of art and all of the tutors were such nice and encouraging people. Here I lerned the fundamentals of Visual Art and developed a practice in printmaking, observational drawing and sculpture.
Now I was conflicted:
‘’Do I carry on this arty-farty path, and study Fine Art in College or do I stick with my plan of studying Product Design and get a sensible job?’’
I chose the latter, and moved to Limerick to study Product Design & Technology in the University of Limerick. I loved the Product Design bit of my degree I learned how to communicate complex ideas effectively through sketching, became comforatble with presenting my work to a room full of people and became really excited about problem solving! But the & Technology bits of my Degree? These modules weren’t as exciting. Just like the leaving cert, I was once again scraping by in the subjects that didn’t excite me, I was not achieving the grades I desired. So, I started doodling my notes again to keep my brain switched on during boring lectures…and it worked!!
I achieved a 1.1 in my degree.
Chough, Relief Print - 2018
Prints from my Level 5, ARt Craft & Design Course
Now it was time to get that sensible job that I was so concerned about, but during my uni work experience, I learnt that I hate office jobs, and don’t get along well with managers telling me what to do. Which, ruled out lots of the well paid, sensible jobs with pensions and healthcare. Whilst I figured out what to do, I picked up some soul destroying jobs in call centres and restaurants becoming more and more despaired. Until I met an old pal, Hazel Hurley.
Hazel was a self employed Graphic Recorder and I thought her job was soooo cool. I was a bit cheeky and asked Hazel, ‘’how can I have a job like yours?’’ Thankfully, instead of telling to ‘take a hike’ she took me under her wing, showing me how to be a Visual Note-taker and also helped me along with all the business-y stuff. She’s basically my Fairy Godmother.
Hazel passed on a few jobs to me, and before I knew it, I was on a roll. I was paying my rent, affording my bills and keeping myself well fed, all from my income as a Visual Note-taker (and also some other Illustratration Jobs). Kind of by mistake I’ve found myself in the perfect job. I had built up a collection of repeat clients and carving out my own little section of the market in the Midwest (+ loads of trips to Dublin).
I’m so grateful to be able to work in a career that allows me to:
Be creative
Learn something new everyday
Work with people & causes that I’m passionate about
Support my lifestyle & Dreams
Through following what interested me and made me feel good I’ve found myself in a pretty cool place 🙂
