Charlie O'Sullivan

Where are you based?

I live and work rurally between Dartmoor and the sea in south Devon.

What were you doing before joining the ODDY?

For the last two decades I have made a living as a full-time artist showing at a wide variety of venues both in the UK and internationally. During this time I have also had work accepted in many open competitions but I have arrived at a point where I recognise I needed a refresh, and input instead of just output.

What appealed to you about the course?

A year to focus on regaining a sense of identity and self-expression through drawing in combination with the opportunity to reflect and learn. The breadth of choice in both courses and tutors, who themselves are practicing artists. Also, having had previous experience of online RDS short courses during lockdown that had demonstrated to me the quality of tuition and content delivered through remote learning.

Which courses did you most enjoy or learn most from?

Each course has had their own merit and all have provided insight into new ways of working. However those that have prompted me to reflect on my established process and find new ways of thinking about drawing are Drawing Topographies: Internal and External, Transforming Observation, and Immersive Narratives. These sessions have engaged me in methods and mediums that I had not previously considered.

How has the ODDY impacted your practice ?

The ODDY has reframed how I think about my practice, encouraging me to engage with new ideas and question old habits. I have gained an increased purpose in my drawing and greater recognition of the value of drawing as an artistic practice in its own right but also as an essential everyday encounter, just like breakfast!

Is there anything that surprised you about the course ?

How successful the use of the model is on screen within the life drawing sessions enabling things like annotations to be part of the toolkit for tutors. Also, the intensity of the programme with the wide range of choices that combine both traditional and contemporary art practice.

What are the benefits of learning online?

The flexibility of arranging a personalised timetable within the programme structure, I have been able to maintain my other commitments outside of the course. What has been so beneficial is experiencing the wide diversity of people and cultures that are able to engage directly in the programme from their studio environments. The digital tools used, for example in the ‘Drawing Space’ sessions enabled virtual venues to be accessed across the globe from the Eden Project in Cornwall to Central Station in New York. Posting our work in the online gallery also offers an instant platform where we can share what we have produced in real time.

How has the school supported you?

The authenticity and supportive nature of the tutoring and admin has given me the confidence to take risks, stretch my ideas enrich my thinking. As practising artists the tutors understand the rollercoaster of creativity, the highs and lows and therefore are able to facilitate and support you through this process at whatever stage you started from.

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about applying to the ODDY?

Take the leap don’t hesitate to grasp an opportunity to be immersed in drawing for a year as it will no doubt refresh and invigorate both your skills and approach. Be prepared to be discombobulated and taken out of your comfort zone (in a good way!). There are plenty of smiles and laughs along the way.

Do you have any plans for after you’ve completed the course?

This is a really difficult question to answer as there is still more to reflect on and to incorporate into my practice. Most of all I want to retain my sense of renewed engagement and vigour to nurture a daily drawing practice which I’m confident will lead to new opportunities.

Follow: @charlieosullivanpainter

Find out more about the Online Drawing Development Year