Tom Oxley

Where are you based?

I'm based in Greenwich, London.

What were you doing before joining the Online Drawing Development Year (ODDY)?

I was doing the Drawing Intensive course with the Royal Drawing School before I applied to do the Online Drawing Development Year. Before that I was partway through a BA and Foundation in Illustration at Camberwell (UAL).

What appealed to you about the course? 

The ODDY was appealing because I had enjoyed the three-month Drawing Intensive course and wanted to expand this experience further. As much as I see myself as an illustrator, I feel that I had moved too far away from fine art. I think doing illustration tightened me up, affecting my work. I wanted to get back to my roots, which for me meant drawing. When younger I was a Young Artist with the Royal Drawing School. I think this was life changing for me. I think being online has allowed me to connect with other artists from virtually anywhere.

Which courses did you most enjoy or learn most from?

There are too many to mention but Drawing the Figure and Drawing and Theory, both by Andy Pankhurst were brilliant. He’s a great teacher and it helped consolidate some of the gaps, which were missing or I had forgotten. I felt enabled to try new approaches, make mistakes and build on theory. I think it has made me more effective at evaluating my work, good and bad. I have been very fortunate with the mentors and tutors I've had. I've enjoyed peer advice, others making comments on my work and I’ve enjoyed sharing my views and ideas where I can.

How has the ODDY impacted your practice?

I believe it's made me think differently when it comes to my projects, seeing where else I can take something, how to develop my ideas and work out if things go wrong, why I feel like that. Joining the course has revived parts of me that had been left behind when I was only focusing on illustration. It is liberating and has allowed me to open up my work. I enjoy seeing others' work and comparing our diverse styles, responses and ideas in the shared online galleries.

Is there anything that surprised you about the course?

I’m quite familiar with the way Royal Drawing School works, having been one of their Young Artists and I’ve done various online courses since then.  I think the biggest surprise for me is seeing how much of what I’m taught, which is very fine art focused, can apply to the practice of illustration.

What are the benefits of learning online?

I have enjoyed the flexibility of working online. It has given me the opportunity to meet people from across the UK and from all over the world. Because I have disabilities which include hearing and processing problems, tutorials and lectures with subtitles have made the course more accessible for me. This works when I’m doing one-to-one sessions with tutors and mentors but also in group work with other ODDY students.

How has the School supported you (financially / educationally / artistically etc.)

The course and the School have a very approachable admin, and understanding supportive tutors who are responsive if you need subtitles or have to leave early. There is financial discount for disabled artists, and bursaries to allow equal access for anyone no matter what your circumstances. The RDS supports you where they can, to allow you to focus on art, allowing you to achieve your goals.

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

Do it. You’ll learn more than you can possibly realise, no matter what your art background is, and what you have previously studied.

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

I will be continuing to develop my practice. I have unfinished projects I’ve had to put to one side, but I will apply what I’ve learnt to my overall practice, whether it is illustration, animation or fine art. I want to get more of my art out there and I hope to collaborate with others. I am developing a more professional approach that allows me to experiment with my ideas. I hope to take the inspiration I’ve received from my time on the course and share this with others.  I want to encourage younger up and coming artists to keep drawing.

Follow @oxleyarthouse

Find out more about the Online Drawing Development Year