Liza Kelly: student story

Where are you based?

I am based in Dublin, Ireland.

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

Before joining ODDY I was working part-time in graphic design and also caring for my young family.

Winter Neighbourhood3-1

Winter Neighbourhood No. III, multi-plate tetra pak print, 2025

What appealed to you about the course?

Before the Covid lockdowns I had been attending a weekly drawing class in Dublin. I was waiting for my class to move online but it never did. It then occurred to me that I didn't have to stick to Dublin if I was doing a programme online, I could look anywhere in the world! I did some searches online and came across the Royal Drawing School. I had taken various online courses and really enjoyed them, and when I saw the ODDY programme launching I jumped at the chance to apply and was thrilled to get the place.

Lots of things appealed about the programme; I really enjoyed the style of teaching and how the classes are founded on observational drawing. Having gone through art college (which in my experience had a much bigger focus on the conceptual side of things) it was really refreshing to focus on looking and seeing where the drawing took me. It was also great to be able to work from home as I was balancing making work with other family responsibilities.

I also really valued the friendships and networks that developed on the programme which still continue today. I have travelled and exhibited with many of the artists from my ODDY year. I love how the subsequent ODDY cohorts seek each other out on Instagram and are so supportive online, cheering on all of each other's successes as the years go by.

Liza Kelly_Woman in a Tiger TShirt

Woman in a Tiger T-Shirt (Self-Portrait), multi-plate direct monotype, 2023 (selected for the Sir William Orpen Self-Portrait Prize and the Royal Society of Portrait Painters Drawing Prize.)

Which courses did you most enjoy or learn most from?

All of them! They were all so well structured and rich in content.

I really enjoyed how Colour and Memory had a theme each week that gave lots of scope to go in a direction that was relevant and personal to your own practice. I generated so much work and so many ideas during this course that I am still using to this day.

I had never really considered using art history as a drawing resource so Drawing from the National Gallery really opened my eyes to a new way of working and this approach has now become a really important part of my practice. I also have a love of history so learning about the context around the paintings was really interesting.

Lastly, Printmaking at Home. I specialised in printmaking when I was at art college but I had never joined a print studio so that side of my practice had disappeared. It was really exciting to work with monoprint and relief print techniques at home and this course reawakened my love of print. I subsequently went on to buy a small tabletop printing press and I started working with the Tetra Pak printmaking techniques that I saw many other RDS students using.

How has the ODDY impacted your practice?

The ODDY programme has had a transformative impact on my practice and gave me the discipline to maintain a regular practice and the confidence to get back out exhibiting work. Since finishing the programme, my work has been included in many exhibitions here in Ireland and also internationally including at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, Blue Shop Galleries, and Platforms Project in Athens. I have also been awarded funding by the Arts Council of Ireland, completed further mentoring and professional development programmes, gone on creative residencies and I am now a member of the Black Church Print Studio in Dublin. I haven't looked back!

Studio Shot

Is there anything that surprised you about the course?

I think what surprised me most was the momentum that built for me during the year that has continued up until now. I regularly revisit my sketchbooks and notes from my time on ODDY and still take fresh inspiration from the work I did there. It is such a rich programme and has given me a lot of material, techniques and approaches to continue working with as time goes by.

What are the benefits of learning online?

Personally speaking, learning online was great for me because I also had other caring responsibilities to work around. It allowed me to participate fully from home, from my own studio and with all my materials around me. I was also able to structure the programme to suit certain days and times and this worked well within the context of the constant juggle of work, family and creativity.

How has the School supported you?

The School has been really supportive and I feel like I am part of a network, being kept up to date with news and alumni opportunities. I was also lucky enough to be awarded the Dumfries House residency in Scotland which was my first time doing a residency and a really brilliant opportunity. If ever I am feeling a bit stuck creatively or feel like I need a bit of a 'shake up' in terms of ideas or techniques I will often take another course. It is great to have that familiar support structure to dip back into whenever it is needed.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of applying?

My advice would be to go for it! Give it as much time as you can give and be open to trying new courses, ideas and techniques. It is a really rich and varied programme and you will come away with so much.

What are your plans for the future?

To keep going! I am really enjoying making work, making connections through different creative networks and getting to show my work to new audiences. I am travelling to Athens again in September with some other artists from the ODDY group to present work at Platforms Project. This will be my fourth time showing at the fair and my third time in Athens and it's a really exciting opportunity. I am also continuing to apply for exhibition opportunities and funding opportunities so I am hopeful that I will have some success there.

Follow @lizakelly_art

Find out more about the Online Drawing Development Year and apply

Liza Kelly Student story