Charli Donaldson
Certificate in Creative Studies
If she had not been told by a high-school teacher that she had no future in the creative arts, then Charli Donaldson may have arrived at Otago Polytechnic a few years sooner. Instead she spent several years as a student of contemporary music before enrolling in the Certificate of Creative Studies. Now she is embracing the diversity that her programme offers, and exploring ways to translate her passions (both long-held and newly discovered) into a fulfilling career.
"I found out about the Certificate through a friend of mine and I liked the spectrum of what you could try. I really hadn't thought of studying anything creative before, even though I'm a creative person."
In addition to the core courses of drawing and creative processes, Charli elected to study jewellery, photography, animation and print-making with what she considers to be mixed results.
"Well, I discovered that I am not a 'natural' animator despite it being one of my favourite electives! I loved it but found it difficult to master the fundamentals. I'm determined not to let it beat me though. I did enjoy photography, and became fascinated with Polaroid cameras which are not made anymore. I had never been exposed to black and white photography and it was great to learn about famous photographers. Now I quote them to friends. It makes me look 'learned'! I loved darkroom photography and being in control of the entire process from concept, to shooting, to development/darkroom printing. It's such an enriching journey you go through and I found it taught me to see in many new and different ways.
"I'm a very visual person and I think lyrically and musically. Being a musician and being visual actually worked quite well with photography."
Now weighing up her options for 2010 and putting together a portfolio, Charli is considering a Bachelor of Design specialising in Communication, or a Bachelor of Visual Arts at the School of Art.
"In the future I would love to look at blending music, film, and animation to create music videos and also using photography, drawing and illustration to design music related merchandise. Therefore, long term, I need to look for a qualification that's going to fit best with my goals.
"Polytechnic suits my style of learning – getting on and doing it, hands-on. Doing is the way I learn. Accepting abilities in some areas and imperfections in others, Creative Studies has taught me a lot about my own learning styles and tolerating imperfections. The teachers here are incredible and I'm learning that there's not such a boxed view of what you can create."
"I'm learning to live and work in an inspired creative way - to keep seeing, to keep doing and to push far beyond what I think I know!"