Why I chose to study Fine Art online

This article is written by Fine Art MA (Online) student Kylie. 

Hi, I’m Kylie Merrick, a mature student studying the online Fine Art master’s at Falmouth.

I would describe my practice as esoteric or ‘witchy’; a cauldron of healing acts bubbling together. I enjoy tapping into the subconscious with somatic mark making, and I then use restorative rituals such as Ayurveda, quantum healing and poppets to create balance within my body. The more I bring myself into balance, the stronger my ability becomes to access the otherworldly. As I commune with spirits and mythological creatures, I enjoy researching folklore, particularly Cornish and Irish myths, bringing these stories to life through textile sculpture. I’m also very interested in feminist theory and understanding the female body. 

In my personal life I work as a massage therapist and womb reiki specialist, along with seasonal cleaning jobs to make ends meet. I’m also a single parent, which is predominantly why I made the choice to study online. I have a very busy life and although I enjoyed in-person study during my BA with Falmouth, I knew it wasn’t sustainable in the long term. For me, studying online opens up worlds rather than the assumed isolation associated with online learning. I spend most of my time as a mother by myself and this way I can still be part of the world of academia and in the company of others equally enthusiastic about creativity, all while balancing family life. As a working-class artist myself I’m also a huge advocate of making education more accessible to the working class, which I believe this course achieves in its flexibility. 

For me, studying online opens up worlds rather than the assumed isolation associated with online learning.

I access the learning materials when I’m at home at my own leisure, and I’ve personally found that I have been able to take more of the information onboard. There’s something undeniably comforting to sitting in your own nest with a cup of tea while you learn. The writing tasks set weekly are very manageable and if life becomes a little too ‘lifey’, I’ve never struggled to catch up. I was asked by another fine art graduate recently if I struggled with inspiration not being in a creative environment, but I have always preferred creating in my own space, so it’s a definite plus for the introverts out there. If you feel like you need inspiration from being around others, it’s still possible to connect with the local community and source your own collaborations when necessary.