From cartoon sketches to a career in tattoo art
For art student Molly Little, creativity has always been a part of life. From a young age, she was passionate about drawing, primarily using pencils and developing a love for cartoon-style artwork.
Her interest was inspired by animated films such as The Incredibles, The Wild and Fantastic Mr. Fox, which sparked a fascination with different artistic styles.
A broad introduction to art
Looking to develop her skills and explore new creative opportunities, Molly chose to study art at Leicester College after hearing positive feedback from her sister, who had previously studied there. After researching courses on the college website, she felt the programme offered the broadest introduction to art and would allow her to discover different mediums and techniques.
Standout moments
Reflecting on her time on the course, Molly says one of the highlights was being introduced to artistic topics, styles and techniques she had never encountered before.
"The thing that stood out the most to me was being able to explore different topics I had never heard of or seen before. It was quite nice."
The course structure and support
The course combined practical learning with theory, helping students understand not only how to create art but also the history and context behind different artistic movements and techniques.
A key part of Molly’s positive experience was the support from teaching staff.
She continues: "For every subject there was a different teacher, and you can tell how much they care about what they're teaching. You can see the passion, which makes the course a whole lot more enjoyable. They're extremely supportive when it comes to helping you if you're struggling and are always able to give advice when you need it.
Recommending the course to other students
The variety of projects encouraged Molly to step outside her comfort zone and experiment with new forms of art, something she believes is one of the course's greatest strengths.
"I would definitely recommend the course to other people. You'll be shown lots of different types of art and might be taken a little out of your comfort zone, but that's a good thing. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to do art in any medium."
Advice to future students
"Have an open mind. It's good if you already have a specific style of art, but be ready to step outside your comfort zone, put the time in and just enjoy yourself," Molly adds.
Next steps
As she prepares to complete her studies, Molly already has an apprenticeship with a tattoo artist lined up in Leicester. Her ambition is to build a successful career as a professional tattoo artist, working in a studio environment.
The inspiration for this career path comes from her upcoming second year on the course, where students will explore tattoo-related techniques, including stencil work, helping them discover a new passion and a clear direction for the future.