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Women in Leadership Profiles
Name: Rebecca Bradley
Role: Program Director : MA Illustration
Company: MICA : Maryland Institute College of Art
A bit about you: I am a freelance illustrator working on numerous projects from Books to greetings cards and in between. You can see my work in Instagram : @rebeccabradleyillustration and my website : www.rebeccabradleyillustration.com. I am also the program director for a one year post graduate illustration program. I attended Invicta in the late 1980s (GULP). On leaving Invicta I went to Maidstone College of Art for foundation year and then to Chelsea College of Art in London for my BA . Upon graduation I lived and worked in unrelated fields in London for many years before moving to the USA to further my studies in illustration. I now live and work in Baltimore, MD and I am married and have two boys.
What is it like working in your company? It is great working in a creative field. (I don’t think I could work in any other!) The best part of my job is the students who are incredibly talented and smart. They come from all over the world and I love to mentor them in their journeys. MICA is one of the top colleges of art in the USA, and our graduates are typically very successful in their careers
Why did you decide to go into your chosen field? I always knew I wanted to work in art. At Invicta I loved History, Theatre and Art and thought I may go into costume design, but realised during my foundation year that I was an illustrator. I know that some people tried to dissuade me from being an artist, because they did not consider it to be a ‘real job’ but I would never be happy doing anything else.
What qualifications and work experience did you need to reach your current position? In order to teach in most colleges and universities in the USA an MFA is preferable. Freelance work is competitive, but a good portfolio matters much more than a degree.
What do you enjoy the most about your job? In Illustration I enjoy the variety of projects and clients. I like that this a job that I can do till the end of my days and that it is both my hobby and my career. As a freelance artist no one day is like another. As a program director, I enjoy crafting curriculm and mentoring and guiding other artists. I believe that the program is a way for people to self – actualise (become who they are meant to be) and I take a holisitic and inclusive student centric approach to teaching.
What obstacles have you overcome in your career? I found it very difficult to have personal success in the UK with my art, although I tried for 10 years. It wasn’t until I moved to the USA that I began to get success, winning competitions, and getting my graduate degree and a full time teaching job. I have also dealt with bullying and misogyny in the workplace and that was very hard to deal with. Having strong self belief and family support helped me.
Why do you think it is important to have a strong female representation in your industry? Representation matters so much – not just in gender, but in all regards. As an illustrator I am making contemporary imagery that is in the public sphere it is important for me to represent all voices and to remember that there is no ‘default’ representation of a person in images. Telling authentic stories and uplifting those voices are important. Most of my students are women or non binary people. However as we look at the history of illustration (or art in general) and up until fairly recently, those we learn and see around us are white men. It is important for us to remember that women, NB, LBGT+ and people of colour have always made illustration, and often go unrecognised or uncredited. We can do small things like up lift and credit those artists, learn about them and don’t steal the art work – if you can always ask before you repost in social media and always credit the original creator.
What advice would you give those wanting to take a similar career path? Life is long and its pretty rare to have a straight path to any career. Enjoy the twists and turns that life takes, and take chances; be prepared to move location if need be, or learn unexpected skills, or even take time for yourself. Keep drawing- draw everyday ! Read and travel, be well versed in current affairs and history, write stories if you can. Find your people. Be happy that you are a creative person and that you are needed in the world.
Most of all, enjoy the adventure!
