it's not easy being an artist, you know

Most of us who (by which I mean those that do) end up going to art school do so because we were good at art at school. Not necessarily good at drawing (that's a common misconception), because some of us can't draw to save our lives. I think I ended up at art school because I was completely rubbish at PE (physical education - ie sport - if you're reading this from abroad). Plus I didn't fancy being either an accountant, teacher, dentist, social worker or hairdresser.

But after we've been at art school for a year (that's after the foundation course) we have to start making choices: do we follow our hearts and choose to become 'fine' artists, which means a probable life of poverty, absinthe and bad teeth; or do we sell out and follow the commercial route by choosing a subject which will eventually allow us to label ourselves 'designers', and thus charge our 'clients' exorbitant fees? But between that stark choice are the 'crafts': those funny things like printmaking, pottery and calligraphy. Subjects that people choose - I sometimes think - because it gives them a foot in both camps (though often they end up in neither).*

But I've got some good news for you calligraphers, at least. It seems that London Underground are falling over themselves to employ staff who are also adept at the craft of penmanship. At least on the basis of these pictures, that would very much seem to be the case:

Pictures half-inched from matthewirvinebrown's photostream and the London Underground Temporary Notices flickr group (and discovered via Annie Mole's wonderful Going Underground's Blog).

*(And if you do happen to be a printmaker, potter or calligrapher, don't take me too seriously: I am only pulling your leg.)

Comments

[Annie - London Underground Blog]

Nice post - looks like the Underground may also be the place to recruit philosophers with a design slant too as the guys at Thought of the Day guys at Oval Tube Station don't seem to appear in that group very much now.

http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2007/11/tube-photo-of-week.html

Which is very sad!

[Dick Madeley]

"Not necessarily good at drawing (that's a common misconception)"

Why didn't they tell me this at school? My whole life has been a lie. I could have spent many blissful years studying typography.