FSU Art BA Emily McCullers Interns with Anne Stagg
Learning how to stretch canvas
Completed installation
The process of finding a successful internship can be grueling, may seem unobtainable, and can even make some anxious. Often, people miss these amazing opportunities because of perceived time constraints, and the intimidating thought of asking someone to give up a portion of their time. I will have to admit these are struggles I dealt with earlier in my college experience. However, now that I am in an internship I strongly encourage anyone to do as many as possible. Stepping out of the classroom, and into a mentored yet professional work based setting provides a unique learning experience that is unparalleled for student success.
The beginning stages of my internship simply started with a conversation between one of my previous professors Anne Stagg, about a project idea I had in her class. Going into the conversation, I had no idea that an internship would result because of it. She graciously swept me under her wing, and we began by setting goals for what I want to get out of this internship experience. A few of these goals include learning how to efficiently use one’s time while working in the studio, how to find and apply for different opportunities, and finally learn how to use various techniques and tools within the studio. I also want to complete at least one of my personal projects while under her direction this semester. To complete these goals, we meet at least twice a week in her studio. I also devote time each week to conduct personal research, apply for opportunities, and work on a project idea I aim to complete.
When searching for an internship, it is very important to look at the intent of the individual or business mentoring you. One can easily be swept into a situation where they do trivial tasks, are not taken seriously as a student, or simply rarely meet. I have grown exponentially in my understanding of studio practices simply because of Anne Stagg’s desire to teach me and make this a truly beneficial experience.
Thus far, we have successfully prepared , painted, and installed several pieces of Anne Stagg ’s most recent series. During this process, I have learned how to prepare canvas and prime wood for painting. I have also learned different properties of paint, and how to stretch canvases. In terms of my personal work, I have successfully submitted one proposal and have been funded to complete it over the summer. One challenge I have faced during my internship is making sure to manage the time I spend on my personal projects. It is easy to get caught up in the work your mentor or business associates ask you to do , instead of focusing on your own project goals. To deal with this issue, I have written down a timeline and list of things I can complete each week so I have a physical guide depicting the progress of my work.
In the future, I plan to work with Professor Stagg over the summer to complete an undergraduate research project. At the beginning of the summer, I will also start working on a wall mural for the Veterans Of Foreign Wars. I also aim to be accepted into the BFA program, and earn a Master’s degree in art education.