Meet Stella Anderle

Before starting the Immersion Course, I was at the end of my graphic design and illustration studies (4th year in a school for Applied Arts). I didn't have any job. I have just moved from France to Canada, joining my husband and I was especially concentrating on completing my Professional Project, required by my School for graduating. I discovered surface pattern design through Skillshare 4 months before Immersion Course starts. I asked to my school administrators if I can choose as a Professional Project to create a surface pattern design collection and present the collection and its lookbook, as well as my creative process, even if it was not a domain covered during my studies. The answer was "YES".

I think this is what gave me a lot of motivation to jump into the Immersion Course and to overcome my fears of financial lack. At this time the Immersion Course was really an investment for me, as I didn't have any job.

The fear for putting myself and my husband into a difficult financial situation, was what was holding me back. Nevertheless, I decided that life is short and if I don't do it now, in an year I would regret it. I just decided to take the risk, to do my best out of this course, and to trust life. I didn't worry if I will succeed completing all the modules of the course, because I didn't give myself another option than to complete them and to do the work. Having to complete my professional project was helpful for that.

What changed after Immersion:

- First, the presentation of my professional project in June 2021 (my very first pattern collection "Backyard Treasures") was a success that I didn't expect at this point.

My school manifested the interest if I can create surface pattern design courses in French. With this purpose, I now follow some additional courses which allow me to deepen even more the technical process of fabric making. But, the initial point was my very first successful pattern collection, built during Immersion 21.

- Second, I built my professional website and started posting my artwork on Instagram, then I applied for a job as an art teacher in a private art studio. When I was asked what is my specialty as an artist, I decided to present myself as a surface pattern designer and presented my portfolio of patterns, as well as my process for creating the elements of my designs. My job interview seemed to me extremely long and tiering, with questions that were making me feel that the person in front of me was not happy with who I am as an artist, and a test for life drawing a realistic portrait (to which my employer told that it was good, but not very realistic, "too much as I see it, rather than realistic") Finally, I dared to tell my employer. "You know, I am probably not the right person for you. If I am not the right person, there is no problem. I am OK with that. But here is what I do as an artist", and referred him again to my patterns. 

To which my employer answered: "You are the right person." 

And a week later I had a job as an art teacher.