Creativity is Not Always One and the Same
Cian Corby, 20, Bachelor of Creative Arts: Creative Writing Major
Loyal Harry Potter fan, talented cartoonist and modest student Cian Corby, 19 has been drawing since she could hold a pencil which has allowed it become her most natural form of self-expression and creativity. Corby feels that her degree although expanding her knowledge has limited her passion, as her time could have been better spent more focused on her creative design work rather than her creative writing major. If given the choice Corby would choose illustration again and again over creative writing.With her degree drawing to an end, she is eager to explore her creativity outside of the limitations of university as a learning environment.
Corby hopes to undertake illustration courses in the near future to further explore her passion for drawing more directly rather than just her creative talent in general. Although at times her own original cartoon characters have aided her story development leading to interesting creative writing ideas she has no enjoyed the academic side of her university experience. Overall her campus experience has improved since joining the Harry Potter Society her social life has bloomed and her passionate has been reinvigorated within her spare time which helps keep her spirits and motivation high, spurring her further into her artwork development and passion for illustration.
If ever faced with a career opportunity in journalism Corby would lean towards a career illustrating political cartoons. Beyond university life her leading inspiration comes from Neil Gaiman’s blog and his Sandman series of graphic novels which reveals her original passion for illustration. Conversely Comic book girl persona who blogs interesting opinions on popular movies, comics and other areas. Regular Imagine magazine reader Corby also aspires to be most like her favourite artist on deviant art Shoomlah.
Corby passion for the creative arts didn’t transfer from her interest in illustrations to creative writing as much as she has previously though, she articulates “I feel like I’m doing the same subject over and over again for three years, and I’m no closer to where I want to be”. Creative degrees are often hard to come by, Wollongong university is very lucky as they have fantastic teacher who are actually practising writers themselves which enables them to teach writers more effectively.
From magical realism, metafiction, memoir and historical fiction Corby has experienced them all first hand, using theoretical approaches and fictional text analysis to both inspire, analyse and inform her creative works. No matter the variety of experience presented and the challenges Corby manages to overcome with writer’s block and complicated writing techniques, she still craves more time with her dominant passion: illustration. She adds:
“I want to illustrate and would like to have my own graphic novels published”
As many students around her dream of publishing fiction novels, short stories and poetry, Corby is aspiring to different goals of cartoons and graphic novels. Some are invigorated by their studies, finding further inspiration for their writing whilst others take it one step at a time tackles each assessment and idea as it comes. Corby can often be seen illustrating the characters of her stories, bringing her writing to life. Her original illustrations are unique and mesmerising, her talent is endless. Although her creative talents are not just limited to illustrations, it is clearly where they are at their most concentrated.