VOICE Course: How to find your personal voice in the artificial age

A course by Sterling Hundley

How to find your personal VOICE in the artificial age.

VOICE is a six-week course designed to help you find your distinct voice as an artist through the development of a small, focused body of work.

VOICE is delivered via email lessons, video lectures, assignments, and community engagement. This course builds on the system and lessons introduced in IDEACRAFT.

IDEACRAFT is a six-week master course on making pictures that speak louder than words.

*IDEACRAFT is not a prerequisite for VOICE.

Q: What is VOICE?

VOICE is the distinct creative fingerprint left behind on an artist’s work. We recognize it immediately when we see it, hear it, watch it, and feel it. VOICE is the total sum of all the fundamental decisions that go into a creative work. The more authentic an artist’s approach to each step within the creative process, the more articulate the creative voice. 

Finding your voice is the hardest thing you will ever do as an artist. Most never find it. Illustrators and designers lose themselves in the expectations of client demands. VOICE teaches you to weave a thread of continuity between your creative practice and your personal ambitions in the pursuit of developing a clear and distinct approach to your creative work.

Objectives

Through VOICE, you will learn to identify the novelty and distinction in your creative work to uncover something personal and universal. In the world of art, your distinction is your currency and your personal voice is the culmination of all your creative decisions. Through the development of three projects, learn to shape your vision and intention. Finding your voice isn't about having the answers, it's about asking the right questions. So often, artists and designers lose themselves in the pursuit of making the client happy. VOICE teaches you to approach each new personal and client project with a sense of purpose, focus and vision.

Outcomes

You are encouraged to develop personal projects within the Voice course. If preferred, you will be provided with industry-focused assignments.

• Clarity, vision and a framework process in the development of your body of work.
• (3) Three completed portfolio pieces
• (9) Nine value studies for 3 separate projects refined from dozens of concepts
• (6) Six media experiments
• Bonus- if you are ambitious (3) Three black and white spot illustrations

Delivery

Voice lessons are delivered by email three times each week. Lessons include video lectures, articles, case studies, media demonstrations and assignments. You will be invited to connect with the Think Louder community through Discord.

You can take Voice three ways:

1. Independent Study (VIS): You choose when the automated emails begin, which are designed around a three-day schedule. If you sign up on a Friday, you'll receive emails on M/W/F. If you start on a Saturday, lessons will arrive on T/Thr/Sa, etc. *Independent Study does not include access to critiques and feedback from instructor.
2. Self-Paced (VSP): Get instant access to all course materials to take on your own schedule. *This version does not include a scheduled delivery, feedback to critiques or access to the Think Louder Discord Community.
3. With a team (VLR): Live + Recorded critique sessions. *Offered at different times throughout the year. Orientation starts on Fridays with lessons following on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. This gives students time to process lessons and complete assignments, as well as collaborate with other students in the Think Louder community on Discord. Critique dates and times to be announced.

Process

Build a framework to give clarity to your personal voice. As an illustrator, designer and Professor, I've developed a scalable system rooted in ideation and the scientific method that has allowed me to build a personal body of work within the limitations of client work including NASA, Rolling Stone, Luma Pictures, Criterion Collection, New Yorker, United States Postal Service and Major League Baseball.

These methods have been put into practice by professionals, schools and educators around the world.

Schedule

Take Voice in one of three ways:

Selp-Paced (VSP): Enroll to get access to all lessons, assignments and course information on your schedule. This version does not include instructor feedback, collaboration with a cohort or access to the Think Louder Discord Community. Take at any time.

Independent Study (VIS): A six-week automated course delivery that begins when you sign up. You also get instant access to all the lessons and materials, as well as the Think Louder Discord Community. This version does not include feedback from the instructor. Take at any time.

LIVE + Recorded (VLR): This six-week course pairs you with a cohort of other students and includes weekly critiques and feedback from instructor, Sterling Hundley. This version includes instant access to all lessons and materials, as well as automated delivery of lessons that align with assignment deadlines and critiques. See available schedules for Live sessions under the version option. If the Live + Recorded (VLR) session is not listed, only Independent Study (VIS) and Self-paced (VSP) are currently available.

Closing

As a teacher, I'm dedicated to teaching artists the value of their voice and the world the value of artists. Know that I do not take your dreams lightly. I've put a great deal of thought and effort into the design of the Voice course and I truly hope that it exceeds your expectations. I want nothing more than for you to find your unique, novel, distinct and powerful creative Voice.