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# Alex McLeod
Drawing & Painting, 2007. Artist
Contact Information
Graduation Year2007
KeywordsFaculty of Art
Drawing & Painting
> I enjoy that I can play god and create whatever I like and work as little or as much as I need. The most challenging aspect is accepting that so much is left to luck.
**Why did you choose to attend OCAD U?**
I chose to attend OCAD U after being blown away by the grad show as a high-school student.
**Please briefly describe your current job/practice.**
I am a visual artist who works in new media. The work I make is usually large printed 3d rendered environments, although I work in motion graphics and rapid prototyping too.
**How did you get started in your career?**
Once I began making work that I felt that I could share, I made a list of blogs that I liked and reached out to them individually. I was overwhelmed with the response, I had high school kids in other countries all the way to celebrities posting about what I was doing and all it cost me was time. That, paired with a solid peer group got me started.
**Did you volunteer or work in your field while you were a student?**
I worked as a studio assistant for Kent Monkman and shortly after as an attendant at MOCCA.
**What were your policies regarding internships, volunteering, and paid work?**
I don't think I really was career motivated enough to look into internships, I just knew I needed to make work. It wasn't until I somehow found an audience did I shift gears and take this path seriously. I would work for free if the benefits outweighed what the pay would be for a similar job. Volunteering is a great way to learn from experiences that may be outside of your sphere.
**What do you enjoy most about your work? What is the most challenging aspect of your work?**
I enjoy that I can play god and create whatever I like and work as little or as much as I need. The most challenging aspect is accepting that so much is left to luck.
**What skills or relationships developed at OCAD U helped you participate in your field? Is there anything you would have done differently?**
My interpersonal skills developed a lot through working collaboratively with peers. Many of these peers are active in creative fields because of the encouragement that comes from supporting each other.
**What are the key responsibilities you maintain for your practice?**
My main responsibilities include making sure everyone has what they need. Firstly I have to make sure I am making good work, and that the printer gets that work in time to deliver to the framer. If I'm doing an interview or commission I have to make sure that party is getting my full attention and that emails are answered promptly. There are certainly obvious tools like software and hardware that I need, but anything that I'm unfamiliar with I can usually learn about through the internet. Networking is essential to build relationships with other artists, curators and collectors. It's one of my favorite parts of the job!
**What are your personal and professional goals for the coming years?**
I am currently completing significant commissions that I hope to leverage to produce even bigger work. Just over five years ago I started out and didn't imagine that I would be in the position I am now. The most important goal for me however is to foster the growth of our community.
