OH Spotlight - Auguste Tardif

“My name is Auguste Tardif. I graduated from Haileybury just as the COVID pandemic hit the world. I endured the first half of university during COVID, studying online at the University of the Arts London, College of Communication. I graduated from UAL with First Class Honours, and I’m now more than halfway through my studies at the Angel Academy of Art in Florence.

How did your education at Haileybury inspire your career choices?
Despite my short time at Haileybury, it laid the foundation for my pursuit in the arts. Haileybury taught me basics of colour theory and gave me the opportunity to explore different media, from oil paint to the beautiful printing press in the art block. The teachers’ passion for the arts motivated and pushed me to learn more than what was required by the syllabus. Allowing me to develop a strong work ethic and creative practice which I continue to build on throughout my career.

What career challenges have you faced since leaving Haileybury? 
After leaving Haileybury and attending UAL, I decided to become an animator/concept artist—but my expectations of university were quickly shattered. I found that my education taught at university was a reiteration of subjects I already learned at Haileybury through teachers and self-study. The course was unstructured, and resources were limited due to COVID. I felt behind in my practice, and my skills hadn’t improved significantly since graduating.

A master’s program felt like it would pose the same problems as university—it wouldn’t actually teach me how to create beautiful realist art. Feeling unsatisfied, I decided to explore classical arts education. This is why I moved to Florence and enrolled at the Angel Academy of Art, a school dedicated to the traditional methods of painting and drawing developed by the French écoles of the 18th century. Since starting, I’ve seen my art improve drastically in a short time.

What are some of your proudest accomplishments since leaving Haileybury?
Despite my university experience being lacklustre, one of my proudest achievements from that time is my major final project: a 40-page graphic novel. All the art, characters, story, and dialogue were done by me. The feeling of holding my digital work as a physical book in my hands was unmatched. Reinforcing that traditional, physical art is far more appealing to me than digital ever could be.

What is your next career goal? 
With one year left of my current diploma and several projects yet to complete before I graduate from Angel Academy, I am planning different paths for when I finish. Developing my style further is a task that brings excitement to the technical side of learning and will be a lifelong pursuit. Creating work outside of the academy that I can present to galleries aligned with the kind of art I want to pursue in the future. Currently, I work on pieces to submit to various competitions around the world.”