About meÂ
Hi! My name is Kristel, and I have just turned 18 years old. I’m from Switzerland, more specifically from the Italian-speaking region of Ticino. I’m currently studying at CSIA (Centro Scolastico per le Industrie Artistiche) in Lugano, an art school with different departments such as Interactive Media Design and Graphic Design. I am part of the Scenery Painting department, where I study subjects such as observational drawing, decorative painting techniques, colour theory, and artistic composition. Art has always been my greatest passion, and I enjoy exploring different creative techniques and materials.
In my free time, I like painting, drawing, working with ceramics, sewing, and creating handmade projects. I also enjoy experimenting with new artistic styles because I believe that every new technique helps me grow as an artist. Besides art, I love spending time in nature. I enjoy walking, discovering beautiful landscapes, and finding inspiration in the colours, light, and details of the natural world, which often influence my artwork. I am currently in Belfast for an traineeship organised by my school and facilitated by Erasmus via Intern Europe. This experience gives me the opportunity not only to improve my English but also to gain practical work experience related to my future career. I am working at Watson & Co. Chartered Marketing. with Marketing Trainer Christine Watson, where I have the chance to learn new creative and professional skills every day. From the very beginning, I felt welcome in Belfast. The people here are very friendly, sociable, and always willing to help, and I immediately noticed how open and approachable they are compared with what I am used to in Ticino. This has made my experience even more enjoyable and has helped me settle into a new environment with confidence. Living abroad is also teaching me to become more independent. Every day I learn how to manage new responsibilities, organise my time, communicate in English, and adapt to different situations. These experiences are helping me grow both personally and professionally. During my traineeship, I hope to improve my photography skills, learn how to create different types of artistic and digital projects, and discover new techniques that I can bring back to school. My goal is to return to Switzerland with more knowledge, greater confidence, and many new ideas, as well as an impressive portfolio of art and design that will help me continue developing as an artist.
Learning Plan
My learning plan focuses on improving both my creative and digital skills. As an artist, I want to develop new abilities that will help me express my ideas more effectively and present my work in a professional way.
One of my main goals is to learn how to photograph different subjects with greater confidence. I want to understand how to choose the best lighting, angles, and composition, while paying close attention to every detail. My aim is to create images that highlight the beauty and uniqueness of each subject, making every photograph clean, balanced, and visually appealing. Another important objective is to learn how to create short but complete videos. I would like to produce engaging content that tells a story in just a few seconds, using smooth editing, clear transitions, and effective visual communication. These videos will help me share my artistic projects and creative process with a wider audience. To help me improve my photography and videography I will complete the free, in person, photography and videography workshops available in the Apple store in Belfast city centre.
I also plan to improve my graphic design skills by learning how to use Canva. I want to become confident in designing professional-looking posters, presentations, invitations, and promotional materials. In addition, I hope to complete Canva Design School learning courses and earn official certificates to demonstrate my skills.
I would also like to learn how to use Giphy to create custom stickers and animated GIFs. These digital creations could be used to promote my artwork, make my social media content more original, and develop a unique visual identity. My workplace host – Marketing Trainer Christine Watson has delivered short introductory courses in creating a giphy account for business and getting it approved for all to use, you can check out her own brand giphy account at giphy.com/watsonsmarketing.
Photo editing is another essential skill I want to improve. After taking photographs, I want to edit them carefully to make them cleaner, brighter, and more organised. By learning professional photo-retouching techniques, I will be able to enhance colours, improve image quality, and create polished final results. I currently use photoshop but also plan to test how Canva can help me with editing photos.
Social media is an important part of promoting creative work, so I also want to learn how to create attractive posts and engaging Instagram Reels and Facebook content. My goal is to design eye-catching visuals and write interesting captions that connect with people and showcase my artistic projects. My workplace host – Marketing Trainer Christine Watson has delivered many courses on social media including facebook, instagram and Meta business suite and as well as one to one tuition I am able to benefit from her workshop slidedecks that have learning signposts to help me upskill.
Because I am an artist, I also want to develop products that combine creativity and design. I would like to learn how to create greeting cards for special occasions, such as Congratulations cards and Christmas cards, using my own artistic style and original illustrations. This traineeship gives me the opportunity to create Commercial cards for business use which helps me build my portfolio.
Another exciting goal is to design decorations for shopping bags or containers inspired by the city of Belfast. I would like to include local landmarks, symbols, colours, and cultural elements that represent the city’s identity while creating elegant and creative designs. The site that I have been allocated to present artistic ideas and enhancements for is Argyle Business Centre on the Shankill road in Belfast – I look forward to producing before and after visuals that will be shared with the Management and board of the business park.
Finally, I want to continue improving my painting skills by creating artworks inspired by the beautiful Irish landscapes. The countryside, mountains, coastlines, and changing skies of Ireland provide endless inspiration, and I hope to capture their beauty through my paintings while developing my own artistic style. My work placement provides me the opportunity to visit areas of outstanding natural beauty such as Newcastle, where the mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea and landmarks such as Belfast Castle and Belfast City Hall. One task that I look forward to delivering is a photoshoot and I will enjoy scouting for cool backdrops – this also lets me explore the art, sculptures and architecture across the city.
Overall, this learning plan will help me strengthen my artistic, digital, and creative abilities, allowing me to grow as an artist and communicate my ideas with confidence across both traditional and digital media.
Places
There are many wonderful places in Northern Ireland that I would like to visit, especially around Belfast. Exploring these locations will allow me to learn more about the country’s history, culture, architecture, and natural beauty while finding inspiration for my artwork.
Places I Would Like to Visit
- Belfast Castle
- Titanic Museum
- Belfast City Hall
- The Cathedral Quarter
- Giant’s Causeway (a short journey from Belfast city)
Visiting these places is important to me because each one offers something unique. Belfast Castle combines beautiful architecture with stunning views of the city, making it an inspiring location for photography and sketching. Belfast City Hall is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, and I would love to admire its impressive design and learn more about Belfast’s history and I now know that I can go inside, I can even find a social enterprise charity coffee shop inside, run by NOW Group – a WorldHost customer service training client of my host –Â it is called the Bobbin.
The Giant’s Causeway is one of the most famous natural attractions in Northern Ireland. I would like to experience its extraordinary rock formations, enjoy the coastal scenery, and use the landscape as inspiration for future paintings. Walking through Belfast City Centre will give me the opportunity to experience the local atmosphere, discover street art, visit shops and galleries, and better understand the culture of the city.
The Titanic Belfast Museum is another place I am excited to visit because it tells the fascinating story of the RMS Titanic, which was built in Belfast. I am interested in learning about its history, engineering, and the people who worked on the ship.
Finally, I would like to visit St Anne’s Cathedral, one of Belfast’s most beautiful churches. Its Gothic-inspired architecture, detailed decorations, colourful stained-glass windows, and peaceful atmosphere make it a place that I would enjoy both as a visitor and as an artist looking for creative inspiration. By visiting these places, I hope to discover new ideas for my paintings, improve my photography skills, and gain a deeper appreciation of Northern Ireland’s history, culture, and landscapes.
