Arts & Creative Industries – B2 English Listening Exercise

9  exhibition    10  recycled wood    11  garage    12  furniture store

13  finances    14  social media page    15  kiln

16  bronze    17  abstract art    18  optimistic

Leo: Hi everyone, my name’s Leo. I’m currently an art student, but I’m also running my own start-up business. I handcraft unique lamps and sell them to shops, and I’m here to tell you a bit about how I got started and where I’m hoping this venture will take me.

I’ve always been interested in interior design. A lot of people assume I got the idea to make lamps from reading a design magazine, or perhaps from watching a home improvement television show. Actually, it was a visit to an exhibition that sparked my imagination. I saw these incredible lighting installations and thought, ‘I could make something like that on a smaller scale’.

When I began experimenting with my first designs, I didn’t want to spend much money. My friends suggested using plastic because it’s cheap and easy to mould, and I also considered working with metal. But eventually, I found that recycled wood was much better for the natural look I wanted to achieve, plus it’s environmentally friendly.

Obviously, I needed somewhere to build them. I didn’t have enough cash to rent a professional workshop, and my bedroom at home was far too small to be cutting and sanding. Fortunately, my uncle let me use his garage, which provided the perfect amount of space for my tools and materials without bothering anyone with the noise.

Once I had a few finished pieces, I needed to figure out how to sell them. I thought about setting up a market stall at the weekends, but instead, I decided to take my designs directly to local independent shops. I was absolutely thrilled when a local furniture store agreed to display three of my lamps in their front window. They sold within a week!

Running a start-up as a student isn’t easy, though. You might think managing my time is the hardest part, or maybe keeping up with my demanding college assignments. However, keeping track of the finances is what I really struggle with the most. I’m an artist, not an accountant, so dealing with spreadsheets and invoices has been a steep learning curve.

To grow the business and get consistent orders, I had to get the word out. Initially, I printed out flyers and even thought about paying for newspaper adverts in the local press. But in the end, it was a social media page I set up that really brought in the regular orders. People love sharing pictures of the lamps in their homes, which is great free advertising.

The whole point of running this business is to eventually fund my own art studio. I’ve already bought plenty of basic supplies like paintbrushes and canvases with the profits. But the main thing I’m saving up for right now is a professional kiln, because I want to start working with ceramics soon and the equipment is incredibly expensive.

While my lamps are mostly wooden, my future art will be quite different. I’ve experimented with clay and plaster during my college course, but I’m really eager to create sculptures using bronze once I have my studio fully equipped. It’s a challenging material, but the results are stunning.

I’m studying general fine art at the moment, which covers everything from traditional landscape painting to modern portraiture. Yet, my true passion lies in creating abstract art, which allows me to express my ideas and emotions without being tied to realistic forms. That’s what I want to dedicate my life to.

It’s been a busy few years. Sometimes the physical work is exhausting, and there are days when I feel a bit overwhelmed by the sheer volume of orders. Ultimately, though, I just feel incredibly optimistic about where this journey is going to take me next. Knowing that I’m building my own future step by step is a fantastic feeling.

9 biology 10 waiter 11 local library 12 shadows

13 confidence 14 website 15 nature

16 materials 17 sculpture 18 patience

Marcus: Hi everyone. My name is Marcus, and I’m here to share my journey as an independent artist. My path into the creative industries wasn’t exactly traditional. When I left school, my parents wanted me to study architecture, which seemed like a safe, respectable choice. However, I actually ended up graduating with a degree in biology. I always loved sketching the specimens we studied, and soon, my passion for drawing overtook my interest in science.

Of course, making a living as an artist straight out of university is incredibly tough. I initially thought I could get a job as a graphic designer to pay the bills, or perhaps even work as a teacher. As it turned out, I spent three years working as a waiter. It was exhausting, but the flexible hours allowed me to paint during the day.

Finding somewhere to show my work was another major hurdle. I approached several trendy coffee shops hoping they’d let me put my art on their walls, but they all turned me down. Eventually, a local library agreed to exhibit a few of my pieces in their reading room. It wasn’t a glamorous gallery, but it was a start.

And that’s where the turning point happened. A journalist who wrote for a well-known arts magazine happened to be visiting and saw my exhibition. Now, usually, when people look at my art, they comment on the bright, vibrant colours I use. However, this journalist wrote a glowing review where she specifically praised the shadows in my work, calling them incredibly expressive.

When the review was published, everything changed. You might think the best thing about it was the sudden fame, or the prospect of making a lot of money. But actually, what it really gave me was confidence. Knowing that a respected critic understood my vision made me feel like a true professional.

Following the article, I started receiving inquiries from collectors. I quickly realised I needed a professional front. I briefly considered hiring an agent to manage everything, but the fees were too high. Instead, I sat down with my brother and he designed a website for me. It was simple, but it did the trick perfectly.

Soon after, a few prominent galleries got in touch. Because the urban art scene was booming, they pressured me to produce gritty cityscapes. I experimented with it briefly, but I firmly told them that nature is where my heart is, and that would remain the focus of my collections. Luckily, they respected my artistic integrity.

As my paintings started to sell, my financial situation naturally improved. It was tempting to blow the money on a massive, fancy studio in the city centre, or expensive advertising campaigns. However, I decided the smartest move was to invest in premium materials. Buying the best paints and canvases completely transformed the quality of my finished pieces.

Now that I’m established, I like to challenge myself with new mediums. Last year I dabbled in digital art, and I’ve always enjoyed photography. At the moment, though, I am dedicating almost all of my studio hours to a massive sculpture. It’s a completely different way of working, but I’m finding it incredibly rewarding.

Looking back, people often ask me what the secret to success in the creative industries is. Everyone assumes it’s pure, raw talent, or perhaps just being in the right place at the right time—luck, in other words. But in my experience, patience is what you really need. Success rarely happens overnight, so you have to keep creating, even when nobody is watching.