Spending My Summer Printmaking and Shadowing an Illustrator
How can you conduct research as a fine arts student? How can you get paid for conducting undergraduate research?
Meet Luke Murray ’26, a fine arts major, who spent the summer shadowing a full-time freelance illustrator and creating his own writing and prints.
The Hamel Center for Undergraduate Research at UNH offers a variety of funding opportunities, so students can get paid to conduct research.
Luke Murray ’26
What is your research about?
I am researching the Christian faith, specifically work and culture. The first part of my summer research happened in June when I went down to Rock Hill, South Carolina to shadow a full-time freelance illustrator, Stephen Crotts, during his daily work. I also worked with a local art nonprofit. The second chunk of my work is being done back in New Hampshire, writing about my findings. I am also making linocut prints to go alongside my writings that echo the themes of work, culture, and vocation.
Luke Murray ’26
What has the experience of conducting research been like?
It has been wonderful so far! I am finding that it is a great opportunity for me to start thinking about the work I want to be doing my senior year. The research is varied — a mix of reading, shadowing, and hands-on work.
Luke Murray ’26
Why did you want to conduct summer research?
I first heard about the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) grant my sophomore year, and a classmate of mine had done some summer research last year on the SURF grant. The SURF grant supports 10 weeks of full-time research for undergraduates, providing a stipend and funding for research expenses.
Luke Murray ’26
What did you learn from your research experience?
This research has helped give me a realistic perspective of what the timeline is to build out a professional illustration career, and the work ethic required to get there.
