R-Y-M-A-N

This entire process has been amazing.

I can simply say that the application alone for this program was the most strenuous, draining, and artistically challenging thing I have ever attempted.

I had been working on a portrait of my grandmother over the summer, and in late October. Before she arrived for thanksgiving, I needed some advice and criticism for the piece. I toted my drawing pad to my former art media teacher's room right before we went on break. Surprisingly, she was excited to help me. I guess few of her students return asking for further instruction.

After assessing the portrait (a little proportion correction here, a bit more shading there), she handed me a form for what she described as extra classes.
I learned quickly that it was more than that.
An essay and two sketches, along with a recommendation letter were required to apply for this class, with a December 5th deadline.
I did not expect it to take so long, and I probably could have done better on the sketches if I had received more notice. I was signing the sketches in the post office, the day it needed to be postmarked.
For the first week of December, my room was a cramped studio, complete with an unmade bed, unfinished homework, late nights and an annoyed dog, who did not have enough room to sit, let alone lay around.

Not to say it wasn't fun at times.

Drawing #1 was of Junie, the poor mutt. I disturbed her naps many a time to re-position her legs or tail. #2 was the rougher one. It was a huge sketch of clothing on a bed; an older woman's outfit and a younger girl's dress, side by side.




The time limit brought different challenges. The major one was keeping it observational. I felt compelled not to move the clothing, because I would ruin the wrinkles or shadows I had already started. When it came to the last nights, I would cover the woman's skirt with a sheet and then sleep on top of quilts to keep the skirt in the same position.

By Thursday afternoon I was nodding off at lunch. When my eyes closed, I saw pencil tips moving and shading in poor light behind my eyelids. That was frightening. It brought the term 'starving artist' to life for me.

In the end more was omitted than I had planned due to the time constraint, but I hoped what was finished, alongside the intense essay that I am so grateful to have had help with, I would be accepted.

So many people supported me and have continued to congratulate me, and I am extremely thankful. Encouragement really did help my motivation. I am glad that I went to visit my art teacher when I did. Any shorter of a deadline and I would not be enrolled right now.