Hi !

We're ending the initial week with feedback for my first week at NMA, I passed! It was mainly a week to gather materials and setup a dedicated space for creating art. We already had a makeshift desk in this smaller corridor room so it seemed perfect to setup in there. The only problem has been the lighting which the feedback did comment on, specifically the pictures of my artwork being underexposed. 

The room is narrow so I block the light when taking the photos and using the auto focus on my phone makes the images even dimmer. I'm looking into somehow mounting the lights onto each side wall but for now I can easily take them into another room to photograph which is better suited for this.

I'm looking forward to moving on to next weeks lessons with sharpening the pencils in a specific way to basic drawing exercises. Another exciting thing is the timing in which I joined NMA. At the moment they have an early spring cohort enrolment discount up that not only gives me a 25% discount off of an annual plan but also enrols me into a cohort with other new students that purchase an annual plan in the same period. We get a bunch of additional stuff like x10 tokens to be used for feedback for each weekly assignment with x1 needed for written feedback and x2 for video. We also get a private workshop with Iliya Mirochnik and x4 check-ins with NMA coaches to see our progress and answer any questions over the years period.

Being able to learn online but still have a group of students completing the lessons alongside each other sounds like a good idea and an important part of feedback that in-life education brings in my opinion.

See you next week! o7

Hello!

 Alongside my weekly art progress uploads I've decided to couple it with a weekly blog to get my thoughts about the week out that isn't present in just the images themselves.

The plan is try this for a few months to see how it goes and if it's something I can do long term to help balance things out. The plan is at least 90 minutes per day before work, ideally another 90 after work but work is often mentally and physically draining and sometimes I just don't have the energy to even relax so I don't want to end up feeling bad by not sticking to something I planned on doing.

My inspiration to starting this whole thing has been my friend suggesting I post it online to track how it goes and seeing others do the same on YouTube. I don't really have any experience with creating artwork. I spent most of my time in after school libraries and public libraries reading fantasy books so I would say that has influenced what I'd like to try and draw. I also like wuxia/xianxia, having been lost in Wuxiaworld since mid teens so being able to draw some scenes would be cool.

I do have a few disclaimers going forward! On my website under the expense page, the first month cost is absolutely not necessary. I purchased all of the materials listed on the NMA, including the optional ones and alternatives to the recommended. It also includes an entire years worth of NMA subscription. As they mention in the introduction it's absolutely possible to go through the assignments with the bare minimum of pencil and paper and even digital. I got carried away after entering the art store with my friend and went all in.

My second disclaimer is on top of the NMA feedback I will be receiving weekly, my friend graduated with a degree in concept art and is eager to mentor me in personal work and things she recommends. I point this out after she explained just how valuable it will be to have direct feedback from the very beginning and isn't something a lot of people have access to.

Thank you for being here and reading this! I really appreciate it

P.S Shoutout to the CassArt store in London for a lot of help with going through the materials handout and picking out what I needed as well as where to find things I was missing.