At the end of our first term.

Going into this course I wasn’t sure what to expect. I hadn’t taken an art related subject since before my GCSEs, so I had no idea what structured learning in such a creative and individual topic would be like. All of my knowledge and ability had come solely through experimentation and watching others draw and create on YouTube, I honestly didn’t ever really do actual studies of things like form, colour, composition, anatomy or any of the fundamentals as, up until about two months before the course began, I had never thought I’d be pursuing art beyond the level of a personal hobby. I was so unsure as to even if I would even be accepted for the class as I had no idea of the standard expected for an application.

Despite having no idea what to expect going in, I found immediately that I was worrying for no reason. The structure of the classes and how the work progressed, it was so easy to follow, and things I would have struggled with previously like figuring out the values of a piece I was trying to draw, character turnarounds, composition and perspective made more sense now that I had broken them down in class and- something that has been endlessly beneficial- spoken to and viewed the work of my classmates as they did the work alongside me.

The biggest issue that I’ve faced is less to do with the subject matter in class and more to do with myself and the problems I knew that I’d end up having to deal with in my work eventually. I am terrible with deadlines and getting my work in on time. I’m in the process of getting my ADHD diagnosed, but because I’m still only on the waiting list I don’t get the extra assistance that I think that I need when it comes to working. Because of the issues that ADHD brings, I struggle with organisation, focus, time management and executive dysfunction, all which have inevitably made me fall behind with my work, and so a lot of what I know I could bring to a much higher standard ends up rushed and nowhere near the quality that I know I could achieve. I am currently working with Student Wellbeing to get the medical confirmation so that I can have the help put in place that I honestly think will be crucial going forward, but sadly I haven’t managed to get it in place before our first assessment submission deadlines.

I was hesitant towards the idea of groupwork when I found out that it was going to be a large part of this module, I have always been hesitant when sharing the things that I draw, usually only showing my close friends if even that. I’m also very unconfrontational, and hate opposing what others want, as was the case when I didn’t like my first group’s idea but didn’t want to say anything as I didn’t want to be difficult, but each week I got more and more comfortable with collaborating with others, and with the group that I’m in now, I feel like asking for changes and adding my input is the easiest thing. Everyone is so happy to cooperate and I recognise that if people didn’t put forward their thoughts, a lot of beneficial changes might never be made to an idea.

Although getting the animation in on time is going to be a difficult task, I want to really push myself, as I love this course and I want to do well for my group and make this project what everyone’s hard work makes it deserve to be.