@dainabailey Hi Daina, Welcome to this fantastic place! Keep up the great work. You are right about practice, as it makes all the difference. In my case, I practiced a lot but needed more guidance for the first year. Even though I drew 10 hours a day, seven days a week, my lack of feedback from knowledgeable instructors stunted my growth. The curriculum here is excellent, and the critiques are thoughtful and practical.