Show notes at: https://www.pencilkings.com/podcast-home/ “With what I’ve produced at the Evolve Art Academy, I’m very confident I could submit a portfolio to a prestigious art school and get accepted. Because that’s how much progress I’ve had.” ~ Michelle Lopez. Want to know how to become a better artist...but just don’t know where to start? Whether you’re a complete beginner or someone who wants to take their art skills further, we think you’ll find this week’s interview pretty interesting… Because you’re about to hear how Evolve Artist student, Michelle Lopez, went from being a novice artists to one who gets paid for portrait commissions...in just four months! Interview Chapters [00:37-05:07] Introduction and Overview Your host, Mitch Bowler, introduces today’s guest, Evolve Artist Student, Michelle Lopez. In this chapter, you’ll hear why listening to Kevin Murphy’s Pencil Kings podcast interview inspired her to quit her job as an IT consultant and enrol at The Art Academy...and how she made incredible progress during her time there. [05:33-06:16] Why did Michelle Want to Learn how to Become a Better Artist? Deciding upon a change of career can be pretty daunting at any stage of your life, but even more so when you’re taking a leap into the complete unknown. So what made Michelle decide to swap repairing computers for becoming a realistic painter? In this section, you’ll hear how Kevin Murphy’s art program helped her develop confidence in her abilities and make real progress as an artist. [07:12-07:52] Why did Michelle Think The Art Academy was Right for her? Like many aspiring artists, Michelle had already tried various college courses and community art groups to help her develop her creative skills...but they’d all fallen flat. So what made her decide this course was right for her...and did it meet her expectations? [08:27-08:49] How did Michelle Know This Course was Right for her? Thinking something is right for you and knowing something is right for you are two very different things...so how long did it take for Michelle to realize she’d definitely made the right decision by enrolling in The Art Academy? [08:57-09:45] How far did Michelle Travel to Take This Course? Enrolling at The Art Academy wasn’t exactly like joining a class at her local community college for Michelle. Instead, she had a 10-hour journey to make from her home to New Jersey before she could get started. So, what was this experience like for her? [09:58-11:32] What Were Michelle’s First Weeks Like at The Art Academy? Starting something new can feel like a daunting experience, but the team at The Art Academy made Michelle feel welcome from the moment she walked through the door. So what were her first few weeks studying with Kevin like? In this chapter, you’ll hear how she want from drawing basic shapes and learning shading techniques to creating a fully-rendered drawing in less than two weeks. [11:48-12:33] What Were the Beginner Exercises Like for Michelle? Because Michelle had already had some art lessons, you might have thought the beginner lessons would be too basic for her. However, she discovered that she’d actually missed out on learning many of these fundamentals in previous classes...and that learning to be meticulous and patient was one of the best ways to improve her art skills. [13:41-14:10] How Many Hours did Michelle Study for Each day? Once you really get into making art, it’s amazing how the hours fly by without you noticing. So how many hours each day did Michelle dedicate to drawing and painting while at The Art Academy? [15:22-17:42] Michelle Worked Hard...but did she Enjoy Herself, too? Hard work and enjoyment don’t always go hand in hand, but Michelle found she had a completely positive experience while pushing herself to improve as an artist. You’ll find out why in this section. [17:52-19:05] Were There Ever Times When she Wanted to Quit? Even though she had a positive experience, there were times when Michelle felt the pressure