As the weeks continued, my artwork kept improving, and my range of techniques expanded. I drew a fruit bowl using the pointillism technique, and we learned about gesture drawing, where we were given 60 seconds to sketch a model, focusing on movement. Malekoff also taught us about portrait drawing, explaining how the face is symmetrical, as well as the importance of construction lines. Currently, many of my classmates are in the process of drawing fashion sketches, which portray the clothing movement, and overall placement and position of the model.

Grades for all projects are based on an art rubric. Effort, creativity, originality, and skill in mastering the desired technique are factors taken into account. Sometimes squeezing art homework into my nightly agenda can be challenging, but I have learned that if I stick to the rubric and balance my schedule I can get good grades. Thankfully, we are given a week to complete each assignment, so I am usually not too overwhelmed.

As a member of the Art Institute for a year and a half now, I have acquired new skills in ceramics and drawing that surpass anything I could have imagined. As Malekoff said, it really is all about the practice. As I continue my education at HAFTR, I hope to further improve my portfolio, and continue to pursue my interest in art. Although not all students in the Art Institute enroll in an art college, many students use their portfolios to show they have a special talent. “It lets them stand out,” Malekoff says.

Past students have continued on the road of art, majoring in fields such as architecture, interior design, art therapy, and illustration. I hope that as my artistic skill develops, I too can pursue an art-related career in the future.