Discoveries part 2

I spent the entire year after writing part 1 being excited about what was to come for my second year of the Illustration Master Class.
What excites me more than hanging out with many of the worlds best artists is that they, along with my fellow students, have given me a stronger drive to create and make myself better.
  When I was in High School, I knew I was a good artist. I was voted best artist. People were amazed that I could draw the way I did.
I got to School of Visual Arts and realized that my skill level was at such a starting level that it became a little disheartening. I thought to myself  "I know I can do that." -  I just didn't know how to go about getting there. In art school they open your eyes to many things (the how to's), but they don't get you excited about them. That excitement is what I need to drive me to produce fun and energetic paintings.
In the short time I've spent with my peers at the IMC and gallery openings, I've remembered why I liked drawing and painting so much. It's not about just going through the steps it takes to finish a job. I now have that excitement, and it's forcing me to put myself into my characters situation. I'm excited about shooting my references, excited when a simple thumbnail sketch pops off of the page at me.

  With no surprise, I think (of the IMC course and all involved), "They did it again!" I came out with a painting that was far beyond my skill level. I look back at my painting from last year and think of it as basic.
  This year when the course started, I knew that we had to go through a day or two of critique to make our compositions better. After my critique, I went for another with three other teachers, then two more with still other teachers who hadn't seen my drawing.  Each time I said to them.. "Be brutal. I won't learn if you don't pick it apart" They told me they felt it tough to be so 'cruel', but I can't better myself if everyone says that it looks ok, or only needs a little change. All of the teachers picked at it until they didn't know what to say anymore. They looked at me as if they'd hurt me. I would just smile back and  energetically say thank you. I guess at their level they don't realize how much information I would absorb just from that sitting. Just about every change they suggested made me think about my colors, composition, storytelling, where I wanted to lead the eye through light and dark values alone…  There were worlds of knowledge that could only make me better. How could I be upset.

  So here I am now, a few paintings deeper into the art world, my rudimentary knowledge of color theory slowly maturing. I am happy that I am getting ever closer to where I want to be. The only 'problem' is that each time I see myself getting closer to that goal, I set the bar much higher and farther away for next time.