Nefilabata

Artwork and story from Jerico

Nefitlabata is a Portuguese word for “dreamer, or someone who lives in their imagination”. I am autistic (high functioning) so this an apt a title as I can conjure.
Aside from the art aspect, I am a former drug addict turned athlete and am attending to school to secure a better future beyond construction. God blessed me with a gift I need to cultivate and grow the right way.

Art has always been in my life although not at the forefront since my childhood years. I used to draw all the time, and write too! Things changed as a teenager when I got a video game system and started getting into girls. Before long I just didn’t “have time” for drawing. However through the years, when bored or when I had extra time, I’d doodle. Through the years I’d hear how talented I was at it and how I should I go to school for it.

Some time back however, an accident left me with little else to do but draw. It was there that I began to rediscover something more amazing than any movie or game in existence. The blank page. After I recovered, I took steps to join my local college where I began taking courses in art to bolster whatever natural talent I had in me.

As time went on I began to notice we were only being taught how to be creative but none of the actual fundamentals. This in time led me to start youtubing solid tutorials to help me understand what I wasn’t understanding. Eventually I discovered this channel and saw the self assessment video that admittedly threw me into a rage over how crappy western schools were when it came to teaching art technique the way it was meant to be taught. Now in conjunction with my schooling, I have begun studying your videos, which are masterful and clear to understand. I am currently saving up money to join the personalized correspondence course but happened to cross this content by sheer chance.

The challenges I face in drawing were basically all lain out in the self assessment videos. I have the drive and will, but not the direction. For christsakes I only recently learned how to correctly sharpen a pencil although my technique still needs to be observed and confirmed. I want desperately to escape the clutches of Level 0 and begin my journey with completion of the first level.

I can draw sure, but I dont know how I’m doing what I’m doing or why I’m doing. I know these courses will bring the much needed WHY into the equation. Without the WHY’s I can’t really see my mistakes as I make them, let alone know what to look for.

Insofar as my thoughts about the academy, well, I want in. I rarely save money for anything that isn’t supplies or the sauna but your course has proven worth the time to save if I wind up not winning this competition like I expect to. I will undertake the personal correspondence one way or another.

Now, why do I want to do this? My old man always told me if you’re gonna do something, do it right. It pained me very much to learn I knew what a Russian child in art school knew. My skill level is on par with that of a child and I want badly to change that for I am a believer in fine art, or professional art as Mr. London so eloquently put it in one of his videos. I understand to appreciate painting you must first master drawing. I know that I know nothing and want badly to maximize my potential.

I’d heard from reviews the teachers are exacting and concise and do not settle for half ass effort. This is night and day to my school Professors in Art who give you credit for showing up and doing “some” of the work.

Insofar as why people should vote for me goes, I am just some guy who wants to upgrade his art level for personal expression. If I could share my frustrations at being unable to create what I think, I feel like people would understand where I am coming from. I am not unique or with a special case for consideration, I just want to do this right.

Thank you for your time.

I want to win this Competition and I need your help!