Hi, I just wanted to say thanks for all the feedback over the last year. Has it really been a year? I do remember that first lesson vividly. How much of a challenge it was. But I also remember the feeling that in that time I had learned a lot. Each subsequent lesson has been just as challenging and daunting at the start, but by the time I submitted the homework I felt like I had genuinely leveled up my drawing skill. It really is a fantastic course that has genuine and sustained skills progression unlike any other I've seen. I am elated to be finally done, but a little saddened that it's over.

And thanks for the specific criticism on this lesson. I know my line work can still, at times be scratchy and I just can't resist trying to fix mistakes, but I'll keep working at it ;) That first race car was such a nightmare! I just forgot about everything to try and get a good structure. They got a little easier after that, and as they got easier I had more brain cycles to keep an eye on other things too. I learned many things over the last year but one of the lessons I appreciate most is that if I am patient, and if I practice, I can do clean precise linework. "Sctatchy" is not my "style". It's on my mind for every drawing I do now, whether I use pen or pencil or digital. And I do love when I achieve that clean smooth line not just in my drawabox submissions, but in every drawing I do.

I'm off now to find my next challenge (after a little break!), but whatever that is, the skills I learned over the last year will make those challenges so much easier. I often dispaired when I started a drawing course or read a book and soon realize that I just was not capable of executing on the instructions. Most drawing classes really are for people who already have some skills in drawing (even if they claim the are for beginners). Just last week I returned to one such book (Scott Robertson's How to Draw) and I finally felt like I understood what he was talking about, and I could actually do the drawings as instructed. How a pure beginner is supposed to follow that book I will never understand :) Drawabox is one of the few courses that is truly aimed at the pure novice, and it has enough content and mileage to actually bring people to the level where they can engage with all the amazing art courses, tutorials, and books out there and get the benefit from them. So, I'm excited to get stuck in and I want to thank you for giving me the skills and confidence to be able to do that.

I wish you the best of luck as you guide more aspiring artists on their journey. I know you have critics (I see them on reddit all the time - making comments with almost no understanding of the course) but having gone through the course, my view is that it is an incredibly well designed course. It just works. Your consistent efforts to develop the content, bring onboard more assistant instructors, and developing the website (the new system is excellent by the way) all tell me that you are in this for the long haul, and I have no doubt it will continue to grow and be successful. I for one will be a constant cheerleader for the course and when I am a famous artist I will always credit drawabox for giving me a solid foundation :)) I am in your debt.

Many thanks,

Mark Irvine