The first scores at The Outstanding Artist
Please note, this blog contains spoilers ;-)
After the plot twist of day one, I already sensed that this wasn't going to be an ordinary competition. From that moment on, my mind slowly started working longer hours than usual.
The peacock's base coat had to be dry enough for the next layer. Had I used the right mix? How quickly does paint dry here in Florida, anyway? At home, I'd found it wasn't dry after a night. And what if it wasn't dry here either?
Day two started with three hours before the peacock.
My goal: to finish as far as possible, preferably around 90%.
I had the foundation right. The proportions were almost perfect, and that gave me real confidence. I really enjoy this technique, and I genuinely enjoyed the project. After three hours, I was more than satisfied with the result, especially knowing I could still add the details on the last day.
Next came the alligator in charcoal. Two hours.
That was a bit of a shift. I felt less confident, because I hadn't practiced this beforehand. It's a material I rarely use, and a subject that, frankly, doesn't really appeal to me. Instead of getting overwhelmed by all the details, I decided to just start slowly. Stick to your plan, and you'll be fine.
Look carefully. Compare. Measure. Check the proportions.
When the time was up, I was actually quite satisfied. Not a great result, but definitely more than adequate.
Strategic planning
For day three, I made another plan. Four hours of freestyle, or four hours to complete all three assignments.
It gave me peace of mind to manage that time strategically. I planned out in advance what each piece still needed to achieve a good result. The oil painting carried more weight in the score, so that took priority. After that, I wanted to get the alligator to around 90%, just so I was at least safe with that.
And then the acrylic animal.
During the interim feedback round, I felt I was relatively safe there. But it was precisely this challenge that I struggled with most. My chosen source for the deer turned out to be insufficient. There was too little contrast and the animal's posture was strange.
I tried to straighten it out until the last minute, but it didn't really work. 
The first moment of truth
After three challenges the first scores came.
A truly tense moment. Where will you end up? Is your own assessment even remotely accurate? You try to keep a cool head and remind yourself it's just the beginning. But I know myself. That's easier said than done.
Jake started by naming the winners of each challenge.
To my great surprise, I came in first in the charcoal challenge. Wow. That was an unexpected victory, but one I was incredibly happy about. Especially since I'd previously felt less confident with charcoal.
Then we were shown all the scores, and I saw that my peacock had come in second. I was incredibly proud of that. To this day, I still think it's a beautiful painting.
My deer ended up much lower. That was a bitter pill to swallow.
I understood the score, but you gave it your all and naturally hope for a good result. It's still difficult to see it get a lower rating. The ratings were sometimes unexpected and varied considerably. That made it unpredictable, and I found it resonated with me the rest of the evening.
In retrospect, perhaps unnecessary. It was just the beginning. But at that point, I was already so caught up in it that I experienced everything intensely. The fatigue. The tension. The competition.
Then I realized: this isn't just a creative challenge.
This is also a top mental sport. 
The other side of competition
The downside of grading art is that there are always people who are very happy with their rating, but also people who end up in a place they didn't expect.
And that can be painful.
We shared a house with seven women. We ate together, sat by the pool, and shared the same passion. We helped each other with feedback on sources and tried to support each other. In a short time, close friendships were formed.
But where some people end up at the top, others end up at the bottom. And seeing what that does to someone was, honestly, quite intense. Because even though you rationally know it's a competition and that a grade doesn't say anything about your artistry, it still affects you.
What I didn't fully realize at the time is how much tension and fatigue affect your mind. You start overthinking things. You start doubting choices you would normally fully support.
On to the next challenges, make sure you get a clear and sharp head again so you can be ready the next day.
See you next week.
Love, Ellis