Author: Mitchell Bagnas

A Journey of Teaching, Learning, and Cultural Connection A First in More Ways Than One This summer, I spent three weeks in the Dominican Republic helping teach students at ÀNI Art Academies. While the opportunity itself was exciting, the trip also marked several important firsts for me: my first work-related trip and my first time traveling alone. Without the comfort of familiar faces, I had to rely on myself in ways I never had before. From navigating airports to adapting to a new environment, I discovered that I was more capable and independent than I had realized. What began as…

People often ask how long it takes to get good at drawing or painting, and honestly, I don’t think most people are prepared for the real answer. It takes years. Not weeks. Not months. Years of focused repetition, frustration, observation, failure, adjustment, and persistence. Competence in art doesn’t arrive suddenly after finishing a sketchbook or watching a few tutorials online. It’s a slow restructuring of how you perceive the world and how effectively you can respond to it with your hands. When I first started taking art seriously, one of the biggest challenges wasn’t just learning how to draw or…

When I first transitioned from drawing to painting, I wasn’t expecting it to feel as difficult as it did. I had spent years building confidence in drawing, working with charcoal, getting comfortable with value, control, and observation. There was a point where I felt like I understood what I was doing. My marks felt intentional. I could trust my process. Then I started painting… and it felt like all of that disappeared. Suddenly, things that once felt simple became frustrating. My marks felt clumsy. My control wasn’t there. Even when I knew what I was supposed to do, I couldn’t…