I would like to politely request that someday, you should try to draw your self-portrait.

After all you’ve observed it closely most days of your life.

You’ve been its most intimate admirer and critic, as well as its most fervent one way conversationalist. Sometimes your own worst enemy. Other times the fountain of unbelievable wisdom!

The difference being once you pick up a pad ‘n pencil something different happens to your thinking. You have to try to figure out how all those individual bits come together to make up.. you!

Of course you will only see the reverse image of yourself. Others will only ever have the pleasure of seeing the real, right way round you.

But you may, by really, really patiently looking, probably for the first time ever, realise just what a miracle of creation you are!

The design complexity is mind boggling. Every face consisting of the same elements, each in its designated, surprisingly consistent, relationship to each other. (Did you know your head width is equal to five eye lengths across?).

Yet here you are, uniquely one out of 8.23 billion.

Don’t expect to frame and hang your first attempt over the mantelpiece for all to admire. Just be grateful for the challenge and tuck it privately away, until you compare it to the next one.

No photo, will compare.

This is your effort to capture your essence at this moment. With no judge or artistic jury asked for or required. Don’t forget, all the great artists have started where you are right now.

You may even end up with the prize of finding you’ve spent an hour or two away from looking into the glass screen on your mobile phone. Which is no bad thing.

Happy drawing from life.