Having the LIKE in mind...

It's 0:22, so this gives me the right to use the word YESTERDAY. Well then, yesterday was really busy, but luckily I managed to get to Art Class more or less on time, i,e, 20 minutes late. Without having a clear idea of what to practice that day (I only knew it would be some real people or object) I left the choice on the teacher.
'Have you done this yet?' she asked, having in hands an ugly grey bust of a woman with flat forehead, insignificant nose and barely defined lips, let alone the hair... The whole lot was set on an iron rod thus reminding me of a tribal war trophy.
'No, I haven't.' I replied with disgust. 'Sorry, I really do not feel like drowing that. She looks like a zombie! I'll rather do the bust of Amos again.' I said. My previous attempt was not that good so I didn't have positive feelings about the bust, but, still better than the ugly corps like head.
Actually, I wanted to try the sepia colour gioconda I bought a long time ago, so it din't really matter what I was going to draw. Well, this is the result.

In exactly 75 minutes I stopped and called the teacher to have a look, because I had to leave. She was happy and I, still having in mind the previous graphite version, was happy too.
And the point? Well, there are many ways how to achieve what you want. Choose the one you like best and is pleasant for you at the same time... Who's told you that memorizing is the only way to learn a poem by heart?! :-)

The Real Feedback

How often do you do something and wish to be recognised? Your work appreciated?
Always! It doesn't really matter what you do or are doing: the dishes, vacuum cleaning, planting vegetables, cooking, learning a foreign language or drawing... You always wish the others to tell you that your work is good, worth the effort and time. That's human nature.
This is even more true when you do something you are really keen to master. Getting feedback about your foreign language skills from your students or even your colleagues is nice (or maybe even great)... Nevertheless, can you compare it to the empowering feeling when a native speaker tells you your English is great? This is what I call a boost! You suddenly feel so motivated! You know that all those years of speaking, reading and listening weren't wasted...
I'm trying to get better at drawing (and Italian too :-))... I work like many of you out there and in the rare periods of free time (when I'm not working, blogging, chatting with students or other coeliacs etc. you know, you name it... :-)) I'm trying to draw...
I share the pictures with other on Facebook to get feedback and I'm really pleased to hear the drawings are good, but there is the 'but', mentioned above. I know that it will take ages till someone professional someday tells me that my works are good. But this is not what I need at the moment... Surprised? Well, I want to be criticised. By those I admire. I want to be told what I am doing wrong. I know I can be stubborn sometimes, but I want to be shown the way. You do not have to push me! I'm diligent enough. Only tell me, show me, teach me, guide me. Tell me what's wrong, but do not forget to tell me how to make it all right...
Or let me watch you how you do it .................