Anthony...I don't think an artist -has- to have a great ego in order to be an artist. But there is certainly an element of egoist in sharing our artwork with the mass mill that is the internet.

I mean do we really believe that out of the millions of artists, great and small that our little effort are going to get noticed!?

So, I say "revel" a little in it. Take a bow. Pat yourself on the back. But never let your feet leave the ground. It's nice to be nice and it's nice to feel good about yourself.

"Thanks Darren, I feel like I'm getting more comfortable with my sketches. "-Chris

No problem Chris. You certainly appear to be becoming more "relaxed". I find that the -first- hurdle in getting into your "stride" is simply "frequency". Draw more....draw better.

One piece of advice, concentration. Keep your "game-face" on all the way through the drawing, don't "coast" or "rush" any part....not saying that you do but just in case, like me I suffered (and still struggle with) the feeling of "Let's get this over with"...it's an attention thing but I find that concentrating throughout produces easily noticibly better work.

another one.

my profile sketches are mostly taken from the left side of the head. I think it's due to me being right-hand

"I enjoy it, show my wife what I've done and then show you guys, that's as far as it goes with me.  "-Chris

The thing about art is that it -wants- to be viewed. You have "recorded" something visually for all time. You wont be the only person to see it, because even if you lock it away, one day you will, as we all must, die. Your belongings will become someone elses and the piece will see anothers eyes.

That's why you must approach all your drawing with love and care. There are no "secret" pieces, just artwork that hasn't yet been seen. The only way to get around this is to burn the artwork as soon as it leaves the drawing board but then...that seems kind of cruel;-)

Let your "ego" breathe. Search the blank page for the image that you feel you want the world to see and then tame the illustraion, (I find getting the image out of my head and onto the page gets easier the older I get but it's still a labour, equivelent to Hercules teasing information for his eleventh task out of Nereus on the beach) When you sign your name at the end, the piece needs to be seen. It wont reach it's full potential until it has.

Just my phillosiphy on the "reason for the page";-)

"I'll bear that in mind on my next piece, thanks! "-Chris

You are entirely welcome Chris, the first one's always free;-)

"my profile sketches are mostly taken from the left side of the head. I think it's due to me being right-hand"-Felipe.

Cool, try the old two profiles facing each other trick. You draw a vase and the curves are the various elements of the face. In this way you will be familiarising yourself with both the left and right profile.

Like So.

Thanks Darren. It's not me being unable to do it. I's only a habit. I'll work on it anyway