Observation – Of all the skills developed by an artist, observation is one of the foundations. The ability to critically examine the world around her, starts with visual (and often aural) observation. Developing the ability and habit of seeing what is actually in front of her instead of assuming something is a certain way, is the starting point for both simple illustration, copying what already exists, and expression, re-presenting what you observe through your own experience or point of view. (Read more on my blog: C Parker's Art Blog)