I'm puzzled about all this "amateur" and "professional" business! For instance, I draw and paint because I love to, if I don't I'm not being true to myself somehow. I'm pretty well self-taught although I did spend several years attending portrait classes , where I learned a great deal from a good tutor. She taught me how to look carefully: " put some green on her throat", "green?" "yes, green; look again carefully, there's relection on her skin from the sweater she's wearing!" When I attempt to paint or draw an object, a landscape, a fleeting moment of light and shade, a face or a figure, there is always a sense that it must be unfinished because I'm attempting the impossible. I can't capture the "essence", the "is-ness" because I'm in the Presence of Mystery. I work in the NHS as a chaplain, where there's much talk about spirituality. Art ,prayer, contemplation are connected for me, because all are about intuitively knowing that there is more going on than meets the eye. When I sketch someone on the bus, a face, an expression, the pose of a man at the ATM, I'm aware athat I'm doing something more than drawing, but it is too elusive to put into words. My note pads and portfolios contain lots of quick images; why do I do it? I don't know, but I'm sure that when I don't something is missing! Anyone else feel likethat or am I just weird!?!