When did it all begin?
I remember when I was about 11 or 12, sitting on my bedroom floor staring into a large mirror. I looked long and hard at the image in front of me; focussing in on my face, I drew each eye separately in my sketch book. I loved the feeling of losing myself in deep concentration. I was in another world where time stood still. I drew them over and over until I was satisfied. Next it was the nose and then the lips until I had mastered all my features.
Now, over 60 years later, I want to see how it feels doing this again. Opening my sketch book, I look intently at my eye. The first thing I notice is that my glasses are in the way; I can’t see without them, my eyes have become old. They have served me so well for all these years. I try taking the spectacles off (an artist’s trick similar to half closing your eyes) all you see are the light and dark shapes. One thing is clear – they are still the same shape but now they are decorated with dramatic folds of skin and wrinkles.
