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I didn't paint or draw at all for seven years, when my kids were small. This caused me, more than anything, to lose valuable time in my growth as an artist. (Yes, I had different, and very important priorities during those years.) I don't think I got better or worse because of that break, I just let a lot of time go by, focusing on other things.
As for being observant, I think I have two ways of looking at things. During normal activities I am completely unobservant and can't even remember if friends of mine have mustaches or wear eyeglasses. However, when I'm looking at something in order to draw or paint it, my brain switches into a totally different way of seeing. Then I can tell you exactly the color of the light glinting off that person's eyeglasses, and which four different earth colors of paint I'd use to represent their mustache.
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