I've realized recently that, somewhere along the way, I've made up a lot of my own anatomy. I've always been the type to draw creatures, people and plants from my mind rather than looking at them (despite the fact that I have a canny ability to replicate what I see), and in doing so, I've kind of messed up some anatomy. Shoulders don't go as high as they should. Heads are usually a little larger that they would be in nature. Breasts are higher, legs are longer, and eyes are larger.

Now, I know a ton of artists who would argue with you if you told them these things about themselves because they, too, have picked up bad anatomy along the way and to them, it looks perfectly natural. And even if they knew about the defects, a lot of artists would find it hard to resist excusing the faults by calling them stylistic. But I've decided to take the high road with this subject and start sketching pieces drawn from life (or pictures of life, at any rate).

I've always admired the artists who could seamlessly blend their style into a figure and yet still make it look life-like and very real. The artist who comes to mind most is Julie Dilon. Although her art is stylistic and artsy, it's also incredibly full of life and detail.

After trying to acquire this skill by practicing and somehow just developing it, and failing, of course, I discovered that, to be able to make your art stylistically realistic, you have to start with life and then add style. I've been trying to do it the other way around for so long that I totally messed myself up.

So my advice to you all is, if you want to add real life and realistic detail to your pieces, study real life instead of depending on your own imagination. Sketch still-lives, nude models, pets and people at the park. Anything you can think of and anything you can get your hands on. And sketch often, because that's what keeps your mind limber.

Now let's see if I can follow my own advice.