if there's anything i've learned from watching "star wars", it's this... everyone needs an obiwan. or a yoda. or even just a mentor. and i have one. batu. seriously, his name was batu. he was my intermediate drawing professor. really all he ever did was compliment my drawings a lot in a really thick mongolian accent. but that's kind of yoda-ish, right? the point is, he made me want to be an artist. later on, i had so many insane professors who told me my contour drawings were not up to par, and i had no handle on what cubism was, and once a professor walked up behind me and said, "gosh! you SUCK today!"... but somewhere in the back of my mind i could here batu saying, "ooooohhhhh.... so beauteefull! so deleecut." it was my own little, "use the force the luke" mantra.