A marvelously accomplished painter has told me the only good feature of this painting is the model’s left hand, which he called the mark of an artist. The rest he dismisses as the careful work of a student concerned with doing well. That I do admit occurs to me as I paint: is that then a fatal flaw? He further scoffs that the sofa looks “massaged.” My greatest failing, I suppose, is to be so awed as to be intimidated to the point that I cannot ask questions to learn more about what he means.