Here’s a fun thing about pride, and why it’s so dang stupid: it requires context. A lot of what makes / made my icon impressive, at least to me, was that it was different and potentially “better” than the other ikons made at the same time and in the same class. Taken out of the context, it’s clearly a first icon, at least to me. That isn’t to say I didn’t receive enormous praise on it, I did, it was flattering. What I’m getting at is that being prideful is stupid because the real context we all live in is that of God, in contrast to whom we are all unfathomably low.

To jump oneself up for doing a good job painting amongst retired non-artists who just want to have a fun time, well, that’s pathetic.

My next icon won’t be done in a class, it’ll be done in my office. I’m tempted to now show it to anybody, that’d be a good thing to do, I think. Just for me and mine.