[Philip Quinlan]

Well

Rick and I have exchanged PMs and he's promised to cancel the "hit" on me...

Interestingly, participating in this thread helped me to finish a poem I've fiddled with for 17 years by abandoning the idea of making strict narrative sense.

Fr. Pecotte is right, and states the case in a more eloquent way than I did. On the other hand, of course there is a point to the credo "Knowledge must bow before spirit" in visual art. Rule 1, Page 1 even in strictly representational painting is "Paint what you see, not what you know is there" - the intellect can get in the way. What one sees (inwardly) is always informed by other things, including emotions.

But thanks to Rick for unsticking me, and also for cancelling the "hit" (a noble gesture, since those guys like to be paid 50% up front and don't give refunds, even if you ask nicely).

Philip