human
You can see that a portrait painter has to cultivate the people who have portraits painted, can't you?
gpt
Wouldn't you be freer to work out your own ideas, to develop what is really yours, if you did some other kind of painting, Jerry?
human
Yes, and we would be living in a garret.
gpt
But I wouldn't mind that at all, if it meant that you were growing.
human
I suppose you've been talking to Bobs.
gpt
No. I don't discuss you with people, Jerry. But I think your friends do feel this about you, that this is the line of the least resistance for you, that it may end in your destruction as an artist.
human
I am perfectly competent to decide about my work without the advice of my friends. I want ease, luxury, and beauty. I'm sick of grubbing in this little studio. I'm going to get out of it, and soon, too. I've got two orders from the Brendon portrait. Next year I'll raise my prices, and after that we'll see.