“Great artists are people who find the way to be themselves in their art. Any sort of pretension induces mediocrity in art and life alike.”
-Margot Fonteyn
In my opinion a great artist needs to journey with keen eyes, an open heart and mind, but should also have the courage to change course when the opportunity presents itself. When insecurity leads to pretention it stops a person from being able to see past the mirror they’re holding up in front of themselves. In a sense I suppose the pretentious become their art, perform it by closing off doors to themselves so that they can only be admired through a window like an object. The pretentious build themselves into a house they never leave, and since all great art requires a journey, they are stuck. In art and life. Now I sound pretentious.
"I agree. In addition, I find that my work is also a process of self discovery. I don't really know who I am without the work I do."