I don’t have have people that aren’t family in my life. I actually don’t even have that much family I speak to on a regular basis. She made this when she was 8 years old. Part of a group activity her mom took her to. A group of anyone who wanted to follow along to a Bob Ross video, we all know “the joy of painting”. Anyways, she wasn’t thrilled with the result. She said she needed more time to get it right. But she was 8. She wasn’t in control of the environment, was using someone else’s paints (acrylics) with a non prepped small canvas, nobody that day used wet on wet, no pauses allowed, real classroom setting. Anyways, she surprised me the other day when she was home sick from school. Her mother and I, no longer together. I was at work and got a snap notification. She had sent a picture, one she just painted. It was the same painting, done again that day. She controlled everything, the pacing, the canvas, the right oil paints. She didn’t say anything, just sent the picture. Her updated and self taught follow up to the same Bob Ross tutorial. And I couldn’t have been prouder. She’s much like me, doesn’t like to do things for performance, doesn’t seek recognition or approval from people. Hates people commenting on what she likes to do. I know when I was in piano, I have recitals for that reason. I loved what I loved specifically because I loved it, I didn’t need to prove it or show it off. If people commented, even positively, it would make me not want to do it anymore. I know she’s exactly like me. So I never pushed her, never told her to pursue it and get better. If she liked it, she would motivate herself. But I, as her dad, can’t help but feel proud of how far she’s come (she only startedd painting again this year) after that fiasco at 8. But I felt like people needed to see this. I think it’s the best thing ever. (I’m new at this so hopefully I get the new one posted here as well)