Over the years I have come to value immensely the contribution my wife makes to my work. I have learned that she not only has a good eye for what is right and what is not, but she has the ability to express her opinions in clear and definite form.
Today I was sizing up the choice between two of my pieces, on a common theme, which I was considering for exhibition in a local venue. Her choice was rapid and coherently expressed, considering in part the character of the public who are likely to see it. When she has a negative estimation of what I have done she has no hesitation in telling me. This can be a bit uncomfortable, but usually she is right.
One of the two pieces I intended to put forward really requires a short passage explaining its origin and intention. My draft of this included two lines of poetry. I had limited the quotation to only two lines, but she thought that more was needed in order to make sense of its relevance. She was right: and I feel so much happier about the result.
I don’t think that I have ever had a classic “muse”, in the sense of somebody who can be relied upon to get the “artistic juices” flowing. Given a choice between that and a good critic who can provide a sound independent judgement of what I have done, I think I would probably opt for the latter.