More raw and more true

There is a painting that hangs by the art store door. It always catches me -- an object of energy that is somehow not complete. "Why is it not complete?" the artist asked. "Because of the boy," I said. It is a portrait of a boy, on a roughly textured green-yellow background. "That boy is not as true as the background."

We talked more.
"I can paint your portrait," she said. "Just bring me a picture."
I was warmed. I only wanted a true portrait.
"Can you paint my portrait without it looking like me?" I asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Can you paint my energy portrait? Or do you need the image as a lens?"
"I need the image."
I considered for a moment, looking at the painting.
"You must get better first," I said, with the slight courteous half-bow Leonid or Eugenio gives when concluding a conversation with a decision. "You must get more raw, and more true."
Her eyes were alight and dancing.

I felt like a fish, moving through water.